The rail service continues to be the preferred mode of transportation in the United States. Although rail line transportation facilitates supply chain efficiency in the country, it is only one element that enables utility companies to get what they need to maintain their infrastructures. Unloading utility poles from rail cars and onto trucks is another element. The delivery and unloading at job sites are two more factors that project managers must consider and plan to encounter.
What challenges do project managers face when transporting utility poles? What is transloading? What are the benefits of transloading?
Read this article to discover the answers that could change the way you work.
Utility Pole Transportation Challenges
Transporting utility poles sounds difficult but not impossible. The job presents project managers with numerous challenges they and their teams must overcome to ensure a safe and timely delivery.
Gathering the Equipment, Drivers, Operators, and Riggers
Project managers have to take time from their tight schedules to rent the heavy machinery that loads and unloads the poles from rail cars to trucks. They also have to rent the hauling trucks.
People must operate the equipment, meaning project managers must have the right drivers, operators, and riggers for the job. Hiring more workers costs more time and money, especially if the local labor force does not readily have these people.
Planning Routes and Obtaining Permits
Project managers must know their delivery route so they can acquire any applicable permits. They have research routes as well as permit regulations for the areas their freight will travel through.
Scheduling
Project managers have to make sure the equipment, people, and permits align with each other. If the equipment and workers are available but the permits are not, then transportation can not commence until managers receive the permits. Time management is essential for success.
Loading, Transporting, and Unloading the Poles
The physical work carries risk, even when performed by seasoned experts. Any mistake or equipment failure can cause great harm to body and property. They can also delay a project.
Repeating the Process
Project managers have to repeat this entire process for every job that necessitates the transportation of heavy utility freight. They need a cost effective shortcut that decreases risk and cost. Transloading can help them simplify a challenging job.
What is Transloading?
The transloading process can be an efficient way to transfer freight from rail to truck and then to job sites. Hauling trucks with attached cranes pull into the distribution center. Operators use the cranes to move freight off a rail car and place it on the truck’s flatbed. The operator drives to the job sites where they use the crane to unload the flatbed.
In a warehouse setting, transloading is known as cross docking. However, this article will use the term to describe the process as previously defined.
The Benefits of Transloading
Transloading is one solution to many project managers’ utility transportation challenges. Wise managers will hire a transloading hauling company when they want to:
Complete the Job On-Time
There are no guarantees that every element of a utility pole transportation job will come together as planned. Delays can push back deadlines, upsetting utility companies and their customers. Managers have to shoulder the heavy burden of ensuring their projects are completed as scheduled.
Focus on Their Other Duties
With extra equipment rentals and employee recruitment off of their agendas, project managers can prioritize what really needs to be done. They can do more when they do not have the burden of utility pole transportation weighing on them. Without route planning and permit acquisition distracting them, they can focus better and lead their teams to success.
Reduce Liability Risk
Unqualified equipment operators can pose a huge risk to the safety of everyone around loading and unloading sites. Unskilled drivers could endanger other vehicles on the road. Even experienced employees can have a momentary lapse of judgment that threatens your team’s well-being.
Equipment can also be a liability. Faulty cranes and forklifts could fail at the worst possible moment. Even if they are properly maintained, accidents can happen. Managers who partner with a transloading solution can reduce their project’s liability risk. With less equipment and fewer workers required to load, deliver, and unload poles, the chances of something going wrong drastically drops.
Save Money
Using a single transloading hauling solution means not having to pay for additional equipment and staff. Plus, a lower liability risk means project managers are less likely to face lawsuits originating from negligence and misfortune.
Use One Transloading Solution Multiple Times
Project managers can rely on one hauling company to fulfill all of their utility pole transportation demands. They might have to deal with different vendors and contractors if they have to rent machinery and hire workers. Working with one company eliminates the hassle of keeping up with everyone involved with transport. They can turn to the company whenever they need prompt, efficient service.
Solve Your Utility Pole Transportation Problem Today
If you need easy access from rail yards to your job site, then you need to partner with transloading experts. Blackwood Resources can handle your heavy haul with care and speed.
What Can We Do For You?
Our transloading services can reduce your project’s transportation costs and save time. From a transloading facility to your work site, we can safely deliver your utility poles and other freight.
Since 2017, we have helped project managers like you successfully meet their companies’ expectations. Our comprehensive services include getting permits and providing load assistance. We can gladly align our services to your project’s needs.
Experts should be the only ones to transport utility poles. Unfortunately, many project managers either take on the job themselves or outsource to companies with poor track records. Some managers even use companies that will deliver the poles but not unload them. We specialize in self-unloading, which means our trucks have attached grapples that allow us to easily load and unload utility freight. We will not leave the job half-done.
What Else Can We Do?
Relocation Services
We can mobilize at a moment’s notice to support any “load and go” service you need. Our fleet of trucks maximizes load capacity. If you need bin-block transportation or a set-up for new and existing yards, then let us know.
Storm Response
We know the importance of reconnecting people after a severe weather event. Our storm response team can help utility companies quickly restore electricity and communications. We can provide roadside transport, clean-up, and staging services to help people recover.
One Last Thing You Should Know
Transloading utility poles is not without its challenges. We have the tools and expertise to transform your utility pole transportation problems into victories. Contact us today when you want to start winning.
