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Learn MoreAs the leading wholesale distributor of landscape supplies in the U.S. and Canada, SiteOne Landscape Supply supports green industry professionals across irrigation, turf care, hardscapes, lighting, and more. With more than 700 locations and a reputation built on service and reliability, SiteOne has grown rapidly over the years.
But as the business scaled, its global import processes did not.
When John Fry stepped into his role as Senior Manager of International Transportation, he quickly identified the pressure points holding the operation back. Manual workflows, siloed data, and limited visibility across shipments were creating unnecessary friction. Email volume was high. Information lived in too many places. And critical decisions were often made without a clear, real-time view of inventory in transit.
SiteOne did not need a short-term fix. It needed a long-term logistics partner that could help design and support a modern import operation. One that could scale with the business while remaining flexible and resilient.
After evaluating several providers, Fry selected Allport Cargo Services (ACS), a partner he had worked with previously and trusted to support both operational discipline and future growth.
The initial focus was straightforward but critical: streamline the basics from the ground up. Together, SiteOne and ACS reduced manual email traffic, consolidated shipment data, and established a shared, system-driven view of bookings and in-transit inventory. Rather than layering technology on top of broken workflows, SiteOne prioritized clarity, consistency, and control first.
Once that foundation was in place, automated ASN messaging was introduced, dramatically improving visibility and setting the stage for broader automation and process improvement.
One of the most impactful transformations came from optimizing how SiteOne moved heavy materials such as natural stone. Historically, these shipments were routed through Georgia to take advantage of flexible weight regulations. When routed elsewhere, they required extensive manual planning and coordination.
As SiteOne’s national footprint expanded, those exceptions became unsustainable.
With support from ACS, what had once been handled manually evolved into a structured, system-driven process. Integrated messaging and real-time communication with transload facilities enabled SiteOne to scale this capability across its network without increasing operational burden.
Upstream, SiteOne replaced forwarder-managed bookings and general FAK rates with a standardized routing guide and direct carrier contracts. Supplier onboarding became faster, more consistent, and more transparent across regions and product categories.
“I know that my supplier in Turkey is doing the same thing my supplier in Vietnam is doing,” Fry said. “That kind of consistency makes a world of difference.”
Downstream, ACS partnered with EDRAY to modernize delivery order management. What was once a manual, spreadsheet-based process became a streamlined, data-rich workflow. Delivery orders now include purchase order details, pallet counts, and commodity information giving drayage providers what they need upfront. The result is faster scheduling, fewer errors, and smoother coordination through final delivery.
SiteOne’s transformation reflects Fry’s deliberate “crawl, walk, run” strategy. Over a two-year period, international import volume increased by more than 200 percent, while headcount increased by just one person.
By focusing on foundational change, process discipline, and scalable systems rather than temporary workarounds, SiteOne has now built a global import operation designed for long-term success.
With ACS as a partner, the supply chain is no longer a constraint on growth. It is a capability: one that is structured, resilient, and ready for what the future brings.
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