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Precise route planning for trucks - 5 advantages of exact scheduling and the way to get there
This is how you achieve precision in scheduling and transport handling
3 Min. reading time ·
02 February 2023 ·
Christoph Bertram
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Precise route planning is crucial for success in transport logistics. Planning that is not based on accurate and complete information can lead to disruptions in implementation and creates expensive consequences. What counts in modern truck route planning.
As is well known, a close miss is also a miss. Truck transports can only be successful if there is precise planning of the tours. With precise scheduling that takes all relevant data into account, resources can be used optimally. If the set-up times are calculated precisely, the permissible total mass is not exceeded and the transport times are kept as short as possible. Not only the efficiency and customer satisfaction increase, but also the revenue per shipment.
Precise route planning offers many advantages for all involved.
Precise route planning enables planned tours to be carried out without violating laws and regulations, and in compliance with the delivery or collection dates agreed with customers.
2. Optimal use of resources
With precise route plans, companies can make optimal use of their resources, make transport processes more efficient and offer their customers a better service.
3. Decreasing transport costs
Accurate route planning enables logistics and the carrier to avoid costly errors and reduces the cost per shipment.
4. More security
Precise route planning also increases safety, for example by ensuring that drivers are not on the road with overloaded trucks.
5. Well informed customers
Satisfactory route planning means that the customer is always well informed, for example about the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
In contrast to earlier times, when planning could only be done with the experienced knowledge of the dispatchers (and rough data in a forwarding software), today there are many systems and tools that allow precise route planning:
As is well known, a close miss is also a miss. Truck transports can only be successful if there is precise planning of the tours. With precise scheduling that takes all relevant data into account, resources can be used optimally. If the set-up times are calculated precisely, the permissible total mass is not exceeded and the transport times are kept as short as possible. Not only the efficiency and customer satisfaction increase, but also the revenue per shipment.
Precise route planning offers many advantages for all involved.
5 Advantages of precise route planning
1. Correct and successful implementation of the transportsPrecise route planning enables planned tours to be carried out without violating laws and regulations, and in compliance with the delivery or collection dates agreed with customers.
2. Optimal use of resources
With precise route plans, companies can make optimal use of their resources, make transport processes more efficient and offer their customers a better service.
3. Decreasing transport costs
Accurate route planning enables logistics and the carrier to avoid costly errors and reduces the cost per shipment.
4. More security
Precise route planning also increases safety, for example by ensuring that drivers are not on the road with overloaded trucks.
5. Well informed customers
Satisfactory route planning means that the customer is always well informed, for example about the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
How precision in tour planning succeeds
For efficient truck dispatching and transport execution, it is important to have reliable data on Vehicle properties, Driver qualifications, loading and unloading times and much more. The more complete and accurate the data, the greater the opportunity for better planning.In contrast to earlier times, when planning could only be done with the experienced knowledge of the dispatchers (and rough data in a forwarding software), today there are many systems and tools that allow precise route planning:
- High-quality map material and routing engines enable reliable journey time calculation, taking truck restrictions into account.
- Tacho systems, which are up to date, transmit the driving time data directly from the truck's digital tachometer to the dispatcher.
- Modern Dispatching systems facilitate planning and make it easy to incorporate driving time breaks and journey times.
Fewer buffers and improved ETA forecasting
Today's route planning systems can significantly reduce buffer times. This will not happen overnight, but you will achieve a gradual optimisation. The one-time effort to store data such as vehicle characteristics, driver qualifications or loading and unloading times in the software pays off. If set up correctly, the system significantly reduces the additional planning effort and at the same time improves the feasibility of the tour plans.The modern basis of precise route planning to make transport logistics more efficient are smart algorithms and connected systems for data exchange - for example Telematics solutions.
Considering traffic data, driving times and much more, the algorithms work in the background to enable precise forecasting over the course of the day. In this way, the dispatchers can see what will happen in the next few hours and can react in time if bottlenecks or disruptions become apparent.
Precise route planning means safety and transparency
Transport logistics can no longer afford rough estimates and unclear statements. Industrial and commercial customers demand accurate ETA forecasts. With modern dispatching software, these expectations can be met. Precise route planning is not only a guarantee for optimal resource utilisation and minimal transport costs, but also for satisfied customers.How does it work? Step by step. After implementing the system, you will quickly experience how scheduling is simplified and accelerated. The tour planning algorithms calculate the best tours and optimise them continuously. They support the dispatcher, and you will gradually automate essential dispatching workflows. In combination with a telematics system, you always have a live overview of all data - for precise tours with improved safety and transparency.
Further suitable contents:
TRAMPAS – Discover the route planning solution from Städtler Logistik
Digital networking in transport management: current opportunities and obstacles