Shipping

Break bulk port

Putnam Lumber can handle all of the necessary logistics from the manufacturer to the country of final destination. We handle all of the inland transportation, cargo handling & inspections at the port of export, ocean transportation, and documentation that is necessary for delivering our products to our client's preferred port of destination. In most cases one truckload of material will not maximize the full capacity of export equipment, such as 40' containers or flat racks. Our operations are positioned close to the port of export to ensure the equipment space and capacity is maximized to reduce the cost per unit of measure when shipping over the ocean. In addition to our port operations, our large shipping volumes ensure that our clients receive the most competitive CIF pricing for the products we distribute.

North American Warehouse Locations

Warehouse Locations Map

Putnam Lumber has warehouses strategically located near ports of export throughout the US East Coast and Gulf Coast. We work hard to reduce costs & increase efficiencies in all aspects of handling our client's export orders. We analyze the costs associated in the entire supply chain from the point of cargo origination through the port of final destination. We keep many of the items our markets demand in stock ready to ship at a moment's notice, allowing Putnam Lumber the opportunity to deliver cargos to the port with tight cargo deadline cuts. In addition to our warehousing facilities, we also offer mill direct shipments which can help reduce transportation and handling costs, resulting in lower CIF pricing for our clients. Our interest is in getting the right quality products for our clients at the best possible CIF price.

  • Savannah, GA: Savannah is one of the largest ports of export for containerized lumber, OSB, & plywood cargos. Putnam Lumber has operations in place to handle your containerized and/or break bulk cargos. To control the quality of our client's material, all cargo is unloaded, stored, and reloaded from inside large and fully enclosed warehousing facilities strategically located just a few miles from the port.
  • Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville is the heart of our flat rack operations. We have warehousing strategically located just a few miles from the major seaports in northeast Florida (Jacksonville & Fernandina Beach) and southeast Florida (Miami Port, Port Everglades, & Port of Palm Beach)
  • Mobile, AL: Mobile is the heart of our break bulk operations. In addition to break bulk cargos, we also have a warehouse facility that reloads material into containerized equipment. To control the quality of our materials, we keep inventory inside the warehouse at the treating plant until it is ordered by our client. This ensures that our client receives freshly treated, clean, and bright treated or untreated lumber and/or plywood on each an every shipment. The ports of Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL are both served by our Mobile operations.
  • New Orleans, LA: Putnam Lumber primarily ships 40' containers out of the port in New Orleans. To control the quality of our client's material, all cargo is unloaded, stored, and reloaded from inside large and fully enclosed warehousing facilities strategically located just a few miles from the port.
Putnam Lumber Lumber Warhouse

To control the quality of our materials, we keep inventory inside the warehouse at the treating plant until it is ordered by our client. This ensures that our client receives freshly treated, clean, and bright treated or untreated lumber and/or plywood on each and every shipment. All cargo shipping out of our Jacksonville operations is unloaded, stored, and reloaded from inside large and fully enclosed warehousing facilities.


Break Bulk Vessel

Methods of Shipment

Putnam Lumber has warehouses strategically located near ports of export throughout the US East Coast and Gulf Coast. We work hard to reduce costs & increase efficiencies in all aspects of handling our client's export orders. We analyze the costs associated in the entire supply chain from the point of cargo origination through the port of final destination. We keep many of the items our markets demand in stock ready to ship at a moment's notice, allowing Putnam Lumber the opportunity to deliver cargos to the port with tight cargo deadline cuts. In addition to our warehousing facilities, we also offer mill direct shipments which can help reduce transportation and handling costs, resulting in lower CIF pricing for our clients. Our interest is in getting the right quality products for our clients at the best possible CIF price.

Break Bulk Cargos

Break Bulk Shipping

A majority of our volumes ship via break bulk as this type of service calls on most of our larger markets and typically has among the most competitive costs when compare to other methods of shipment. Bundles of lumber are unloaded by the truckload at the port of export and then lashed together prior to lifting onto the deck of the ship or in the cargo holds below deck.

Containerized Liner Shipping

ContainerFlat Rack

Modern container shipping started back in the 1950s. Containerized liner services now extend to virtually every country around the world. Cargo is loaded in standardized equipment that is lifted on and off the vessel. Containerships now carry more than 60% of the value of goods shipped via sea.



Roll-on Roll-off (Ro/Ro) Shipping

Flatbed Trailer

Cargos are loaded & secured on flatbed trailers. At the port the trailers are driven onto the ship via ramp and stowed on one of the multiple decks of the ship. Ro/Ro vessels are usually pulled or pushed by tug boat from the port of loading to the port of final destination.




Documentation Department

Putnam Lumber has among the most experienced shipping & documentation departments in the export lumber industry. This ensures our clients have a hassle free experience when clearing their goods at the port of final destination.