Consider These 5 Things When Evaluating Construction Logistics Companies

When time, money and your reputation are on the line, your construction logistics company should meet these expectations.

Whether you’re new to modular construction or looking for a new shipping partner, wading through transportation options can be a daunting task. You don’t have the time or resources to waste on delays, damages, and other hurdles to your build, let alone your reputation if your partner doesn’t follow through. So here, we’re laying out the five most important factors to consider when evaluating construction logistics companies for your modular building project.

5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Construction Logistics Company

1) Do they have offsite construction expertise?

When you are evaluating construction logistics companies, there are five major factors to take into consideration. But, your starting point should always be companies that have a proven track record transporting mods, pods and panels.

Offsite construction shipments come with a lot of complexity, unique constraints, and specific timeline and delivery sequences. This is precisely why you can’t trust just any logistics company to handle the job.

At Stream Modular, we only work on offsite construction projects. We are a master of one, rather than a jack of all trades. Because of this, our proven formula works at its highest capability and leads to impeccable execution and massive success for our clients, every time. As modular building experts we see things others miss, benefit from a high density of experience, and use that focus to continue finding ways to serve our clients better.

2) How do they vet their drivers?

Construction logistics companies can’t do their job alone. In fact, the backbone of their business is the network of drivers who support their organization. But, you can’t just assume they choose the best of the best, or that their drivers will always be able to support your unique needs.

Our carriers have extensive experience transporting modular construction buildings, which makes all the difference to ensure your load is shipped on time and safely. Our vetted and proven freight carriers always have the right equipment for the job, triple-check the tie-down points, and send photos of the deliveries at the job site, so you’ve always got eyes on your goods.

3) Do they have a defined & proven process for large-scale projects?

Without a proper logistics plan for transporting mods, pods and panels, these complex and large-scale projects can’t move forward with the agility or speed that they need. While your project has been planned long in advance, specific mods need to be available exactly when the site is finally ready for them. The key is construction logistics companies with a defined and proven process for moving these complex projects. Ask your potential new partner about their process, and don’t be afraid to ask for specifics about how they will help you avoid bottlenecks and project disruptions.

Through our project management services, we get boots on the ground when we conduct a site survey to spot challenges before they occur and become real problems. The site survey is a standard process for every modular project we manage. And the best part is that it’s an added value service for our clients. When the project requires it, we will fly our team to the job site to conduct these surveys, knowing the investment helps us avoid much more costly scenarios in the future. 

4) Does the logistics company have proactive risk mitigation?

Mods, pods and panels require a kind of proactive risk management that regular freight transport and logistics companies typically don’t consider and don’t understand how to organize. In fact, they will probably treat your project like any other routine job and leave it up to you to face the risks. You need to transport an exact sequence of modular units quickly, seamlessly and safely, so you need to rely on a logistics company that specializes in moving oversized freight, understands those needs, and knows how to navigate them.

At Stream Modular, we do things unlike anyone else in the industry. Even before the project begins, we take the time to understand all the elements at play, from time to access restraints. We work to avoid budget surprises by coming in to ensure dimensions are in line with what can be shipped, as well as the most cost-effective sizes for shipping. This kind of proactive work also allows us to get the proper permits for your oversized mods, pods and panels, which is incredibly important, as permits and pilot car regulations vary from state to state and must be secured in advance.

5) What kind of communication can you expect?

If you notice something about this checklist, it’s that much of the success for industrialized  construction logistics happens way before the project even begins. To achieve this success, you need to work with a logistics partner that is built on clear communication and that uses smart technology to keep you in the loop from end to end.

At Stream Modular, we don’t send clients clunky emailed documents or PDFs that make it hard to keep track of the job as it goes, but an interactive digital proposal. We’re not afraid of accountability, and we want to make your job easier. So our digital proposals come in the form of a live, well-designed website that clearly defines the scope of work, expectations, and logistics plan for your supply chain. And while the Digital Proposal is updated in real time, we still regularly update our clients and send photos of their successfully delivered freight because we know that frequent, transparent communication is key to the success of our clients’ projects. 

Let us show you the difference

Get in touch today to speak to one of our experts about our proven track record of success and how we’d approach your offsite construction project. We have a bunch of happy clients you can talk to, too. 

Read more: 

• The Stream Approach to Logistics Management
• The Key to Seamless Set and Stitch Collaboration? On-Time Modular Transportation
• Spotlight on Silver Creek (and Why We Love Being their Modular Building Transport Partner)