108-YEAR COMPANY STILL FINDS NEW WAYS TO MAKE RUBBER MEET THE ROAD

South Plainfield, N.J.  June 10, 2004

When you think about what it takes to stay in business for over a hundred years, it helps to consider what it took to get started in business more than a century ago.  For Tingley Rubber Corporation of South Plainfield, N.J., it wasn’t just a case of developing a better product, but a dedication to bringing that product to market in an innovative and demonstrable way.  To founder Charles O.Tingley, that meant taking to the road to promote a better rubber plug for a longer lasting bicycle tire.  That road took Mr. Tingley from New Jersey to Boston, Buffalo and Washington, DC…all on his bicycle.

That first journey not only demonstrated the value of his new product, it also started the tradition of finding inventive ways to deliver on a promise of a better product at the best cost.  What started in 1896 continues today as the fourth generation family business moves to the next generation in logistics management: TOTALreport.   “TOTALreport is our proprietary data management system that tracks our client’s transportation activity,” said Scott Shearer, CEO of TOTALogistix Inc.  “It allows on-line access to over 50 vital reports, tracking information such as shipments to customers, shipments by weight, as well as excess charges for shipments out-of-territory.    “In addition to TOTALreport, we plan to utilize TOTALaccess, our transportation management system that allows Tingley Rubber to know exactly where their shipments are in transit, manage costs, and provide complete visibility to  their customers as well,”  said Shearer.

"As we celebrate our fifteenth anniversary with Tingley Rubber, I’m impressed with their ability to anticipate changing market conditions, and successfully develop new products and manufacturing methods to ensure they maintain a leading position in their industry.”  From one product to a complete line of protective clothing and footwear, Tingley Rubber has continued to source not just newer products, but better ways to bring those products to market and stay a step ahead of the competition.

"C.O. Tingley started a tradition over a hundred years ago that set the benchmark for inventiveness and efficiency,” said Paul Bolton, President and COO of Tingley Rubber.  “Having the best product doesn’t guarantee success.  Utilizing an information management system like TOTALreport helps us manage an essential aspect of our business: shipping costs.  And in time, TOTALaccess will keep us in touch with our product as it moves from manufacturing to our client’s door.  That may be across town or it may be across country,” said Mr. Bolton.   “It closes the gap between success and failure.” 

With over a century of experience and a long line of industry firsts, Tingley Rubber Corporation still prides itself in its ability to find inventive ways to bring their products to market…from pedal power in 1896 to brainpower in 2004.

TOTALogistix is a full service, third party provider with expertise in logistics and strategic planning.

For more information, contact:
Paul S. Bolton                                  TOTALogistix Inc.
President                                         191 Woodport Rd
Tingley Rubber Corporation               Sparta, NJ 07871
908.757.7474 Ext. 201                      Robert Basso
Fax: 908.757.9278                           800.989.0054 x 117
PBolton@TingleyRubber.com            rbasso@totalogistix.com