Direct Answer
Prioritize shipping by erection sequence — the ironworker needs the first-erected steel first. Typically: anchor bolt material first (if you supply), then foundation columns, then first-level beams, then upper levels in sequence. Confirm the sequence with the erection foreman at the pre-erection meeting and ship accordingly, using load-number labels to indicate erection sequence.
Full Explanation
Shipping strategy directly affects erection efficiency. If the erector receives a mixed load of columns from levels 1, 3, and 5 together with first-floor beams, they spend time sorting material instead of setting steel. Shipping in 'erection packages' — a planned sequence of assemblies that build the structure logically — minimizes sorting and maximizes crane time. For projects requiring multiple truck loads, coordinate delivery timing with the erector to avoid a site congestion problem.
What This Means for Your Shop
Shipping out of sequence is a productivity killer for the ironwork crew and can cause field storage issues (steel stacked in the wrong order, blocking access to needed members). The cost of disorganized shipping shows up in the erector's daily rate — which may ultimately be charged back to you.
Common Mistakes
Shipping in the order that is most convenient for the shop (finishing all beams together, then all columns) rather than in the order the erector needs to receive them.
Recommended Process
Meet with the erection foreman 2–3 weeks before first delivery to review the erection sequence. Develop a numbered delivery schedule (Delivery 1, 2, 3) showing which assemblies go on each truck. Mark each assembly with its delivery number in addition to its piece mark.