Project Management

Site Logistics Plan

Also known as: Site Plan, Logistics Plan

A drawing showing the temporary use of the site during construction: trailer, fencing, gates, parking, deliveries, crane, and material laydown.

A site logistics plan is a project-specific drawing that maps out how the site will be used during construction: location of the field office trailer, perimeter fencing, vehicle and pedestrian gates, contractor parking, owner and visitor parking, delivery routing, dumpster locations, portable toilet locations, crane footprint and swing radius, material laydown areas, temporary utilities, and signage. On urban infill projects, the plan also addresses sidewalk closures, street parking permits, neighbor protection, and traffic control.

Well-developed site logistics plans get reviewed and accepted by the owner before mobilization. They prevent dozens of small day-to-day decisions ("where do we put the dumpster?", "where do delivery trucks unload?") from becoming repeated problems. On tight urban sites the logistics plan often goes through multiple iterations as the project moves from excavation through structure to interior finishes, since the optimal site layout changes by phase. Some jurisdictions require the logistics plan as part of the permit application.

Frequently asked questions

What goes on a site logistics plan?+

Field office trailer, perimeter fencing and gates, contractor and visitor parking, delivery routes, dumpster locations, portable toilets, crane footprint and swing radius, material laydown areas, temporary utilities, signage, and any traffic control or sidewalk closure requirements on urban projects.

When is a site logistics plan required?+

Always best practice. Required by contract on most commercial projects. Required by permit application in some jurisdictions, especially on urban infill projects with sidewalk closures or street parking impacts. Phased plans (multiple versions for different construction phases) are common on tight or complex sites.

Who creates the site logistics plan?+

Typically the GC's superintendent or project manager during preconstruction, with input from key subs (steel erector for crane, MEP for temporary utility routes, sitework for grading and access). The owner reviews and accepts. On urban projects, the city often reviews and approves traffic control elements separately.

Related terms