What’s Helping Building Supply Distributors Improve Building Materials Delivery Without Growing Their Fleet?
Key Takeaways
- Building supply distributors face increasing pressure to improve fleet efficiency, reduce costs, and meet growing customer expectations.
- Companies are turning to data-driven logistics tools to gain greater visibility, streamline operations, and enhance driver safety.
- By adopting centralized route planning, mobile proof of delivery, and real-time tracking, distributors can strengthen customer trust, reduce delivery risks, and support long-term business growth.
For building supply distributors, managing complex delivery networks while maintaining safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is an ongoing challenge. As fleets grow and customer expectations rise, many companies are turning to technology to help streamline operations and improve visibility in building supply delivery.
Several building supply companies—including SRS Distribution, New Castle Building Products, and Richards Building Supply—have adopted solutions from Descartes to modernize their logistics processes. Through advanced routing, mobile dispatch, telematics, and proof of delivery solutions, these companies are transforming their operations, improving safety, and driving significant growth. Here’s how:
SRS Distribution: Scaling Smart with Telematics and Data-Driven Dispatch
SRS Distribution, a nationwide leader in roofing and building product distribution, turned to Descartes when aging telematics systems left their 4,000-vehicle fleet with limited visibility. They needed better insight and a more proactive approach to safety and operations.
With strategic route planning, mobile dispatching, telematics, and in-cab dash cams, SRS achieved several improvements including:
- A 50% reduction in speeding incidents
- Lower insurance claims with video evidence that exonerates drivers
- $1.5B in app-driven sales through a custom-built contractor platform
Their fleet now operates more efficiently and safely, while a custom app integrates CRM data, delivery tracking, and jobsite documentation—streamlining the delivery of materials to sites and turning logistics into a revenue engine.
“We’ve worked a lot with Descartes to ensure our safety scores are well above industry standard. It’s allowed us to be more proactive instead of reactive,”
Kris Hignight, Enterprise Logistics Software Manager, SRS Distribution
Watch SRS’s customer success video for more insights.
New Castle: Moving from Manual Processes to Centralized Control
Operating across more than 20 locations, New Castle Building Products used to rely on manual, paper-based routing—until inefficiencies and a lack of visibility started impacting growth and building materials delivery timelines.
By implementing route planning and proof of delivery solutions, New Castle achieved:
- A 25,000-mile reduction in annual fleet mileage
- Centralized routing and dispatch operations for better coordination across branches
- Real-time delivery tracking and data analytics to support more informed decision-making
- A more structured and reliable proof of delivery workflow
The shift to centralized, digital processes has not only improved efficiency but also made day-to-day work smoother for both drivers and dispatchers involved in the delivery of materials to site.
Gain more insights by reading New Castle’s full case study.
Richards Building Supply: Improving Customer Experience and Reducing Risk
Richards Building Supply has worked with Descartes for nearly a decade, using its logistics tools to improve building materials delivery execution and operational oversight. Their focus has been on enhancing safety, communication, and accountability.
Key improvements include:
- Real-time customer notifications for better visibility into delivery timing
- Photo-based proof of delivery to help reduce theft and disputes at job sites
- Mobile-friendly safety training tailored to seasonal and equipment-specific needs
- Improved fleet utilization with data-driven planning
These tools have helped Richards maintain consistent service quality while addressing some of the most common challenges in building materials delivery.
Gain more insights by reading Richards Building Supply full case study.
Conclusion
As the demands on building supply distributors continue to grow, so does the need for streamlined, adaptable logistics. Companies like SRS Distribution, New Castle Building Products, and Richards Building Supply offer real-world examples of how evolving delivery networks can benefit from data-driven tools that enhance safety, coordination, and service reliability.
Whether it's reducing unnecessary mileage, improving driver accountability, or providing better visibility for customers, these organizations have found value in rethinking their logistics workflows. Their experiences reflect a broader shift in the industry—one where integrated technology helps teams respond more effectively to day-to-day challenges, from coordinating the delivery of materials to site to preparing for long-term growth.
For others in the sector, these examples may offer helpful context when evaluating how technology can support a safer, more connected, and more efficient delivery operation.
Transform your logistics—let’s get started today.
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