Planning routes for freight transportation means facing an operational reality with multiple particularities. These vary depending on the type of goods, the distances to cover, the distribution network, or the nature of each area. Planning an international journey for refrigerated products is not the same as designing last-mile urban delivery routes. Each combination of factors defines a different scenario that must be addressed with precision and flexibility.
This was the case, one of the leading operators in temperature-controlled transportation in Europe, with more than 1,000 vehicles and an operational model marked by complexity.
Critical variables
One of the main challenges was managing a network with multiple combined restrictions that affected daily planning:
- Compatibility of products and load types (dry, refrigerated, frozen).
- FIFO/LIFO rules and expiration dates.
- Intermediate hubs and multiple loading/unloading points.
- Tachograph regulations and customs requirements.
- Strict time windows.
- Routes with one, two, or even four drivers.
- Transit time limitations and fleet availability.
Until then, all planning decisions relied on the expertise of more than 20 planners, using highly manual processes without tools to simulate the impact of each decision.
At DECIDE, we designed a tailor-made solution based on advanced mathematical optimization models, capable of transforming a manual, artisanal process into an automated, scalable, and transparent system.
The solution makes it possible to:
- Generate optimized routes in seconds, respecting all business rules.
- Combine complex restrictions without losing efficiency.
- Visualize routes and alternative scenarios before making decisions.
- Integrate seamlessly with existing systems.
- Simulate in real time the impact of any operational change.
The results:
- Fewer vehicles required thanks to more precise planning.
- Reduction of empty kilometers and better fleet utilization.
- Significant time savings in planning, freeing up team resources.
- Higher quality and traceability of decisions, even in urgent situations.
- Ability to simulate scenarios and make informed decisions when facing restrictions, regulatory changes, or demand peaks.
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