Third-party logistics in construction: perspectives from suppliers and transport service providers

Abstract

Suppliers and transport service providers are key parties in the construction supply chain, and their respective roles when employing a construction logistics setup based on third-party logistics are investigated. The use of construction logistics setups is an ongoing trend for large and complex construction projects and previous research has mainly focussed on the downstream actors. The purpose is to explore how suppliers and transport service providers in the construction supply chain are affected by the use of dedicated and project-specific construction logistics setups outsourced to third-party logistics providers in construction projects. The upstream actors’ attitudes towards and experienced effects from construction logistics setups operated by a third-party logistics provider, as well as their level of supply chain management maturity are studied in an explorative case study of a large construction project. Results show positive attitudes and that suppliers and transport service providers actively address supply chain management issues, whereas actual effects of the construction logistics setup on upstream actors, in this case, are inconclusive. Yet, the analysis indicates that a third-party logistics provider can assume the role of a systems integrator in the construction supply chain, balancing, and possibly, integrating the supply chain with the construction site.