Perfecting Modular Construction Logistics Plans

• Modular construction transportation requires a few more steps than simply picking up and delivering to the job site.
• Adding a staging yard to the transportation plan can get mods out of the warehouse quickly, while your logistics partner coordinates local transportation to the build site.
• Modular shipments should be viewed as a whole rather than as individual shipments.

Modular construction transportation is inherently more complicated than traditional construction logistics. When shipping a complete bathroom, an entire hotel room, or even a finished classroom, the components are much bulkier than individual parts shipped unconstructed. That means they often qualify as oversized freight that requires additional permitting, special carriers, and particular securement and storage. As specialists in modular transportation, we have learned what makes shipping modular projects unique (and often challenging!), and, in this article, we wanted to share some tips for perfecting modular construction logistics planning. 

Site Plan and Logistics Deliveries

With modular construction, mod delivery from the manufacturing warehouse must be quick and on time. Modular building components are big and bulky, taking up valuable production space in the warehouse. If pickup is delayed, it could easily throw off production and delay construction. 

Manufacturing companies want modular products out of the warehouse as fast as possible so their supply chain is efficient. This is why modular construction requires a few more logistics and transportation steps than simply picking up and delivering to the job site.

Even if the construction site isn’t ready to install the components, having a logistics plan to alleviate the manufacturer’s inventory is essential. 

At Stream Modular, we’ve implemented solutions where we take modular products to a transportation staging area,  lay-down yard, or offsite construction site. This yard is near the construction site and allows us to build up the modular units’ inventory without disrupting the manufacturer’s ability to continue production. 

With the modular inventory close to the job site, we can coordinate the local logistics to the job site at any speed requested by the contractor. 

Construction Logistics Plan Delivery Sequence

With construction logistics plans, the sequence and timing of deliveries is critical. That’s why a project needs to be viewed in its entirety and as a series of steps that produce a result.

Many routine fright companies view a modular construction transportation logistics project as a collection of individual shipments and miss out on the big picture. For example, if they have a 50 truckload project, they may treat it as 50 isolated shipments. This creates problems, especially when different dispatchers coordinate and track different truckloads of shipment, even though the components and supply chain are dependent on each other.

By understanding sequential deliveries, you avoid the segmentation of a logistics project and instead view it as a whole. At Stream Modular, each logistics project has a single project manager who understands the big picture’s delivery importance. When one thing changes — like a delay on site, rearrangement, or adjusted shipment timing — the single project manager makes all the necessary downstream logistics adjustments.

Freight Shipping Transit Buffer

We have talked before about the importance of implementing a freight transit buffer for modular construction shipments. The transit buffer is essentially storage-in-transit, where we schedule deliveries to arrive 24-48 hours before the job site requires the components to guarantee on-time delivery. The driver will park near the job site, out of the way, until it’s time to deliver. Even with a lengthy delay – like a broken-down truck – the buffer allows for repair time, or time for our team to repower the load with another truck without impacting your project’s timeline and supply chain.

If the shipper needs to get a product out of the warehouse to free up space but the job site can’t receive it yet because they don’t have a storage yard, one way to alleviate that pressure is the transit buffer. This logistically allows the product to be picked up sooner for the company but still delivered when it is needed. 

The transit buffer also allows the flexibility to speed up deliveries. So, if the construction crew gets ahead of schedule, our trucks can deliver more products early when possible. 

Delivery Site Survey

Any project is smoother when everyone’s on the same team. That’s why we do a site survey with every logistics project, but especially ones involving the unique complexities that come with modular construction.

The site survey allows Stream Modular to build rapport with the construction team, address any logistics or shipment challenges before they become problems, and make life easier for our clients who don’t have to play telephone between their onsite foreman and our transportation team. 

Perfecting Planning for Modular Construction Logistics

Modular construction logistics may be more challenging than coordinating shipments for traditional construction freight. But, careful planning and years of experience can help ensure the successful, sequential, timely delivery of your modular components.

If you’re interested in learning more about planning modular construction logistics, we would love to chat with you. It’s what we do best!

Stream Modular is a transportation logistics company specializing exclusively in modular construction. We help modular manufacturers and builders transport mods, pods and panels so they arrive on time and safely to the build site.

Read more:

• How to Properly Measure Modular Dimensions for Transport
• What You Need to Know About Volumetric Modular Construction
• What Is the Difference Between Prefabricated and Modular Buildings?