In commercial construction, budgets are tight, and timelines are even tighter. Competent contractors look for any efficiency that gives them an edge without sacrificing quality. To that end, efficient material handling has emerged as a critical differentiator. On complex job sites, especially those involving structural steel, how materials are moved can significantly impact cost, safety, and timelines.
The variety of equipment needed over the duration of a construction project can be considered as a whole and thus leveraged to create savings. General contractors and steel erectors should consider material handling as a way of maximizing savings by creating efficiencies.
Whether it is unloading bundles of metal sheeting, precisely staging trusses, or ensuring finishes go in without delay, the cranes, scissor lifts, and other specialized lift equipment used on-site contribute to a smooth workflow and efficient overall project.
Efficiency equals cost savings, but safety is also vitally important. Not only is there the obvious potential human cost associated with accidents, but they can also affect downtime and productivity. Getting the right equipment from the outset is crucial.
Jobsite efficiency begins with planning
The key to efficiency is not just having the right tools; it is about deploying them with precision. Contractors need an equipment team that works closely with them and tradespeople such as ironworkers and sheet metal installers to plan every lift before it happens. This collaboration begins at the pre-bid and pre-work stages, where lift planning is integrated into an overall construction strategy.
Knowing which machine to use, whether it is a large all-terrain crane, a crawler for a bundle lift, or a small rough-terrain crane for material staging, can determine whether materials are touched once or five times. That difference is measurable in both time and money.
One of the most overlooked aspects of material handling is how and where materials are staged. When done well, this sets the tone for a streamlined project. When done poorly, it creates congestion and inefficiencies.
Staging is an integral part of productivity. If workers know from experience that a crane can lift and place an entire bundle where it needs to be used, and that it will not have to be moved again, that is a huge win.
This is where logistics tools and experience matter
Jobsite planning includes considerations for underground utilities, overhead lines, surface obstructions, and tight site footprints. All these details influence the type of equipment needed, as well as how it should be deployed.
When trucks arrive with metal to be used on site, contractors consider things such as the radius of particular lifting equipment, lifting capacity, and the direction in which material will be placed to maximize the efficiency of picks and grabs while establishing the ideal working radius.
Protecting materials means protecting the budget
Construction materials such as steel are expensive. Improper handling risks damage, delays the project, and raises costs. That is why knowledge of rigging, lift attachments, and protective handling techniques is critical. This means using appliances such as softeners, nylon straps, and specific cradling attachments when necessary. It also means knowing how to elevate materials for easier access with forklifts, which avoids dragging or scraping. These are not afterthoughts; they should be part of the plan.
While advancements have been made in rigging, padded devices, and vacuum suction tools, equipment innovation alone does not create jobsite efficiency—people do.
Do not pick equipment based on what is new but on what is right for the job. It is about understanding what is being lifted, the jobsite layout, and the timeline. Safety and productivity are always the top priorities.
Shared equipment programs
All these efforts—thoughtful planning, safe lifting, and efficient staging—come together in a shared equipment program (SEP). This forward-thinking strategy combines a project’s lift equipment needs under a single umbrella. In SEP, the general contractor is the primary renter, coordinating equipment use for all subcontractors. Rather than each subcontractor renting their lift equipment, an SEP eliminates duplication, reduces costs, and makes the jobsite safer and less congested. It is a far-sighted way of coordinating all material-handling operations.
Having no overlapping rentals of the same equipment saves money; in fact, it can save hundreds of thousands of dollars—even millions—throughout a project. At the same time, it can shave months off a construction timeline.
An SEP also reduces congestion. Fewer machines mean better traffic flow and fewer safety hazards, all while helping to ensure readiness. When we enteran SEP, our technicians maintain equipment between uses, so every subcontractor gets a “rent-ready” machine.
From steelworkers needing rough-terrain cranes to finishing contractors requiring scissor lifts, the SEP ensures everyone has the equipment they need, when they need it, without overspending or overcomplicating logistics.
Rich Randall is general manager of ALL Crane Rental Corp., an ALL Family of Companies member. Randall became GM of the ALL Family’s Columbus, Ohio, branch in 2018 after years in operations and logistics at ALL’s Cleveland headquarters. Immediately before his current position, Randall moved around across ALL’s footprint, helping branches improve efficiency and performance.
