19 Jan Smarter Starts: How T&B Planning’s New Grading Services Deliver Real-World Project Value

When it comes to land development, the path to successful construction often begins well before any concrete is poured. Earthwork—grading, hauling, balancing—can make or break a project’s schedule and budget. T&B Planning’s newest service line is designed to help clients get ahead of costly missteps and streamline early-stage development decisions through practical, data-driven grading support.

Here’s how these new services deliver immediate value to clients:

Grading Logistics: Keep Schedules Tight and Crews Moving
Every day of grading counts. Our grading logistics approach focuses on efficient sequencing and smart haul strategies that minimize equipment idle time, reduce off-site truck traffic, and keep crews on task. Whether managing export routes or timing cuts and fills across large parcels, a coordinated logistics plan can directly reduce construction delays.

Delays related to inefficient earthwork operations can add 10–15% to overall project costs, especially on larger sites.

Balance Analysis: Cut/Fill Planning that Controls Cost
Unbalanced sites can lead to expensive surprises. Our cut-and-fill optimization tools help developers make informed grading decisions by minimizing unnecessary export/import and flagging potential challenges early. By reviewing the site’s natural grades and design intent, we help strike the right balance to protect margins and avoid last-minute redesigns

Exporting soil can cost between $10–$18 per cubic yard—on a site with 50,000 excess CY, that’s a potential $750,000 in unexpected costs.

Value Engineering: Design Smarter, Build Fast
Small refinements in the grading plan can lead to big-time construction benefits. T&B Planning’s value engineering process identifies opportunities to streamline pad layout, adjust road alignments, or simplify drainage—all while maintaining design integrity and code compliance.

Projects that apply grading value engineering during preliminary design can reduce overall grading duration by up to 20%.

Why It Matters
From master-planned communities to infill residential or industrial sites, grading decisions carry downstream impact. T&B’s new services give clients the tools to stay ahead of issues, control costs, and start strong—turning the grading phase into an opportunity for savings, not stress.

It’s never too early to optimize the grading plan. Reach out to our team to learn how we can help you make earthwork work in your favor.