Take the Complexity Out of Load Planning
Better Load Planning to Improve Outcomes
A single piece of freight can go through many hand-offs before it reaches its final destination. Each one is a potential point of friction – which is why the load planning process is so important. It helps reduce the number of touchpoints and optimize any remaining touchpoints to reduce the risk of exceptions, find the best service options, and reduce costs.
Load planning done within the TMS can easily be shared across multiple suppliers and customers directly within the system – no constant back and forth exchange of emails, hard copy documents, or phone calls to keep everyone on the same page.
Efficient Operations Begin With Efficient Load Planning
An estimated 35% of trucks on U.S. roads today are empty, including those that empty out through last mile deliveries. That means there’s a lot of room for improvement in maximizing space, operations and environmental sustainability. Better load planning helps achieve:
- Cost Savings – fewer miles generally means less cost. Load planning and proper routing can minimize mileage AND select the least cost mode based on service requirements.
- Manage Time – share load planning details across your network of customers, carriers and suppliers to prevent unnecessary emails or phone calls and provide proactive alerts on exceptions to increase team productivity.
- Improve Service – load planning can account for variations in appointment times and ensure tendering to the highest performing carriers when delivery windows are tight
- Better Sustainability – decrease your carbon footprint during load planning with consolidation when possible and selection of the most fuel-efficient mode that meets service requirements.
Realize Just-In-Time Savings
Load planning and placing orders is a balancing act. Book too early and you run the risk of any number of changing conditions affecting price and on-time service. Book too late and you may be subject to severe capacity shortages that can impact delivery times. If your internal operations are highly complex, load planning configurations in the TMS may be customized to align with your specific processes.
MercuryGate TMS will analyze your historic shipping patterns as well as current capacity and price trends to ensure that your load planning activities are optimized to yield the best service at the best price.
