The complex issues surrounding trucking and COVID-19 vaccine distribution have been in the news for weeks. And as states, cities, and localities across the country intermittently lock down and open again—and holiday shoppers take to e-commerce shopping like never before—freight surges are creating one of the most complex freight environments we have seen in years:
What has COVID-19 vaccine distribution taught us about securing truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) capacity?
As the U.S. economy heads into an uncertain 2021, what can transportation managers and logistics managers do to keep abreast of surging consumer demands and ensure they have the capacity they need?
Many companies are overhauling inventory management and logistics network design and carriers are aware they need to stay agile to keep freight moving for customers. But carriers can take a few steps to thrive despite the challenges:
An optimization-based transportation management system (TMS) can used augmented intelligence to optimize a transportation operation’s performance, making sure it is not too lean or too fat.
It’s critical to pick the right driver for the job by using a TMS that connects to load boards listing all available jobs so you can find drivers to take the load at the best price. Such a TMS makes transportation optimization possible.
Some steps can be digitized and automated by using freight-tracking technology for locating and reallocating assets and to provide more real-time visibility into overall operations.
This step will be important if the pandemic drags on for many more months.
Choose a TMS that gives you access to all freight rates available for a particular load. By connecting to load boards that have all the loads and prices, you can select the most profitable load for your business and the trip.
Your freight will move more seamlessly and minimize touchpoints if drivers use mobile apps for proof of delivery.
The trucking industry still relies too heavily on paperwork, but many processes can be digitized.