Logistics Support Person

The Role of a Logistics Support Person: Why Every Complex Project Needs One

Welcome everyone. Today I want to share something I’ve been seeing more and more on jobsites across the country: the growing need for a dedicated logistics support person. After touring large urban projects and studying how the best teams operate, it’s clear that logistics is no longer a side responsibility. It is a full-time leadership role that can transform the flow of work.

Before I get too far into the topic, I want to ground the discussion in a principle I rely on often: assume everything is wrong the first time. Not because people don’t care, but because human nature is imperfect. When we assume perfection, we overlook checks, processes, supportive systems, and structure. But when we assume something might be wrong, we design an environment where people can succeed. That is at the heart of a strong logistics system. It is not about doubting people. It is about caring enough to create systems that protect them.

Recently I received a message from someone who had attended our training. His team shared that he returned to the project as a completely different leader, clearer, more passionate, and more connected to his people. When asked what changed, he said he realized he needed to lead with the same love and enthusiasm he saw modeled during training. He understood that his team feeds off his energy. Messages like this remind me why roles like logistics support matter so much. Systems create safety and flow, but it is people who make them meaningful.

What I Learned About Logistics in Japan

When I visited Japan, I encountered a role known as the water spider, someone who moves between production pods delivering materials and information so production never stops. They glide left and right, fast and responsive, keeping the flow alive. This position is not a step down. It is a position of mastery. And as I’ve observed, construction desperately needs its own version of that.

Why Construction Needs a Logistics Support Person

On one project in downtown San Francisco, the staging area was so tight that only a single truck could squeeze in at a time. Roads were congested, space was nonexistent, and dozens of trades were operating simultaneously. The lead superintendent and I immediately realized we needed one person dedicated entirely to logistics. Not a runner. Not an assistant. A trained and empowered leader who owned the flow of the site.

Some people hesitate to take on this role because they think it is a step down from supervising crews. But as Mr. Amazawa in Japan taught me, if you want to be promoted, go to the problem areas. Logistics is one of the biggest problem areas in construction. Mastering it makes you invaluable.

The Core Responsibilities of a Logistics Support Person

A logistics support person oversees hoisting, materials, deliveries, access, site setup, and day-to-day movement. They understand how the crane is reeved, how fast it can pick, and how many operations can realistically be handled in a given hour. They pay attention to the hoist schedule, the forklift routes, and the human traffic moving through entrances and stair towers. None of this can be guessed. It requires analysis, observation, and coordination.

Deliveries also fall under their responsibility. This means knowing what is coming, when it is arriving, what inspection is required, and exactly where it will be placed so it does not need to be moved multiple times. A logistics support person keeps the delivery map updated, distributes information to hoist and equipment operators, and ensures all movement aligns with the crane and hoist capacities.

They also take ownership of the logistics infrastructure. This includes access points, loading platforms, temporary walkways, traffic routing, perimeter fencing, safety stations, lighting, signage, and queuing areas outside the site. If craft labor supports these tasks, the logistics person manages their standard work and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Prefabrication and pre-kitting are a huge part of their work as well. On projects with space, this might mean establishing a pre-kitting yard with power, lighting, water, tents, cutting tables, and waste stations. When space is tight, it means coordinating with trade partners so that kitting happens off-site. The goal is the same. Materials should arrive to their installation area ready to use without unnecessary movement or clutter in the building.

Why This Role Matters So Much

The true purpose of a logistics support person is to create flow. When logistics are predictable, work becomes easier, safer, and more stable. Superintendents do not waste their time chasing deliveries or fixing traffic jams. Trades are not tripping over each other. The site becomes calmer and more productive. And most importantly, people feel supported by a system designed for their success.

This is not a helper position. It is a leadership role that touches every corner of the project. In my opinion, mastering logistics is a powerful career accelerator. Anyone who understands flow, capacity, movement, and stability becomes essential to any team.

I will be turning this concept into a standard work document and scorecard soon because I want this role to become standard practice across the industry. It is one of the most transformative positions we can add to a project team.