How to plan your transport routes (efficiently)
Traffic bans, available trucks, timetables... We help you to programme all the elements to optimise your vehicle routes as much as possible.
One of the keys to managing a road transport company, regardless of its size, is to have good route planning to facilitate the work of drivers and, of course, to avoid last-minute unforeseen events.
It is not, however, an easy task, as there are many parameters that can condition a journey. Some depend on us, such as the drivers' schedules or the number of vehicles available. But there are others that are out of our reach, such as the traffic on the roads, the schedules of our clients or, especially, the possibility that a large number of services may be requested in a very short period of time and we are unable to meet the demand.
What should we take into account when planning a route?
The most important thing is to make a forecast with enough margin and in which all these circumstances are taken into account. A task that, if done completely manually, entails certain risks, as we may come across elements that we have not taken into account and that can ruin all our efforts.
In addition, taking into account the rising price of fuel, there is the pressure of having to seek maximum efficiency on every journey and to avoid at all times one of the endemic issues of the sector, empty mileage. And, of course, the obligation to meet our customer on time and on budget, as an unpleasant experience due to a delay could have financial repercussions and, ultimately, the loss of a business partner.
The tools for a good planning
Then is time to work and think about what we are going to do to serve as a precision master clock. The first and most important thing is to have a constantly updated database of the companies we work with. This will help us to know if they have any handicaps that we should be aware of, such as possible restrictions in the area or difficulties of access, as well as timetables or if there will be someone there when we arrive to help us.
Regarding the traffic bans, it is important to bear in mind that, if we are doing international transport, each country has its own regulations regarding the circulation of heavy vehicles on its roads, which could affect us considerably if we are unaware of them. Having a calendar of bans at hand, such as the one you can download from our website (link), will help you to define the day of departure and the times when a freight may not circulate on certain roads.
How Teleroute can help you simplify this task
We will also have to rely on the help of digital advances, which make things a little easier for us when it comes to saving time and money. One of these is Teleroute's truck route planner, a solution available to all members of the freight exchange, which in just a few seconds allows us to define the route that best fits us.
Simply enter the specific vehicle data (Euro standard, weight, number of axles, etc.) and then choose the route optimisation parameters (with/without toll, fastest/shortest route, etc.). Afterwards, our calculation tool will show the most suitable route indicating the duration of the journey, the cost of tolls and even the amount of CO2 emitted.
We should not forget to keep an eye on our cash flow, as having an up-to-date cash flow will help us to deal with possible unforeseen events. In this respect, it is worth bearing in mind that late payment is still a major problem in the transport sector, with the average payment period being between 60 and 90 days... or even longer. Here, Teleroute has a number of solutions to help us combat this.
This is in addition to other solutions already available from Teleroute, such as the Payment Guarantee, a service that allows the carrier to ensure payment for his journeys before loading the truck, or the Debt Mediation Service, which helps customers with the collection of their invoices, even if they are not guaranteed, with a success rate of 95%.
There are, therefore, many factors to take into account when planning your route, but doing it in the right way and with the right elements will save you time, money and aggravations in the future.