Logistics and Cost Challenges and How We’re Handling Them
Posted in Costs, Logistics on May 26, 2022
We are all feeling the effects of shipping, logistics, and cost issues across all areas of our lives because of the pandemic and world events. From grocery store items to household items, it’s more challenging to find and receive supplies. Things like food and gas are also more expensive. It’s been a challenge to navigate this new reality for many people.
We empathize. The green roof industry is feeling the effects too. We want to share what we’ve encountered and how we’re handling it.
Current Challenges
Materials
At rooflite, we pride ourselves on using regionally sourced materials for our soil mixes across the country. We have seen some issues in sourcing materials, but we want to assure our customers that even with these issues, we will continue to produce and provide the high-quality soil products that you have come to rely on from us. This includes our commitment to put all our mixes through our rigorous Quality Assurance Program to be sure we are providing the high-quality soil that both we and our customers expect.
Hard goods and components
Some of the projects for which we’re providing our soil have experienced delays in installation and completion because of missing hard goods or components. These parts are either delayed in shipping or not available. These things aren’t related to our soil, but they are affecting project timelines.
Fuel
We are all experiencing increased costs at the pump. Same goes for the trucking companies and truck drivers we use to deliver our soil. Many companies and drivers are increasing their prices because fuel is more expensive these days.
Labor
In some parts of the US, it’s a challenge right now to find trucks and drivers to deliver our soil. Quality logistics is one of our hallmarks, and we work hard to manage and overcome any challenges in getting soil to your project in a timely and efficient manner.
How We’re Handling It
Given all these challenges, we’ve had to make some changes on how we’re handling our day-to-day business:
- Fuel surcharge: because of rising fuel prices, we are now adding a fuel surcharge to all our estimates and quotes. We are calling this out as a separate line item in order to be completely transparent with our customers.
- Estimates: fluctuating costs are a challenge right now, but we know you need good information to plan and budget for your project. Because of this, we are guaranteeing all estimates within a calendar year. If you get an estimate from us in any month in 2022, we will guarantee it until December 31, 2022.
- Logistics: as always, we do our very best to meet your timelines for soil delivery to keep your project on track. We are expanding our trucking and driver network when necessary to make sure we can deliver to you on time.
We expect these challenges to continue for the foreseeable future. While we look forward to the day when we don’t have to adjust to these frequently changing circumstances, we want you to know that we will continue to be transparent with our customers. Your projects are important to us.
