Preventing Drum Stockouts in 24/7 Production With Drop Trailer Rentals | North Coast Container

The Challenge: A 24/7 Operation at Risk of Stocking Out

One of North Coast Container’s (NCC) customers had recently transitioned to a 24/7 filling operation. As production ramped up, so did the pressure on inventory, especially their supply of 55-gallon steel drums.

NCC’s just-in-time model had proven reliable for years, but when the customer moved to 24/7 fulfillment, the system was suddenly under new pressure. The standard delivery cadence, previously well-matched to demand, wasn’t built for continuous operations. This created gaps that were slowing production.

The customer flagged the issue during a Packaging Supply Improvement Process (PSIP) meeting with the NCC team, hoping to find a proactive solution to maintain uptime.

The Solution: A Flexible Drop Trailer Delivery Policy

Through the PSIP, we worked hand-in-hand with the customer to develop a rental drop trailer program. Instead of relying solely on timed deliveries, we provided additional pre-loaded trailers that remained on-site.

This allowed our customer to:

• Keep buffer inventory directly on-site to prevent stockouts
• Rotate trailers as needed during high-volume filling periods
• Avoid costly downtime or emergency orders
• Improve coordination between production and logistics teams

Because the trailers came directly from NCC, quality and readiness were never in question.

The Operational Impact: Consistent Uptime, Zero Stockouts

The impact was immediate. With backup trailers on-site, the customer gained the flexibility and inventory control needed to keep their 24/7 line running without interruption.

Within the first month of the new drop trailer program, the customer reported:

• Zero production delays due to steel drum shortages
• Reduced stress on procurement and operations teams
• Increased confidence in their container supply chain
• Better planning for peak demand windows.

Why NCC Could Deliver This Solution

At NCC, we solve problems with service and partnership.

Here’s why we were able to act quickly and effectively:

• Our nationwide footprint with redundant manufacturing capabilities ensured trailer availability and inventory.
• Our easy-to-work-with team made coordinating rentals and scheduling seamless.
• Our focus on service meant we understood the urgency and delivered the right solution fast.

When your production can’t stop, you need a supplier who’s ready to move with you. 

Partner With NCC Today

Whether your team runs standard shifts or operates around the clock, North Coast Container is ready to support your needs.

If you’re looking for a steel drum supplier that can scale with your operation and deliver the flexibility to match, let’s talk.