Hulcher responded with cranes and 12-member crews who coordinated closely with military officials on the project. The crane was used to lift some of the equipment onto the railcars; the Army elected to have military personnel drive the remaining hardware onto the railcars. Once the military vehicles were properly positioned, Hulcher’s crews secured them for transport using chains and binders or cable systems, employing the proper system based on the design of each piece of equipment and railcar.

Because Hulcher’s crews were experienced in railroad operations, they were able to secure the equipment in accordance with AAR standards. This mobilization was part of a military deployment and the schedule was extremely tight; with Hulcher’s help the Army was able to transport the equipment safely and on schedule.

By using qualified civilian contractors like Hulcher to load and secure the heavy equipment, the Army does not have to maintain military or civilian personnel on a full-time basis for these tasks. This integration of civilian resources into war readiness plans allows the Department of Defense to reduce deployment costs while meeting mission requirements.