Green energy is here to stay, and growing faster than many logistics professionals may even realize! It is estimated that $12 trillion will be spent on renewables and the power grid in the US and Canada by 2050, according to a recent report published by DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook North America. Forecasters also note that solar and wind power will continue to accelerate growth, with solar accounting for almost half of all electricity generated in North America by 2050, and wind for nearly 35% by midcentury. This means the entire power grid will undergo a vast transformation and expansion.
Much of this is driven by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, which provides long-term stability and investment for the renewables industry. For example, the IRA includes the largest investment in rural electrification since the New Deal — nearly $11 billion for rural electric co-ops — by funding rural co-ops to build clean, affordable, and reliable energy.
The green energy sector’s growth relies on two major factors:
- International supply chain operating efficiency
- Specialized heavy haul companies that have a mission critical focus and acute sense of urgency in delivering materials and supplies.
There are a few important considerations that relate to the type of freight that moves through the green energy supply chain. First, the product value is typically quite high for these commercial and industrial products, be it solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage systems and so on. The price tag to fix a product that is damaged or stolen in transit is significant. This is why having the correct partner with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), right type of equipment, and proper securement training for drivers is so important.
Additionally, these shipments are typically time-sensitive and need to be delivered to a construction site and staged “ready for implementation” in strict time windows. Having project management expertise to nail the delivery windows and onsite unloading requirements should be key criteria that any green energy company assesses its transportation and logistics partners for.
Momentum has the expertise to handle all types of green energy freight
When it comes to heavy haul and specialized transportation, Momentum Transportation, an award-winning Landstar agent, understands that it’s not just about delivering a shipment. Shippers should partner with heavy hauling companies who can handle all the complexities that surround the shipment itself. Some of these complexities include managing the driver/driver team, the routing and permit requirements, the equipment, the timing, and the budget. Momentum provides the necessary communication and robust project management know-how to ensure your shipment reaches its destination on-time and damage-free.
- 24/7 staffing keeps the lines of communication open, including after hours, weekends and holidays. The same person who books the shipment, also handles the tracking, and invoicing. We’re focused on providing visibility, transparency, and responsive service. Leveraging the latest technology, we have a personalized tracking portal that provides real-time pick-up and delivery notifications, as well as ETAs for all shipments. Our in-house team relays on-time performance updates immediately and we commit to KPIs that include 30-minute customer response times.
- Careful project management from planning to delivery. Project management starts with careful, advanced planning, open and clear communication, customized standard operating procedures to fit the job, and more. Momentum manages your freight shipments minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour with extra care and stewardship, making our project management unmatched in the industry. It includes a series of onboarding and detailed tactical planning calls with all the key stakeholders — shipper, driver and receiver. With Momentum, you can count on all the aspects of the projects to be meticulously planned in advance — so everything goes smoothly.
- Access to equipment and capacity. At Landstar, one of our strategies for managing the heavy haul equipment shortage includes forging strong bonds with existing specialized drivers and new recruits by engaging them with steady heavy haul business growth that allows and justifies investment in these expensive specialized trailers, such as double drop extendables. In fact, thanks to these partnerships, Landstar boasts the #1 Largest Specialized Fleet, as ranked by American Cranes & Transport. Landstar has 1,400 step decks, 200+ stretch extendables, 500 lowboys, and more, in its fleet — with over 100,675 tons of capacity.
- Financial stability and reliability. Momentum Transportation, an award-winning Landstar agent, is part of Landstar’s unprecedented network. In fact, Momentum is one of the Top 5 Largest Landstar Agents. For more than 5 decades, Landstar has built a vast network of capacity providers with a wide array of trailer equipment that is unmatched in the industry. Landstar System Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) provides the transparency and accountability of being a publicly traded Fortune 500 company, reporting gross revenue through the first two quarters in 2023 of $2.81B. Unlike many transportation providers with heavy debt, Landstar reported an 8% debt-to-capital ratio.
Conclusion
Landstar is an industry leader in moving freight and mission-critical shipments for the Green Energy sector. Landstar offers a global transportation network and reliable capacity with greater visibility and flexibility to meet customers’ evolving needs.
Landstar is a $5.3 billion company with 1,100 operating agency offices, over 9,800 trucks, more than 18,500 trailers, plus over 76,000 3rd party capacity partners. More than 25,000 businesses worldwide count on Landstar to deliver, because they know Landstar can handle whatever customers send our way. Contact Momentum Transportation, an award-winning Landstar agent today to get started: www.landstar-agent.com