If you are a project manager, jobsite superintendent, or procurement officer coordinating rock deliveries, you can greatly benefit by opting for bulk rock delivery to enjoy cost savings and time efficiency.
Planning Ahead: Why Bulk Rock Delivery Begins With Jobsite Logistics
Large-scale rock delivery requires effective planning, and it should always start with jobsite logistics. Jobsite logistics entails careful planning for the movement and storage of construction aggregate, including sand, gravel, and crushed stone.
Jobsite logistics is the key to timely delivery, effective storage, and efficient use of construction aggregate. The first step in jobsite logistics is effective communication with the rock supplier of choice.
The most important information you should exchange with your rock supplier should revolve around:
- The type of construction aggregate you need, whether it is gravel, decorative stone, or boulders.
- The quantity of construction aggregate you need, often expressed in tons or cubic yards.
- The desired date and time of delivery.
- The delivery location.
- Any additional instructions regarding loading and unloading.
- The total cost, including the delivery fees, if any.
Large-scale rock delivery also requires a critical assessment of staging areas, managing site traffic, and designing access routes to the job site. If the materials must be delivered to the site, ensure that delivery trucks have access and exit routes that don’t call for any form of interruption.
Jobsite logistics also requires an effective determination of the right quantity and material type needed in a specific period. If you have your mulch delivered and it has to sit on the soil for weeks, it could compact or get contaminated. Maybe rocks and sand can sit on the soil for a long time, but it is still wise to determine the right amounts of materials needed to prevent unnecessary exposure to the elements.
Base Layer Prep: How to Get the Most Out of Your Rock Delivery
In order to get the most out of your rock delivery, you must undertake an extensive base layer preparation. Base layer prep starts with soil testing, which is the extensive assessment of the ability of the soil to support the intended structure, and deciding on the best construction aggregate to be used. The findings from rock testing ensure that you order the right type of rock for your construction project.
The second thing to do is soil compaction, which is the mechanical method of increasing the soil’s density. Soil compaction densifies the soil, gets rid of void spaces, and ensures you have a stable and strong base for subsequent construction aggregate delivery.
The final stage in base layer prep is soil grading, which entails the leveling of the earth before laying a solid construction foundation. Before laying any drainage rock layers, you should ensure that all debris or vegetation is removed from the material delivery site to ensure proper drainage.
Bulk rock delivery can still face several issues that may lead to extensive rework. Construction rework is costly, but it can be avoided by:
- Maintaining clear communication with rock suppliers
- Thorough planning
- Proper base layer preparation
- Strong quality control
Delivery Scheduling: Saving Time and Reducing Delays
Delivery scheduling faces several challenges, ranging from meeting tight delivery times, maintaining coordination with suppliers, and ensuring that there is route visibility. One critical way to overcome these challenges is to choose the ideal delivery windows based on your site activity.
Ideally, two types of business models are suitable for the construction industry, including:
- Same-day deliveries: Also called same-day or just-in-time delivery, this suits small-sized orders that should be delivered to the construction site on demand.
- Heavy haul delivery: This model suits the delivery of heavy, large, or specialty delivery items.
Small-sized deliveries require small delivery time windows, while heavy-haul deliveries require large delivery time windows. Effective deliveries also depend on effective coordination with truck drivers and equipment operators for efficient offload. That coordination involves clear communication, effective planning, and adherence to safety protocols to ensure that rock truck drivers keep time and your materials are delivered to designated areas.
Once your rocks have been delivered, you should focus on immediate and accurate rock placement. Rock bolting is a known technique used in geotechnical construction and engineering to enhance structural integrity. It entails the use of grouting, anchor bolts, and drilling to ensure a reliable and long-lasting solution.
Managing On-Site Volume: Storage, Staging, and Distribution
It is always efficient to receive rock deliveries in bulk to save time and money. However, there is a need to have effective ways to store those rocks safely and efficiently without disrupting site flows. Some suggestions include:
- On-site warehousing allows for the establishment of temporary storage facilities within the construction site for easy access to construction rocks.
- Off-site warehousing is necessary for materials that are not needed immediately. Off-site warehousing reduces congestion at the construction site.
Best Practices for Dividing Material for Phased Use
- Material list: Jobsite logistics requires the availability of a materials list that identifies the materials required at the construction site and their commodity levels. Depending upon the engineering deliverables and the project knowledge available at the time, a material list is created that identifies the project material requirements at a commodity level.
- Determining the required on-site dates: Large-scale rock deliveries require that you know which rocks will be needed for the project, in which quantities, and when you no longer need to have rocks delivered on a large scale. It means aligning material delivery with the project dates and construction schedules to prevent overstocking.
Materials like loaders and spreaders should be brought into the construction site when they are needed for specific operations, such as during rock placement, cargo loading, unloading, or spreading materials.
Partnering With a Reliable Supplier to Streamline Operations
Reliable suppliers are critical for a construction project that needs bulk rock delivery and a regular supply of construction aggregate. Most construction projects survive as a result of effective supplier coordination, especially for multi-phase projects.
Effective supplier coordination requires the interaction between a network of suppliers, contracts, and information. These contractual ties ensure that suppliers make on-time deliveries and an efficient exchange of information. The information aspect works well with well-designed contractual agreements that support collaborative practices.
Support During Change Orders or Unexpected Volume Shifts
A construction project can experience a change order, which refers to an addendum added to an original construction contract outlining any modifications to requests made by either party. It could be a small request to change materials or a major request for a project redesign.
The proper support during change orders requires:
- The inclusion of all key stakeholders in the project, such as the client and the contractor who submitted the change orders.
- There is a need for details of the requested change, including the nature and scope of the change.
- The inclusion of cost and changes in schedule to avoid delays or interferences.
- Signatures must be included for all the parties involved in the process.
Why Roblar Quarry’s Delivery Process Supports Your Schedule, Not the Other Way Around
If you are looking for a seamless delivery process that supports your schedule, look no further than Roblar Quarry LLC. Our delivery process is designed to support your project schedule, provide timely and reliable delivery of construction rocks, and ensure that you have all materials when you need them. Our company focuses on convenience, reliability, and customized solutions, meaning that we will adapt our services to meet your specific needs. Call us today and enjoy a seamless delivery of construction materials.