Case study:
Lumber Transload, CO
Launching fast, scaling confidently, and winning customers with the right transloading software
The Customer:
A new-build Lumber Transload yard in Colorado
Founded as a new transload operation, this Colorado yard set out to build a scalable lumber transloading business from day one. In the first year, the team grew from 2 to 6 employees and ramped volume from 0 to 100+ loads per month. The business specialized in lumber transloading and expanded capacity as demand increased—adding track and yard capability without sacrificing accuracy, customer service, or cost discipline.
From the start, leadership prioritized simple, repeatable processes that could be executed by a lean team, while still presenting a professional, customer-ready operation to win new accounts.
Key Results at a Glance:
|
Metric |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Volume Growth |
Scaled from 0 to 100+ loads/month within one year |
|
Team Growth |
Expanded from 2 to 6 employees while maintaining operational control |
|
Cost Per Load |
Reduced from $25/load to approximately $8/load through workflow automation and scale |
|
Launch Efficiency |
Operated day-to-day with as few as two employees using simple, mobile-first workflows |
|
Customer Visibility |
Professional customer portal for real-time inventory, photos, documents, and shipment tracking |
The Challenge:
Launching a new yard while keeping overhead low and execution consistent
As a start-up operation, the yard needed to deliver enterprise-level professionalism with a small team and a tight cost structure. They also needed the flexibility to scale capacity as the business proved out—adding track and handling more loads without reworking the entire operating model.
The team faced several common “new yard” risks:
Lean staffing: The yard needed workflows that two people could run reliably, including documentation, inventory, and customer updates.
Cost control: Avoiding high fixed software costs and IT staff expenses early on was essential—especially before demand became predictable.
Credibility with new customers: Winning accounts required a professional presentation—clear processes, reliable documentation, and real-time visibility.
Scalable capacity: Track expansion and increasing load volume required systems that could scale without complexity or rework.
The Solution:
A scalable operating system built for a lean team and high-growth execution.
The yard partnered with transloads.co to implement a modern, purpose-built transloading software that supported a fast, low-overhead launch while enabling rapid scaling. The approach focused on operational simplicity, cost flexibility, and a professional customer experience—helping the team win business while staying lean.
Key elements of the implementation included:
Pay-per-payload start: Enabled the business to keep fixed costs low during the ramp phase and align spend to actual throughput.
Simple, mobile-first workflows: Reduced training time and supported consistent execution with a two-person crew, even during peak days.
Professional customer portal: Delivered real-time visibility into loads, inventory, photos, and documents—supporting stronger customer confidence and smoother communication.
Scale-ready foundations: Standardized processes and system structure supported track expansion and increased throughput without adding administrative overhead.
Pricing evolution: After volume stabilized, the business transitioned to pay-per-month pricing to simplify budgeting and support long-term planning.
The Results:
Rapid growth, lower unit costs, and a customer experience that wins business.
Within the first year, the operation established a repeatable model for growth—scaling throughput, expanding the team, and lowering unit costs while maintaining consistent service quality. The combination of lean workflows and professional customer-facing tools helped the yard attract new accounts and build long-term credibility in the market.
Measured outcomes included:
Volume ramp: Increased to 100+ loads per month within one year, supported by incremental track and capacity buildout.
Lower operating cost per load: Improved efficiency and standardization reduced cost from $25/load to approximately $8/load.
Operational stability with a small team: The yard ran core processes with a two-person crew at launch, then scaled staffing to six employees as throughput expanded.
Improved customer confidence: A professional portal and consistent documentation helped attract new customers and reinforced a well-organized, reliable operation.
Better planning and predictability: Moving to pay-per-month pricing simplified forecasting and supported long-term investment in track and capacity.
A Platform for the Future
With standardized workflows, clear documentation, and a real-time customer portal, the Colorado yard is positioned to add volume and new customers without adding complexity. As track continues to expand and load capacity grows, transloads.co provides the repeatable foundation needed to keep execution consistent, reporting dependable, and customer experience strong across every lane.
This approach creates compounding benefits: lower unit costs, faster onboarding of new team members, simpler customer communication, and a consistently professional experience that supports long-term account retention.
Customer Testimonials
We were looking for a transload partner that could move quickly without cutting corners. The portal gives our team confidence—every load is documented with photos and status updates, and we always know what’s on the ground. The operation feels organized and professional, and that matters when you’re managing customer commitments.
Regional Supply Chain Manager
transloads.co let us start simple and stay disciplined. We launched with two people, kept costs aligned with volume using pay-per-payload, and scaled operations as demand grew. Today, we handle 100+ loads a month with a process that’s easy to train and dependable to run.
General Manager
Ready to transform your operations?
See how transloads.co can help you launch faster, keep overhead low, and scale with confidence—while delivering a professional customer experience from day one.
