It can certainly be argued that the energy sector is the most important domestic and global industry.
Of course without power, everything stops. The production of electricity, either through fossil fuels or hydroelectric plants, wind, and solar, enables our modern technology, conveniences, and the business world to function. So then it follows that the supply chain supporting this critical sector is also just as important. As evidenced when power production capacity goes offline, either in the dead of winter or heat of summer, keeping this infrastructure up and running can be a matter of life and death for those who depend on it. Long lead times for parts have curtailed or completely stopped operations at petrochemical plants in various states, with the effects rippling out and impacting every facet of business, commercial, and private life. Shipping delays and parts shortages have caused warehouse managers to increase available stock by doubling or tripling their inventories. This has placed additional strain on the manufacturing sector as they work to meet demand building the key components that keeps power flowing.
Consider for a moment just one of the logistical challenges facing one component of the energy sector: the wind industry.
A wind turbine blade is hundreds of feet in length, and once fully constructed, cannot be bent or folded. This limits both the route a truck can take and the radius of any turn it has to make during transport. Additionally, the movement of tower components is often obstructed when the diameter of those components is unable to fit under highway overpasses or bridges. Moving oversized parts like this requires both expertise and equipment that many third-party logistics (3PL) companies simply cannot provide. If you are faced with this or similar scenarios, whether it is a hydroelectric power station or solar farm, you need a 3PL who can move your parts and equipment safely and securely, while meeting your most stringent deadlines. Your 3PL partner for the energy sector is absolutely AirFreight.com.
Experience is power
The majority of shipping accidents that occur when transporting components for wind energy or hydrodynamic power is the result of human error. Choosing to work with AirFreight.com immediately helps you put safety and compliance first and finds ways to safely transport delicate and oversized components. Due to their fragile nature, solar panels can be difficult and expensive to ship. There is not a standardized method for handling solar panels because there are many manufacturers in the renewable energy industry. They each create all types of panels with sensitive electronics and glass that need to be handled differently. You need a team that knows your industry, has an extensive carrier network that will safely deliver your freight, and pays attention to the critical details of your shipment.
Challenges to energy production
The consequences from lost power production due to plant downtime are serious and significant to any business. Equipment failure is one of the biggest causes of energy production downtime. Losses compound exponentially with the delay or loss of energy capacity or the idling of plants for scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Yet there are several other serious challenges to energy production, all of which can be mitigated or avoided with the right 3PL provider partner like AirFreight.com. Let’s talk about why equipment matters.
Special equipment requirements
Wind turbines can be as tall as an 85-story building with a blade radius of an acre. Transporting just one wind turbine can take up to nine separate shipments. The tower must be moved in three sections on a double or single Schnabel trailer specially designed for wind towers. Each blade is transported individually on a trailer designed only for blades. The machine head is moved with a specific type of 13-axle trailer. Then the rest of the components are moved on flatbed trucks. With requirements like this, working with the right 3PL provider like AirFreight.com who can flex with your needs when situations and requirements change is absolutely critical.
Oil rig drill bits, casing and drill pipes are heavy and must be handled with care. Solar equipment has sensitive electronics and glass easily subject to damage. Just to make one solar panel requires nearly 40 different components, including precious metals, that need to get to the factory on time. These projects are built on tight timelines and budgets, and energy companies risk millions in unexpected costs and possibly fines if there are delays anywhere in the production process.
Moving oversized parts requires both special expertise and equipment. Don’t let your wind turbines, oil pumps, solar farm or hydroelectric facilities sit idle waiting for a flatbed truck to become available. When you work with AirFreight.com, you immediately get access to a fleet of right-sized, properly equipped and staffed aircraft and vehicles ready and able to haul your toughest equipment when and where you need it.
Air Charter
Private flights on a AirFreight.com air charter provide the exclusivity and speed you need to hit those critical deadlines. Air charters offer complete shipment flexibility from departure time to final destination. Air charters are one of the fastest shipping options available and include in-flight tracking, so you’ll always know the status of your parts shipment. We have access to some of the largest cargo aircraft in North America – including helicopters, so if it fits, it flies.
Scheduled Flights
This involves reserving space on a scheduled flight that carries cargo for multiple customers or booking it on the next flight out. For long-term shipping plans, scheduling same-day air services ensures regular access to critical freight capacity from any starting point. Scheduled flights are economical, predictable, and use both commercial passenger and freighter aircraft from major airlines at most airports across the country. If your shipping timeline is too compressed or unpredictable to wait for scheduled or next flight out air service, you still have options.
Ground Expedite
Before your energy production system gets back online, the parts have to travel by ground – at least part of the way. Ground expedite service from AirFreight.com includes everything from Sprinter vans, small and large straight trucks, up to 53-foot tractor trailer delivery teams or other specialized equipment. We’ll pick up your shipment, deliver it to the airport, then receive it at the other end – providing hand-carried service as necessary or required.
Always free freight quotes
AirFreight.com offers efficient and effective solutions across a wide range of service options. No prior account is needed to get started. Just call us at (800) 713-1000 or enter your order online. All costs are listed without any hidden fees, so you know up front how much you will pay.
Customized solutions
We do all the logistical legwork to find the best solution for your specific situation. It might mean an exclusive air charter, or perhaps expedited ground shipping that still gets your critical parts to its destination on time.
Real-time tracking
Lost or delayed parts can cripple a repair schedule, driving up costs. AirFreight.com uses the latest tracking technology to always know where your shipment is, and our team is happy to give you updates whenever you need them. We are proactively engaged with your shipment, monitoring air traffic, inclement weather, connecting flight cancellations, road construction and congested streets.
Constant contact
Want status on your parts? Our team is always available to answer your questions, provide an update on your shipment’s location, and take new instructions 24/7/365. Call us any time.
Experienced expeditors
With AirFreight.com, you’ll work with the same expeditor from start to finish, ensuring consistent communication, eliminating misunderstandings, and improving the quality of your entire shipping experience. That’s why some of the largest names in the energy sector trust AirFreight.com to meet their urgent shipping deadlines.
We develop plans that guarantee shipping services are supported by time-effective options whether the final destination is a major air hub, a regional airport, or even a remote airstrip.
The right logistics partner
Delivering your freight with little or no notice is what we do every day, regardless of size or urgency. It's why we count companies from the energy, automotive, and construction sectors among our frequent customers. AirFreight.com also offers trucking services for large cargo that defies conventional packaging and traditional delivery vehicles. There is no limitation on a shipment’s size, weight or dimensions – including mega-sized equipment, non-standard dimension machinery, over-sized and awkward, delicate and fragile, palletized or pressurized. We dispatch the exact type of carrier you need with a driver thoroughly trained in its safe operation.
Choosing the right logistics partner is a critical business decision. With AirFreight.com, experience the peace of mind and confidence that comes from an expert delivery plan, and working with a dedicated expeditor from start to finish. For more information, contact us today at (800) 713-1000 and let us help you get back online!
