Towards more efficient logistics: increasing load factor in a shipper’s road transport

Abstract

Purpose Increasing load factor is crucial for transport efficiency and may benefit shippers because of its potential to reduce both environmental impact and transportation costs. The purpose of this paper is to explore how shippers can increase load factor in their road transport by identifying opportunities for logistics action and influences on load factor performance measures created by such opportunities. Design/methodology/approach A case study is performed of the outgoing goods flow from the central warehouse of a large retailer in Sweden. Data are collected from interviews with the shipper and its contracted freight forwarder, as well as from archival sources and visual observations, and applied to produce a framework. Findings Logistics actions that can increase load factor are identified and categorised according to packaging efficiency, loading efficiency and booking efficiency, all of which are linked to logistics variables and specific performance measures in the framework. Visual observations of volumetric load factor in vehicles indicate room for improvement via, for example, making lead times more flexible. Practical implications The framework’s principles can be used to support shippers in finding opportunities to increase load factor. Originality/value The framework clarifies the concept of load factor as a whole by explaining each logistics action’s contribution to increasing load factor, as well as the actions’ combined effect in the context of a shipper and its purchased transport share.

Exploring shippers' motivations to adopt collaborative truck-sharing initiatives

“…The major contributions of the current study are two-fold. First, the study looks at the load factor issue from the perspectives of shippers to overcome the limitations of earlier studies, as suggested, for example, by Santén (2017). In other words, in addition to the carriers' opinions, the shippers' perspectives should be considered when judging the appropriateness of freight policies for increasing loads on trucks.…”

Rethinking the Box for Sustainable Logistics

“…Logically, other considerations can be of greater relevance in the selection (for example, commercial or strength considerations), which would make the other box types more interesting even though they are more inefficient. The larger the boxes are in terms of useful volume (for one type), the smaller the relative consumption of cardboard (and waste) per m 3 (Figure 3). This is a critical aspect of the proposed model, given that its ultimate aim is to seek solutions that improve the m 2 /m 3 ratio among the feasible solutions on the graph (ideally, the optimum one).…”

“…The larger the boxes are in terms of useful volume (for one type), the smaller the relative consumption of cardboard (and waste) per m 3 (Figure 3). This is a critical aspect of the proposed model, given that its ultimate aim is to seek solutions that improve the m 2 /m 3 ratio among the feasible solutions on the graph (ideally, the optimum one).…”

“…In increasingly competitive, turbulent and global markets, firms and, more generically, the supply chains they belong to, must promote actions that increase efficiency and sustainability, particularly within the scope of logistics and transport. Adequate goods transport management has become a strategic issue on the agendas of firms and administrations, not just because it contributes to reduced costs and improved services but also because it is a way of reducing resource consumption, CO 2 emissions and traffic congestion [1][2][3][4]. In this context, packaging design is one of the key elements that can actively help improve supply chains, contributing to improved sustainability of logistics processes and activities [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Sustainability Framework for Assessing Urban Freight Transportation Measures

“…The demonstration of the assessment framework is performed based on the opinion of the Supply chain stakeholder category and data for two lifecycle stages, creation-construction and operation. The lifecycle stages of the measure are [44,45]:…”