The Three Categories of High Stakes Freight

At Stream Logistics, we have identified the three core categories of High Stakes Freight™:

• Project Management
• Complex Shipments
• Unique Constraints

All High Stakes Freight fits into one or more of these categories. In this post, you will learn about each of the three categories and discover what makes them uniquely different from routine freight. You’ll also find some examples based on what we’ve seen with our own customers so you can identify if your supply chain is considered high-stakes freight.

Project Management

We define a project as having a specific timeline and end date – not recurring shipments. Most of the logistics projects we’ve managed are related to construction. For example, a construction site might need 100 flatbed trailers of structural building steel, but they must have deliveries spread out evenly over the next nine weeks while they build the structure.

The next phase of the project might be wall panels, and may require ten weeks of wall paneling in another 100 RGN trailers. The important thing to note about construction site is the importance of timing and sequence. The supply chain must be impeccable. Proper pick-up scheduling allows for manufacturers’ supply chains to continue producing their material without getting backed up, and on-time delivery allows for construction to proceed as scheduled. Pick up late, and the manufacturers get backed up. Drop off late, and the construction team is left without the materials they need to continue, resulting in thousands of dollars wasted on unused labor. Drop off early, and there may not be space to store material on-site.

You get the point: logistics timing and sequence are key when you have High Stakes Freight.

At Stream Logistics, we do things unlike anyone else in the industry – even before the project begins. First, we understand all the elements at play, whether they be time constraints access restraints, or any unique logistics requirements for construction sites. Other companies that are optimized for routine freight don’t take these special considerations in mind for their logistics solution, they treat your high-stakes freight like any other routine job, and leave it up to you to face the risks.

We know how difficult it is to get the timing right, and we also know how expensive and detrimental to a construction timeline it can be when there are supply chain mistakes. That’s why we take the time to get the details right – before sending you a digital proposal. And even though we prepare as much as possible, we understand that logistics doesn’t always go as planned. That’s why we remain flexible, respond quickly, and can make adjustments at the drop of a hat.

Complex Shipments

These are shipments that have a high difficulty level. For example, some freight require a unique or uncommon trailer type, like a stretch RGN trailer. Permits may also need to be considered, and a pre-delivery site visit or a route survey may be required to confirm the safe transport and reliable delivery of your High Stakes Freight. Routine freight companies shy away from these types of shipments because it’s difficult to automate or scale the solution. We love them precisely because they’re hard.

Unique Constraints

Sometimes the difficulty level of logistics solution goes up because there are constraints. For example, one of our clients manfactures high-end window and door systems. These are the kinds of windows and doors that you might see in a Malibu mansion where, at the click of a button, a 20-foot door opens up an entire wall to the coastal view. Most of their shipments are just one truckload. But their unique constraints include:

• The transport of glass (high-value/specialized/delicate)
• They need a different truck to access to a hillside residential neighborhood
• They’re working with high-end clientele with high expectations
• Supply chain considerations like a forklift on-site
• They need a driver who can help unload material

When you start listing the constraints, it suddenly becomes apparent that execution is more challenging than a routine freight job. The stakes are high: There’s quality material, high-paying clients with expectations, and a business reputation to uphold. This is a great example of when to use High Stakes Freight and a third party logistics provider.

Unlike a routine freight broker, we are detail-oriented and love a good challenge. We aren’t looking for automated processes and easy jobs. We lean into everything that makes your freight “high-stakes” and get to work to ensure your supply chain experience is seamless.

So, does your freight require project management? Does it come with complexity or unique constraints? If so, connect with us! Our team of logistics and supply chainexperts will handle every aspect of getting your freight where it needs to be on-time, intact, and in sequence – n