five common routing myths
DESCRIPTION
Planners – and even most planning software – rely heavily on accepted rules to draw out the most effective routes. Or so they think. What looks good on a map may in fact be costing you time and money. Discover the five common rules that need to be retired, and why.TRANSCRIPT
2Rule Implement minimum efficiency levels forall routesIf any route falls below a certain level of efficiency, adjust plans so it can alleviate capacity from another, more efficient route.
3Rule Always strive for 100% capacityEmpty miles are bad miles so, when possible, trucks should leave the depot 100% full.
4Rule Avoid figure 8s and triangles on a mapFor any route with crossing lines, there is a more efficient one without.
5Rule You can get an optimal route from Google MapsGoogle Maps is excellent at uncovering the most efficient delivery route between points.
What if there is no capacity on your existing route? It could be more efficient to assign a different truck, even one that has to take a small detour.
Say minimum efficiency is 65%. You have one route that is 100% efficient but the other is 50% efficient. With some juggling you end up with two routes that are 70% efficient each – down from the previous average of 75%.
What if traffic rules mean you have to travel further out or double back? Or what if a strict time window means a remote delivery before 10am while all others can be made at any time before 2pm?
Google Maps was designed for cars, not trucks. Without a truck routing layer on your map, you don’t know whether your route includes dangerous or illegal roads.
100% 50%
70% 70% 5% ä
9am
4pm
2pm
Choose starting point or click on the map
What if the most efficient route means your first stop is a pick-up, not a delivery? Or what if you can’t meet all customer time windows with just one truck? Your full-truck rule would mean more trips, inefficiency and costs.
common routing rulesthat need to beWhen it comes to route planning, what looks good on a map may in factbe costing you time and money. Find out which route planning short cutsneed to be retired, and why.
Applying simple heuristics to complex planning puzzles result in suboptimal plans. In turn, these suboptimal plans result in higher costs and lower profits.
Instead of shortcuts, rely on smart route planning and optimization technology to evaluate the full picture.It’s the only way that guarantees efficient plans and smart decisions – every time.
Learn more about smart logistics solutions. Visit download.quintiq.com/trip-optimization
retired5 1Rule
No “drive-bys”If there is a new delivery on an existing route, add it in.
Copyright © 2014 Quintiq. All rights reserved.