The transportation of items in heavy industries or specialized like oil and gas and construction require the solutions of flatbed or specialized shipping options. Whereas standard freight might fit onto a pallet in a dry van or temperature-controlled vehicle, the “nonstandard” loads of the heavy industry will likely need special accommodation that the limits of an enclosed trailer cannot provide.
For example, the construction industry often requires the shipment of machinery and materials that include lumber, steel, and prefabricated building components like insulated concrete forms. Oil and gas companies require the shipment of large, heavy pieces of drilling equipment, pipes, access pads or generators. Flatbed trucks can also provide solutions for delivery locations without receiving docks because the cargo can unload from either side.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CARRIERS
As the heavy industry sectors of our economy grow, the demand for flatbed or specialized shipping solutions is increasing faster than shipping companies can keep up, which requires an extra level of due diligence when selecting the right freight carrier.
The duties of successfully transporting heavy industrial cargo don’t begin and end with the carrier. There is still much more work to be done that, often, it is better suited to the expertise of a 3PL or freight broker. A freight management provider will not only handle the carrier vetting for you, but will also handle booking the load, managing the pick-up, monitoring the load during transit and managing the delivery.
STEEL DYNAMICS CASE STUDY
Most freight brokers have a broad network of carriers, founded on relationships cultivated over years of working together. These relationships can also extend to the companies a broker might service. A great example of this is the relationship we, here at Jones Logistics, have created with Steel Dynamics where our network has allowed us to support the freight activity of large amounts of products needed from the beginning of production until the end.
FROM BEGINNING TO END
Over the years, we have seen five other carriers involved in supplying Steel Dynamics with scrap metal from the nearest port to the mill, yet we are the only carrier that remains.
With our exclusivity at the port, we support the supply chain by offloading the scrap metal from barges before transferring them onto our dedicated Steel Dynamics trucks and transporting to the mill. If the scrap metal doesn’t come from the port, we will also source it from local locations as necessary. We additionally provide the lime that purifies the steel.
Once the scrap metal has been processed into steel, we transport the steel coils to their end customer via flatbed and steel dumps. Once the steel dumps are unloaded, we return to the nearest scrap yard for more metal before returning to the facility to begin the process over.
THE JONES LOGISTICS DIFFERENCE
How have we become so engaged in Steel Dynamic’s process? We’ve provided them with a dedicated team that handles driver recruitment and training, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. A focus on safety and dedicated services has been critical in the development of our relationship with Steel Dynamics. They know they can expect high customer service and efficiency from us and that we hold our personnel accountable.
No matter what time of day or night, they can call us, and we’ll get the job done.
Are you ready to let a team of resolute, determined experts in specialized shipping help you out so you can get back to working on what matters most?
