Idle fleets are living nightmares. This inactiveness ensuing from several factors like load type mismatch or trade lane congestion often eats up operational excellence. Fleet owners keep swinging for the fences with new strategies each time, only to hit the wall. While they scramble for load allocation, the idle machines become dead weight for the business. Here are some of our expert tips to reduce fleet idle:
Add new value to your management
Investigate the main reasons that are causing fleet idleness. Go to the bottom of the problems and take the right actions to resolve them. Are the routes well planned? In the work process, is there a time to manage trips? So that the trucks always haul loads (round trip each way)? Have you thought of investing in the varied freight segments? Is there carrier marketing? Leave no stones unturned.
With all the analysis in hand, it’s time to improve the whole fleet management process by making actionable decisions. Digital freight platforms like TruKKer offers a sneak peek into each phase of the transportation journey. Besides giving you ultimate visibility, it also weaves in an inherent layer of optimum asset control. From each interaction across the transportation network, it collects and analyzes data to improve the following allocation strategy.
Know what the market knows
Keeping an ear on the ground is essential to reduce fleet idleness. Find out what type of shipment, and its requirements, is on the rise. Check with your carrier network if they are capable of handling the service.
You might need to rejig your existing strategies or even vehicle adjustments. For example, trucks that are 20 or more years old can no longer haul cross-border cargo through the Saudi-Bahrain borders. That’s why strengthen your research and don’t hold back any potential investments. Remember that asking for working capital is a viable alternative to your business.
Stopped vehicle means loss. Continuous loads are all you need to get them moving. Online freight platforms like TruKKer act like a 24/7 buzzing marketplace where thousands of MENA’s shippers place load requests every day. The self-service platform uses auto-indenting and connects the loads to the most suitable carriers. This way, none of your trucks pose as (e)motionless machines that only take up space.
Bet on strategic routes
Be a step ahead in every job. Picture this: your carrier has closed delivery between two city-states, and you still do not have the service for the return of the trucks. So, take time to look for customers. Even if it is necessary to keep the vehicle stopped for a short time, try to enjoy the route in its entirety (round trip).
Looking for freight forwarding partners like TruKKer can be a comprehensive solution for your search to achieve good results. Our platform identifies the best trade lanes as it continuously self-learns from each choice made by the carriers. Also, it captures and evaluates critical information like border proximity, tolls, and several other road signers. The tip is to take advantage of the most strategic and profitable routes on your trip plan.
Establish meaningful partnerships
Online marketplaces are the best means to foster meaningful relations with all shippers for carriers that wish to stave off idling. The TruKKer platform does this very efficiently and provides actionable reports that offer a window to quantify the relationship with each business. Customizable reports are made available on personalized dashboards for both the shippers and carriers.
As a result, you can nourish your relationship with your favorite customers, benefit from the latest innovations, and, if necessary, leverage the venture with the working capital offered.