Construction Logistics is often underestimated – considered only as the support services within the confines of a construction site, such as security, cleanliness and welfare, that maintain the site environment and facilitate the work of the building trades.  These services are better referred to as Site Logistics.

Actually, Construction Logistics incorporates a far broader range of responsibilities and operations extending beyond the site hoarding, out into the local community and surrounding area, throughout the road networks and freight routes that service the site, and right back to the source of each supply chain.

CSB refers to services outside of Site Logistics responsibilities as Supply Logistics.  Construction Logistics is the effective and collaborative strategy, planning and management of these two overlapping spheres of operation.

Supply Logistics

Network of supply chains & freight operations that extend globally & ultimately converge in each delivery to site

Site Logistics

Onsite services that maintain the site welfare and productivity of contractors and trades

FREIGHT MANAGEMENT

  • Manufacture / Supplier shipping process
  • Export / Import compliance & documentation
  • Insurance – Marine / Goods-In-Transit / All-Risks
  • Customs Clearance
  • Onward delivery from port

CCC

  • Consolidation of materials form different suppliers
  • Off-site storage – specialist warehousing / yard areas
  • Professional handling
  • Vehicle offload / loading
  • Inventory control & tracking
  • Call-off communication & coordination
  • Load optimisation to reduce part-loads
  • Reverse logistics back to CCC
  • Management of returned packaging / waste materials
  • Off-site production / assemble / mock-up areas

SITE DELIVERY MANAGEMENT

  • ‘Last Mile’ & Just-In-Time strategies
  • FORS & CLOCS compliance
  • Vehicle routing
  • GPS Tracking
  • Driver hours / tacho break management
  • Contingency management

SITE LOGISTICS

  • Security
  • Site welfare
  • Traffic Marshalling
  • Delivery bookings management system (DMS)
  • Offloading / loading vehicles
  • Crane & hoist operations
  • Material distribution from gate to storage or installation point
  • Waste management

Construction Logistics Plans

For a construction project to be successful, it is essential that proper considerations for logistics are made early in the planning process.

Depending on site location, scale and duration of construction, there will be varying impacts relating to safety, environment, local road congestion and the community.

A Construction Logistics Plan, or CLP, is the key management tool which ensures that all relevant logistics factors, impacts and mitigations have been considered and detailed. It is the primary responsibility of the client / developer – and progressively involves the main contractor, sub-contractors, logistics providers and supply chains.

Local Planning Authorities (LPA) are now mandating that a CLP is submitted at the Outline Planning stage – which is then further developed into a more comprehensive CLP for the approval of Detailed Planning.

The core purpose of a CLP is to reduce the safety and environmental impacts of construction freight, primarily by reducing the number of vehicle movements in and out of the site. But a quality CLP will also provide greater logistics control, reducing unnecessary costs and downtime, and optimising productivity.

CSB provides collaborative strategies to coordinate both Supply Logistics and Site Logistics, and ensure CLPs are effective.  Our expert management and consultancy team combines over 30 years of hands-on logistics experience along with current industry recognition through CILT accredited CLP Practitioner training.

Construction Logistics Plans

For a construction project to be successful, it is essential that proper considerations for logistics are made early in the planning process.

Depending on site location, scale and duration of construction, there will be varying impacts relating to safety, environment, local road congestion and the community.

A Construction Logistics Plan, or CLP, is the key management tool which ensures that all relevant logistics factors, impacts and mitigations have been considered and detailed. It is the primary responsibility of the client / developer – and progressively involves the main contractor, sub-contractors, logistics providers and supply chains.

Local Planning Authorities (LPA) are now mandating that a CLP is submitted at the Outline Planning stage – which is then further developed into a more comprehensive CLP for the approval of Detailed Planning.

The core purpose of a CLP is to reduce the safety and environmental impacts of construction freight, primarily by reducing the number of vehicle movements in and out of the site. But a quality CLP will also provide greater logistics control, reducing unnecessary costs and downtime, and optimising productivity.

CSB provides collaborative strategies to coordinate both Supply Logistics and Site Logistics, and ensure CLPs are effective.  Our expert management and consultancy team combines over 30 years of hands-on logistics experience along with current industry recognition through CILT accredited CLP Practitioner training.

Planned Measures

The most important section of a CLP is ‘Strategies to Reduce Impacts’. There are several established Planned Measures which must be considered and committed to or proposed in a CLP:

  • Safety and environmental standards – such as FORS / CLOCS / DVS
  • Adherence to designated vehicle routes
  • Delivery scheduling – using a DMS
  • Re-Timing – restricting deliveries to off-peak hours and potentially during night hours
  • Construction Consolidation Centres
  • Vehicle holding areas
  • Reverse Logistics
  • Off-site waste management
  • Freight by water and rail
  • Staff travel plan
  • Re-use of materials
  • Smart procurement
  • Collaboration with other local sites

As new initiatives, standards and technologies emerge the list of potential Planned Measures will increase – and as better specification, implementation and monitoring of CLPs develops, the effectiveness of these strategies will continually improve.