The construction industry succeeds or fails based on its logistics planning.
Logistics is at the very heart of construction planning, from people, parts, and equipment to scheduling and transportation. The construction industry remains exposed to fluctuations in the supply chain and the cost of materials. A project may face supply issues with construction hardware, clothing, workers, vehicles, personal protective equipment, tile, glass, flooring, or even raw materials like sand. The costs of other basic construction materials such as aluminum, copper, steel, and lumber have drastically increased, with some material costs more than doubling.
Challenges to Construction Logistics
Poor logistics have many impacts to construction projects. These can include rising/higher costs of construction materials; strict deadlines and late projects; delayed or missing freight deliveries; backordered or unavailable supplies, materials, or equipment; and unplanned redeployment of materials, equipment, and personnel. These consequences can lead to strained working relationships and lost business. Companies also need to be aware of contingencies for inclement weather or force majeure scenarios.
Shipping Services and Expertise
If construction contractors are planning a project where specific items may be hard to obtain, ordering those early and paying for storage may be more efficient in the long run to ensure the project does not face unnecessary delays. Similarly, some contractors are procuring high-risk items and pre-purchasing material for projects, then working in storage cost to help prevent delays. As the project progresses, they may need to move materials around to different projects that face more critical needs or that have tighter timelines. This is where the right 3PL partner, like AirFreight.com, can ensure those resources get to new work sites on time and undamaged.
Protecting Against Delivery Delays
AirFreight.com can help protect against delivery delays by planning to have deliveries made 3-7 days before your crews need them. To avoid waiting for backordered materials, develop relationships with several suppliers, then work with AirFreight.com’s experienced expeditors to get them delivered to one or multiple work sites. Place orders for hard-to-find products well in advance and have them transported through AirFreight.com’s extensive air and ground shipping options.
Meeting Shipping Challenges
By working with AirFreight.com’s expeditors, you can avoid last-minute rush deliveries that cost more than regularly scheduled shipments. Of course, if a last-minute situation does come up, AirFreight.com can handle that, too. Replacing damaged materials costs you more than properly shipping them in the first place, so working with AirFreight.com means you'll have the right equipment, right-sized vehicle, and experienced crew handling your freight. Simply put, poor construction freight logistics is costly, and without proper planning and 3PL support, it could cost you a few important business relationships, too.
Helping You Stay on Schedule
Logistics is at the very heart of construction planning, from people, parts, and equipment to scheduling and transportation. As a result of being driven by logistics, the construction industry is very exposed to fluctuations in the supply chain and the cost of materials. A project may face supply issues with construction hardware, clothing, workers, vehicles, personal protective equipment, tile, glass, flooring, or even raw materials like sand. The costs of other basic construction materials such as aluminum, copper, steel and lumber have drastically increased, with some material costs more than doubling.
Air Charter
Private flights on an AirFreight.com air charter provide the exclusivity and speed you need to hit critical construction deadlines. Air charters offer complete shipment flexibility, from departure time to final destination. Air charters are one of the fastest shipping options available and include in-flight tracking, so you’ll always know the status of your parts shipment. We have access to some of the largest cargo aircraft in North America including helicopters, so if it fits, it flies.
Scheduled Flights
This involves reserving space on a scheduled flight that carries cargo for multiple customers or booking it on the next flight out. For long-term shipping plans, scheduling same day air services ensures regular access to critical freight capacity from any starting point. Scheduled flights are economical, predictable, and use both commercial passenger and freighter aircraft from major airlines at most airports across the country. If your shipping timeline is too compressed or unpredictable to wait for scheduled or next flight out air service, you still have options.
Ground Expedite
Before your construction project gets back online, the parts have to travel by ground—at least part of the way. Ground expedite service from AirFreight.com includes everything from Sprinter vans, small and large straight trucks, up to 53-foot tractor trailer delivery teams or other specialized equipment. We’ll pick up your shipment, deliver it to the airport, then receive it at the other end—providing hand-carried service as necessary or required.
Always Free Freight Quotes
AirFreight.com offers time-sensitive and effective solutions across a wide range of service options to handle your construction shipping requirements. No prior account is needed to get started. Just call us at (800) 713-1000, or enter your order online. All costs are listed without any hidden fees, so you know upfront how much you will pay.
Customized Solutions
We do all the logistical legwork to find the best solution for your specific situation. It might mean an exclusive air charter, or perhaps expedited ground shipping that still gets your critical parts to the construction site on time. Let us focus on getting you what you need, where you need it, so you can focus on meeting your construction deadlines.
Real-Time Tracking
Lost or delayed parts can cripple a construction schedule, drive up costs, decrease labor productivity and generally make everyone unhappy. AirFreight.com uses the latest tracking technology to always know where your shipment is, and our team is happy to give you updates whenever you need them. We are proactively engaged with your shipment by monitoring air traffic, inclement weather, connecting flight cancellations, road construction, and congested streets.
Constant Contact
Want status on your parts? Our team is always available to answer your questions, provide an update on your shipment’s location, and take new instructions 24/7/365. Call us anytime.
Experienced Expeditors
With AirFreight.com, you’ll work with the same expeditor who understands your business from start to finish, ensuring consistent communication, eliminating misunderstandings, and improving the quality of your entire shipping experience. That’s why some of the largest names in the construction industry trust AirFreight.com to meet their urgent shipping deadlines. We develop plans that guarantee shipping services are supported by time-effective options whether the final destination is a major air hub, a regional airport, or even a remote airstrip.
