Throughout 2018, the ratio of loads to trucks in the DAT network of load boards has set new records. For the week ending May 12, the ratio was highest in the flatbed market with 102 loads posted for every truck, on average. Reefer was 8.5 and van was 6.4 loads per truck.
Carriers have a full pipeline of loads coming from the spot market and contract customers. In this environment, one way to maximize the yield on loads is by using software to effectively match capacity with orders.
Load planning is a core feature in many commercial fleet management systems. Modern design tools and databases are able to assimilate more information into a single screen to improve the planning and decision process to generate higher profits.
Custom configuration
About 3.5 years ago, Decker Truck Line began using the LoadMaster system from McLeod Software. Load planning at the Fort Dodge, Iowa-based company is handled by customer service reps (CSRs). The carrier has CSRs organized into flatbed, reefer and dry van divisions as well as geographical coverage areas.
Decker Truck Line has configured LoadMaster to present each CSR live information for their respective equipment types and coverage areas. A reefer CSR in the Chicago area, for example, only sees the inbound and outbound reefer loads and trucks for that region, says Jennifer Brim, director of training and development.
The main planning screen in LoadMaster has a grid layout. On one half of the screen are orders in rows with details listed out in a string of columns. The other half shows available trucks with equipment and driver details.
