5 Steps for Successful Transportation of Construction, Building, and Lumber Materials

Shipping and handling of construction and building materials requires in-depth planning and logistics expertise. If not handled properly, shipping construction materials can incur additional charges and in some cases pain and suffering.

The transportation and logistics of construction, building, and lumber materials is much more difficult than an LTL shipment or your basic truck load from Toronto to Calgary.

The Freight and Brokerage Team at FMi Logistics can help you with all the “outside the norm” logistics requirements for shipping of Construction, Building and Lumber materials.

Let’s plan this out correctly together! We walk you through every step of the way.

You must start at the beginning to make sure you have all the necessary information before you move forward.

Follow our 5 Steps for Successful Transportation, Planning, and Execution of moving construction, building, and lumber materials.

Step 1: What Kind of Equipment Do You Need

You need to know if your freight will require a dry van, a flat deck, or a super-b. Potentially your freight may require more specific equipment to handle over-dimensional freight. Over-dimensional freight will also require special permits to move from point A to point B.

Step 2: Dimensions of the Shipment

Is your construction materials, building materials, or lumber oversized (lifts of lumber, steel and insulation can typically be 8-12 feet in length)? You need to know if it will face cube correction. Cube correction will change the shipping rates.

You also need to account for the type of equipment necessary to pick up and deliver your construction materials. Is you shipment wood, plywood, concrete, machinery . . . . Your pickup and delivery may require appointments that must be booked ahead of time.

FMi can advise you on all the shipment dimension requirements that you need to know before you begin shipping.

Step 3: Special Requirements

Does your shipment of building construction material need heated service in winter months? Is there a specific date it must arrive on job site? Should the shipment be addressed to a specific person?  Are there hazardous materials in this freight? You should have an answer to all these questions before you ship.

In some cases, specific materials, tools, and crew are required to meet an installation date. Failure to meet deadlines can result in additional charges from a consignee or installation crew.

Alternatively, if a shipment arrives too early for the installation time, the construction materials may not be accepted on the job site and need to be stored for days, or weeks, before required. Early shipping can cost you additional storage fees from the carrier.

Construction job sites can have hundreds of different trades persons and specific departments. Finding the right person, at the right time, to accept the delivery can be a challenge. The delivery driver should know the correct name of the person or company to contact once on site. This can save undue headaches and lost time.

Additionally, delivering to a site has its own challenges. Ways of unloading your shipment may be limited in the early stages of construction. You may need to schedule a forklift on site to avoid challenges.

Step 4: Customs Broker / Insurance

Export and import is by no means a simple endeavour. A whole host of regulations govern International trade. To maximize compliance importers and exporters must be familiar with all applicable laws. Cross-border shipments require a partnership with a customs broker. Proper documentation is critical to clear customs. Specific documents must be collected and e-forms filled out prior to arrival at the border. Various taxes, duties and excises must be paid depending on the nature of the goods.

Does this shipment have a high value? Do you need additional insurance? The FMi Freight Team will ensure you know what coverage you need over-and-above the standard carrier’s liability per the standard Bill of Lading.

Step 5: Loading and Off-Loading

Most Construction, Building and Lumber material shipments and loads have “outside the norm” requirements. Knowing ahead of time if there are specific pickup and delivery requirements will help to save you any additional charges.

The more you know at the beginning the better. You can provide all the correct information and get a freight quote that minimizes additional challenges. You should ensure your shipment travels seamlessly to its destination, satisfy your customer’s loading and offloading appointments, and that the proper equipment is on site for off-loading.

Why FMi Logistics Inc?

Our Exceptional Team of Freight Brokers and Logistics Coordinators have many years of experience moving Construction, Building, and Lumber materials. Our expertise is of high value to you and your bottom line. Give us a call or  Request A Quote today for shipping your Construction, Building, and Lumber materials.