Line haul transportation involves the transport of goods over long distances by long-haul trucks, trains, ships, or aircraft from distribution centers, warehouses, or terminals.
Different Models for Line Haul Transportation
The single line haul model offers direct, uninterrupted transit from point A to point B. It ensures fast and straightforward delivery but lacks cost-effectiveness and flexibility. It’s ideal for clients who want dedicated attention to their shipments. On the other hand, the shared line haul model consolidates goods from multiple clients. It lowers costs by sharing resources like drivers and trailers, but it may limit scalability and flexibility. This option is best for companies with specific, expedited routes.
The integrated line haul model connects multiple routes for enhanced efficiency using optimized planning and technology. However, it can be complex and challenging to coordinate and is therefore suitable for businesses faced with an increasing demand for time-sensitive deliveries.
Whichever model you choose, despite being faster and cost-effective, moving goods via line haul has its own set of challenges: heavy traffic, high fuel prices, spaghetti routes, to name a few. Thus, logistics companies have no choice but to devise measures that help streamline otherwise erratic line haul logistics. Read on as we pen down six practical ideas to optimize the line haul transportation.
6 Tips to Optimize Line Haul Transportation
Use AI for Route Optimization
The traditional approach of route planning is overly reliant on past data. It doesn’t take into account real-time conditions. Hence, this lack of real-time data often results in needlessly long trips that consume an excessive amount of fuel. Fortunately, there are quite a few AI-powered route planners such as Mile, that analyze traffic conditions, weather predictions, road closures, and even the weight and capacity of a vehicle to provide the optimum route for each trip. These tools are intelligent enough to adapt to changes on the road and adjust routes on the go.
Employ Predictive Dispatching
Dispatching is critical in line haul transportation, especially for big fleet operators. When the fleet is small, manual dispatching may suffice. But it becomes harder when other vehicles, drivers, and delivery points are added. Softwares like Mile employ AI-powered predictive dispatch to assign orders and zones to drivers/vehicles based on delivery timeframe, load capacity, and several other factors without any manual input. This automated workflow ensures every driver and vehicle works at full capacity and reduces fleet idle time considerably.
Integrate Multimodal Monitoring
The conventional approach of managing numerous modes of transportation takes a long time to put together and it becomes complex, particularly when the information is distributed across several systems. Consider integrating multimodal monitoring in your logistics operations. It will provide you a bird’s eye-view across all legs and modes of transport.
Nowadays, many logistics companies implement a centralized software that tracks a cargo from its point of origin to the final destination, monitors all milestones, and updates them in real time. This allows businesses to assess the efficiency of all means of transportation, avoid potential setbacks, and take action whenever the situation requires it.
Optimize Cargo Handling
Cargo handling during transshipment must be completed in a timely and efficient way. This is because delays that occur at hauling points, if not resolved, can have irreversible consequences on the delivery schedule. There are various powerful softwares that come with cargo handling capabilities to avoid any delays or rejections at ports. They also manage export documentation to get your shipments through customs faster. They are also up-to-date with local tariff rates, taxes, and duties, so you’re always aware of the exact fee that applies to your goods.
Improve Warehouse and Order Fulfillment Operations
To ensure on-time deliveries, it is necessary to package the prepared products as soon as they are received at the warehouse. To accomplish this, your inventory should be well-organized and correctly-labeled so that items can be picked up and loaded into vehicles without wasting time. Pre-labelling packages and ensuring documentation is ready before goods arrive, will also reduce order fulfillment time and keep things moving efficiently. By optimizing the warehouse workflows, you can easily ensure that goods are dispatched quickly and accurately.
Use Data Analytics for Continuous Optimization
This is a no-brainer — like in every other field or industry, data analytics in line haul transport can help. You not only improve your existing capabilities but also prevent future incompetencies. Monitor and assess key performance indicators (KPIs), such as fuel consumption, delivery time. And vehicle capacity, as they are critical in evaluating the inefficiencies of logistical operations. These insights will also enable you to make informed decisions based on well-supported facts rather than just intuition.
Wrap Up
Global logistics landscape is changing. So, if you want to improve your supply chain performance and lower your operating costs simultaneously. You must streamline line haul transportation. You can do so through AI-driven route optimization, predictive dispatch and zone assignment, seamless cargo handling, warehouse and transportation integration, and insightful data analytics. Implement the above-mentioned tactics and maintain your competitive edge in the face of constantly shifting logistical conditions worldwide.
