Client Overview
Customer: Major Energy Infrastructure Contractor
Origin: Two locations in the United States (Texas and additional point)
Destination: Multiple job sites across South America
Objective
Design and execute a seamless logistics strategy for the safe export of high-value, heavy cable reels.
Ensure damage-free handling, containerization, and ocean transport under aggressive timelines.
Maintain full visibility and communication across all stakeholders despite challenging weather conditions and third-party trucking operations.
Key Shipment Details
Goods Transported: High-value energy transmission cable reels
Container Type: 40-foot standard ocean containers (loaded via transload operation)
Mode of Transport: Domestic flatbed trucking (to transload facility) → Ocean Freight export → Delivery to job sites
Situation
Our logistics forwarding firm was engaged to support a critical energy infrastructure project requiring the export of high-value, heavy cable reels from two separate U.S. locations to job sites in South America. Each reel, weighing several thousand kilograms, was highly sensitive and very expensive—any cable damage could render an entire reel unusable.
The project timeline was aggressive, with just two weeks to complete the export process. The reels were delivered via flatbed trucks and required transloading into 40-foot ocean containers at a specialized facility. Adding to the complexity, this operation occurred during Florida’s hurricane season, where weather disruptions, road closures, and safety concerns were constant variables. The project demanded rigorous coordination across multiple stakeholders, including shippers, transportation providers, Transloaders, and the end customer—each requiring timely communication and real-time updates to avoid costly delays.
Task
We were responsible for designing and executing a logistics strategy that ensured:
Timely arrival of all reels at a secure transload facility.
Safe handling, offloading, inspection, and storage of the reels.
Accurate sorting and containerization according to destination job sites.
Damage-free transport from origin to final delivery.
Real-time communication and oversight of all moving parts, despite not managing the domestic or export trucking legs directly.
The plan required flawless coordination between the shipper, the transload facility, and the export transportation provider. Each reel needed to be inspected and documented upon arrival, assigned to the correct container, and loaded using best practices to prevent movement or damage during ocean transit. We also had to navigate container drop-off/pickup scheduling, while maintaining full visibility and accountability at every stage.
Action
Strategic Facility Selection: We selected Jacksonville, Florida, as the transloading site due to its proximity to both origin points and optimal shipping routes to South America.
Risk Management: We arranged marine insurance coverage for 110% of cargo value, ensuring full risk mitigation for the customer.
Inbound Coordination: We scheduled flatbed deliveries from Texas to Jacksonville to align with labor availability and warehouse throughput, avoiding congestion and detention fees.
Specialized Handling Protocols: We implemented strict reel-handling guidelines—forklifts were only allowed to engage reels via the eye or flange, never contacting the cable itself.
Comprehensive Inspections: Each reel was photographed, tagged, and inspected on arrival. Detailed reports with images were shared with the client immediately to confirm cargo condition.
Damage Mitigation: Despite damage caused by poor tarp security at origin and exposure to hurricane conditions, our inspection process enabled rapid identification of affected reels. We proposed and executed a full recovery plan—removing damaged tarps, re-securing the cables, and documenting each fix. This eliminated the need for the customer to send their team on-site, saving critical time and travel costs.
Incident Management: When one aggressive driver posed a threat at the facility, we quickly de-escalated the situation by coordinating with the facility and client. The driver was removed, and we safely completed the unloading using our own resources to avoid project delays.
Container Loading & Scheduling: We developed a daily drop-off and pickup rotation to manage container availability and capacity—maximizing loading throughput while respecting facility constraints of three containers per day.
Stakeholder Communication: We provided daily updates on inventory, loading progress, and vessel cutoff times, while offering advisory support to both origin and destination teams to ensure best practices for delivery.
Result
Despite inclement weather, tight timelines, and multiple unexpected complications, our team executed a seamless transloading and export operation. All reels were safely loaded into ocean containers, departed on schedule, and arrived at their respective South American job sites on time and undamaged. The client praised our leadership, responsiveness, and ability to problem-solve under pressure, reinforcing our value as a trusted logistics partner for complex, high-stakes international movements.