A Crate-Based System for Electrical Tools and Jobsite Supplies
By Kevin Cody | Founder & CEO, FLI Products / Mary Joan Isorena, Communications
Published: October 7, 2026
Electrical contractors need tools and jobsite supplies organized from the shop to the service vehicle and work area. A practical crate-based system using CrateMate® 16QT and 24QT heavy-duty crates can help crews separate everyday materials by task, keep supplies visible and accessible, and move organized groups of gear without repeatedly repacking everything.
For commercial and industrial electrical contractors, material organization is more than a cleaner truck or storage room. Tools, fittings, fasteners, connectors, cable-management supplies and frequently used materials move through multiple stages of a project. A repeatable system can make that process easier to manage.
For more storage and organization resources, visit the CrateMate Hub.
Key Takeaways
- Organize tools and supplies by task or material category rather than mixing everything together.
- Build crate groups that move between shop, vehicle, staging area and jobsite with less repacking.
- Use the 16QT for compact groups and the 24QT when additional capacity is useful.
- Open-top access and the hexagonal grid help make contents visible and accessible.
- Use stackability deliberately, with proper loading and stable storage.
- Consistent categories make it easier to identify restocking needs.
Why Tool and Material Organization Matters for Electrical Contractors
A crew may need installation tools one day, cable-management materials the next, and testing or finishing supplies later. Mixing unrelated materials can lead to repeated sorting.
Supplies move from shop to vehicle, staging area and work area, then return. Every transition creates opportunities for mixing, misplacing or unnecessarily repacking items.
Material management is a recognized part of electrical-construction productivity. NECA training addresses the business impact of poor tool and material management and the relationship between planning and field operations. NECA: Electrical Contractor Essentials
A repeatable approach starts before the truck leaves the shop.
Organize by the Work, Not Just by the Tool
Instead of separating items only by what they are, consider how they will be used. Categories might include:
- fasteners and mounting hardware;
- connectors and fittings;
- cable-management supplies;
- hand tools and common accessories;
- testing and identification supplies; and
- PPE or other appropriate essentials.
Choose categories that reflect your work. The objective is predictable groups, not the largest possible number of containers.
Build a Crate System That Moves With the Crew
Prepare crates around specific categories or tasks rather than keeping unrelated systems at the shop, in the truck and at the work area.
Load a crate at the shop, transport it appropriately, stage it at the jobsite and return it with remaining supplies. This reduces the need to empty and repack an organized container at each transition.
Choosing Between the 16QT and 24QT CrateMate
Two sizes let contractors select the container that fits a particular supply group.
16QT CrateMate: Compact Organization
The square 16QT crate provides a compact footprint for smaller groups of supplies. Its exterior dimensions are 13 × 13 × 11 inches; interior dimensions are 12 × 12 × 10.375 inches.
Use it for manageable groups of smaller tools, fittings, fasteners or other compatible supplies.
24QT CrateMate: More Room for Larger Supply Groups
The 24QT crate adds capacity with a rectangular footprint. Its exterior dimensions are 18.75 × 13 × 11 inches; interior dimensions are 17.75 × 12 × 10.25 inches.
The additional length accommodates larger supply groups or items that do not fit as naturally in the square format.
Both sizes are made from heavy-duty HDPE, are Made in USA and are rated to hold up to 50 lbs. Choose the appropriate size for each category rather than assuming one size fits the entire operation.
Make Frequently Used Supplies Easy to Identify
Open-top construction provides direct access, while hexagonal grid sides allow visibility into the crate. Workers can identify a supply group before digging through its contents.
A simple system could use one crate each for fasteners, fittings, cable-management supplies and frequently used tools. Keep categories consistent across projects.
Create a Restocking Routine
Before the next shift or job, check each returning crate, put misplaced items back in their categories and replenish consumed materials.
Instead of rebuilding a mixed collection each morning, ask which categories need replenishment. A repeatable routine can be especially useful when several crews share one shop or staging operation.
Use Stackability as Part of the Storage Plan
CrateMate’s stackable design allows vertical storage when crates are properly loaded and stored. That may be useful in shops, garages, storage areas and appropriate vehicle configurations.
Stackability is not permission to create an unstable load. OSHA’s construction storage standard addresses securing tiered materials against sliding, falling or collapse and keeping aisles and passageways clear. Follow applicable workplace requirements and your vehicle, load-securement and safety procedures. OSHA: General Requirements for Storage
The objective is organized storage, not stacking as much as possible.
Think Beyond the Individual Crate
Treat the containers as parts of one system. At the shop, supplies are separated into predictable categories. The crew selects the required crates, transports and stages them appropriately, and identifies each supply group without reorganizing everything on site.
The same crates return for inventory and replenishment. The container remains constant while the location changes.
Where Distributors Fit Into the System
Electrical distributors help shape how contractors receive and manage materials. Procurement and field material flow are connected processes. NECA has highlighted material waste, sourcing, tracking and inventory coordination as contractor concerns. NECA: Reducing Material Waste & Field Friction
A standardized crate system can complement material management after supplies reach the contractor: receive, sort, store, transport, use and replenish.
Start With One Problem Area
Choose one supply category that routinely becomes disorganized. Place it in an appropriately sized crate, establish what belongs there, use the category consistently for several jobs and refine it around the crew’s actual work.
Expand to the next category when the first routine works. Individual crates can become a repeatable system without reorganizing the whole operation at once.
CrateMate for Contractor Tool and Supply Organization
The 16QT square and 24QT rectangular crates provide two sizes for compatible tools and everyday supplies. Both have heavy-duty HDPE construction, built-in handles, open-top access, hexagonal grid sides and a stackable design.
Build organization around how supplies move, not only where they sit on a shelf.
Explore CrateMate storage and transport crates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good way for electrical contractors to organize jobsite supplies?
Separate supplies into consistent categories based on the work. Keep fasteners, fittings, connectors, cable-management supplies and frequently used tools in separate containers so crews know where each category belongs.
Should electrical contractors organize supplies by item or by task?
Either approach can work. Organizing around tasks or frequently used material groups can reduce sorting when preparing for work. Choose a system crews understand and can repeat consistently.
What is the difference between the 16QT and 24QT CrateMate?
The 16QT has a square 13 × 13 × 11-inch exterior. The 24QT has a rectangular 18.75 × 13 × 11-inch exterior, providing additional length and capacity.
How much weight can CrateMate hold?
Both sizes are rated for up to 50 lbs. Distribute loads appropriately and follow applicable workplace and transportation requirements.
Can CrateMate crates be stacked?
Yes. CrateMate has a stackable design. Keep stacked materials stable and follow applicable storage and load-securement requirements.
Do they come with lids?
Not at the moment, but FLI products is developing a system for more organization that includes a divider and retainer. Watch for coming introductions.
Is CrateMate made in the USA?
Yes. CrateMate is Made in USA.
A More Repeatable Way to Move Jobsite Supplies
Contractors need an organization system that continues working as supplies move between shop, vehicle and jobsite. Predictable categories, appropriate crate sizes and consistent replenishment turn storage into a repeatable workflow.
CrateMate’s 16QT and 24QT options can become part of that system.
Shop CrateMate at FLI Products.
About Kevin Cody
Kevin Cody | Founder & CEO, FLI Products
Kevin Cody is the Founder and CEO of FLI Products and a product development, merchandising and retail industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. His background includes merchandising leadership at The Home Depot as well as developing, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing and bringing consumer products to market through major retailers and online marketplaces.
Kevin works directly with manufacturers, inventors, retailers and consumers to develop practical products that solve everyday problems. His experience spans product design and development, retail merchandising, manufacturing, e-commerce, marketplace strategy and consumer product education.
Through the FLI Products Learning Center, Kevin shares practical, experience-based information designed to help consumers better understand products, solve problems and make informed purchasing decisions.
About FLI Products
FLI Products develops and markets practical consumer products designed to solve everyday problems at home, outdoors and on the job. Working directly with manufacturers, inventors and retailers, FLI Products focuses on thoughtful product design, practical functionality and useful solutions for consumers. Its products are available through FLIProducts.com and select major retailers and online marketplaces.
Sources & Resources
OSHA: 1926.250, General Requirements for Storage
OSHA: Construction Industry Topics by Standard
NECA: Field Leadership Essentials
NECA: Electrical Contractor Essentials, Business and Field Operations
NECA: Reducing Material Waste & Field Friction
For more storage and organization resources, visit the CrateMate Hub.
