Transport Operations Improvement

Route Planning

A review of the planning, reporting and control system used for maximising the utilisation of resources, which optimises the use of dedicated vehicles versus different service providers.  A key requirement is to achieve vehicle back loading where possible to avoid sending vehicles on uneconomic journeys.

Fuel Management

Fuel represents up to a third of transport costs.  Monitoring fuel usage and driving technique, and providing daily feedback to the driver, can achieve fuel savings of up to 5%.

Management of Subcontractors

Where subcontractors are regularly used it may be worth considering a formal system of ‘approved’ and ‘preferred’ contractors to drive down rates and ensure agreed terms and conditions of carriage are in place.

Traffic Management System

For busy traffic offices investing in a traffic management system can be extremely useful in route planning, driver scheduling and the management of subcontractors.

Vehicle Cost Control

Expenditure on maintenance and servicing should be carefully monitored and controlled in order to ensure all invoices are valid, driver misuse is identified early, and vehicle warranty claims are correctly recovered.

Performance Monitoring

Effective performance monitoring will help identify the productivity of the drivers and whether the vehicles are suitable for the job in hand.  Too large and the business is wasting spare capacity.  Too small and unnecessary journeys are incurred.

Vehicle Resourcing

Selecting the right vehicle for the job is only half the task.  Also of importance is the need to determine the best way to fund the vehicle; outright purchase, leasing, contract hire or supported by a maintenance contract.