Company: SummitBuild Supply Co.
Industry: Construction Materials Distribution
Region: Pacific Northwest
Challenge: Frequent delivery delays, high fuel costs, and job site complaints due to seasonal disruptions in routing
The Problem: Seasonal Conditions Disrupting Delivery Operations
SummitBuild Supply Co. provides construction materials to hundreds of job sites across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. While their year-round operations were strong, each seasonal shift brought a spike in delivery issues, including:
Snow-affected routes in winter
Flooded access roads in spring
High urban traffic and extended job hours in summer
Short daylight windows in fall
Over time, these seasonal variables created serious bottlenecks:
26% drop in on-time deliveries during winter months
Driver idle time increasing by 31%
Repeat job site complaints about missed windows and poorly timed drop-offs
$85,000+ in annual lost productivity and rerouting costs
The leadership team recognized that standard routing practices were no longer enough. They needed a more seasonally adaptive strategy to keep deliveries reliable and efficient year-round.
The Goal: Build a Smarter, More Seasonal-Aware Routing Model
SummitBuild set out to achieve the following:
Improve on-time delivery rates during winter and spring
Reduce reroutes and unplanned overtime due to poor seasonal planning
Provide contractors with more consistent and accurate ETAs
Optimize fuel usage across varying terrain and seasonal traffic patterns
The Solution: A Three-Part Seasonal Route Planning Overhaul
- Historical Data Analysis by Region and Season
Action Taken:
SummitBuild used route performance data from the previous three years to identify seasonal problem areas, delivery delays, and traffic trends.
Result:
Built a map of “high-risk” zones by season
Flagged routes with consistent winter or spring accessibility issues
Created rules for when to shift delivery times or staging locations
- Dynamic Routing with Weather and Access Constraints
Action Taken:
They implemented routing software with real-time traffic and weather overlays, enabling dynamic route adjustments based on seasonal disruptions.
Features Used:
Snow and flood risk alerts
Thaw-related weight restriction mapping
Alternate routing and stop reordering
Result:
42% drop in missed job site windows during winter and early spring
Reduced rerouting calls to dispatch by 61%
- Seasonal Contractor Coordination and Job Site Profiling
Action Taken:
SummitBuild began proactively communicating with contractors to identify seasonal access changes or site closures. They built profiles for recurring job sites, including:
Seasonal access hours
Equipment availability for unloading
Preferred delivery times based on sun/weather/workforce schedules
Result:
Fewer delivery refusals or redirections
Contractor satisfaction improved by 38% (based on post-delivery survey scores)
The Outcome: Real Gains in Efficiency and Reliability
After one full year of improved seasonal route planning, SummitBuild reported:
✅ On-time delivery improvement (winter/spring): +27%
✅ Reduction in seasonal fuel waste: –19%
✅ Fewer contractor complaints related to delivery timing: –43%
✅ Driver overtime reduced by: 22%
✅ Annual logistics cost savings: $112,000
Key Takeaways
Seasonal routing isn’t optional—it’s a strategic advantage.
Proactive communication with job sites saves time, money, and frustration.
Real-time routing tools must be supported by accurate site-level data and seasonal experience.
Visibility and flexibility are the foundation of seasonal delivery success.
Final Thoughts
Construction material delivery doesn’t stop when the weather changes—so neither should your logistics strategy. This case study proves that even modest improvements in seasonal route planning can yield major gains in delivery performance, cost savings, and contractor trust.
By anticipating seasonal challenges and designing routing plans that evolve with the environment, suppliers like SummitBuild are building more resilient, efficient, and competitive operations.
