As the quote goes, “If you bought it, a truck brought it.” Trucks are a vital part of business infrastructure, and as a business leader overseeing logistics, making freight as efficient as possible is a core part of your success.

This week’s article is written by the wonderful Katie Brenneman. Thank you, Katie, for writing this for me.

Imagine a world where every delivery is on time, logistics are seamless, and you have exactly what you need, where you need it, and when you need it there. It’s the business ideal, and it may seem unattainable. The good news is that you can get much closer to that ideal than you might think simply by implementing the right logistics strategies to maximise truck fleet productivity.

Here are some best practices to keep your trucks on the road and your supply lines open and efficient.

Provide Excellent Driver Training.

Whether you train drivers in-house or rely on a trucking contractor, ensuring the training process is excellent is essential for smooth logistics. The drivers are on the front line when it comes to following routes, staying in compliance, driving safely, and arriving on time.

Consistent training that’s long enough includes the right scenarios, and is conducted by experienced personnel is the bare minimum. High-quality training should also include advanced safety training, experience with the latest truck technologies, training on health and mental wellness, and information on basic truck maintenance.

Well-trained drivers will be better prepared to overcome the many challenges that can delay a delivery, and it will also be easier to attract and retain high-quality drivers when you invest in them.

Optimise Routes for Fuel and Time.

Route optimisation helps your freight avoid delays and can help you save significantly on fuel costs as well. For example, an optimised route will avoid specific highways in the winter (Route 550 in Colorado is infamous), maximise fuel efficiency, and route trucks on roads with appropriate weight ratings and bridge clearances.

Optimising routes is one of many strategies to minimise fuel costs. You can also schedule regular vehicle maintenance, ensure trucks are packed correctly, and carefully track fuel usage to see what causes miles per gallon to drop.

Route optimisation also allows you to take into account the priority of different parts of the load if the truck is delivering to multiple locations.

Use Driver Assistance Technology to Maximise Efficiency.

Today’s technologies for truckers go well beyond a standard GPS. Driver assistance technologies include highway guidance, the ability to sense what vehicles and obstacles are around the truck, adaptive cruise control, and more.

These tech solutions not only help drivers get where they need to go efficiently, but they also help drivers stay safe on the way. Unfortunately, some people in logistics and trucking see safety procedures as getting in the way of fast deliveries, but that’s not the case. In fact, emphasising safety can enhance productivity.

Never forget that freight involves real people, and no load is worth a serious injury or worse. Using driver assistance technology keeps everyone safe on the road, helping reduce liability exposure and freight delays or interruptions from accidents.

Schedule Regular Vehicle Maintenance.

Vehicle maintenance may seem like an interruption to your freight schedule, but the truth is it’s a small pause that helps you avoid a major disruption. Regular maintenance allows you to avoid equipment breakdowns and catch small problems before they become significant.

Vehicle maintenance is a continuous process that involves pre-trip and post-trip inspections by the driver, scheduled maintenance according to the manufacturer and warranty, and attending to minor repairs quickly.

Why take the time and effort? There are a lot of benefits. A well-maintained truck is safer and has a longer lifespan, which helps maximise the investment you’ve made in the vehicles. You also have a lot less downtime when you handle minor repairs quickly versus waiting for a major breakdown that takes multiple days and expensive parts to fix. Also, it’s far less expensive to fix a truck in your shop than it is to have a mechanic meet your driver on the road.

Don’t overlook regular maintenance in keeping your logistics and freight on time, every time.

Keep Communication Strong.

Miscommunication, misunderstandings, and assumptions cost business leaders millions of dollars and hundreds of hours of lost time every year. Whether it’s a dispatcher telling a driver the wrong appointment time, a warehouse manager detaining a truck for six hours more than expected, or some other challenge, clear communication is the best policy.

Encouraging consistent communication — and demonstrating it yourself — is a key part of being an effective leader in logistics. Make sure people feel comfortable reporting problems and collaborating with others to find a solution.

An ineffective, inefficient logistics system is full of people who don’t take responsibility, blame others for mistakes and miscommunication, and refuse to double-check details because it’s “not their job.” Doing everything you can to avoid those attitudes and foster open communication and a healthy workplace will help your freight stay on track and on time.

Maximise Shipping Productivity to Boost Business Success.

Whether it’s ensuring proper training is happening, encouraging communication, or using tech to optimise productivity, there’s a lot you can do as a business leader to create a system where freight is on time every time.

The strategies above are a great start. Consider getting feedback from drivers to get additional ideas. When everyone’s working together, you’ll have an efficient, effective freight process.

Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specialising in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.

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