As concern about the freight and logistics industry’s carbon footprint mounts, so has pressure on the sector to slash its supply chain emissions. From transitioning to more fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative fuel sources to choosing less carbon-intensive transportation modes like ocean freight, firms around the world have started taking steps towards greener operations.
But while these grand gestures garner lots of attention, they’re far from the only solutions to the problem. Accessible technologies like transportation management systems (TMSs) can help firms take a more direct, flexible, and proactive approach to cutting supply chain emissions in their transportation operations. With features like route automation, shipment consolidation, and load optimization, these platforms enable shippers to tackle operational inefficiencies as they enhance sustainability.
For small and medium-sized shippers seeking to cut supply chain emissions while contending with constrained resources, a TMS implementation presents a valuable opportunity to stay ahead of trends and regulations, minimize their environmental impact, and enhance their long-term viability.
Maximize capacity and reduce empty miles with load consolidation
A TMS can analyze incoming orders and efficiently group shipments based on factors such as destination, delivery windows, and available carrier capacity. By consolidating multiple shipments into full truckloads or combining smaller shipments with similar routes, firms maximize payload capacity and reduce the number of trucks on the road—as well as their associated emissions.
Furthermore, load consolidation features address another frequent headache for shippers: trucks traveling with partial loads. TMS platforms can help alleviate this problem by optimizing routes and schedules to ensure that trucks are fully utilized for both outbound and return trips. Shippers, in turn, reduce empty miles traveled and the excess emissions they would’ve generated.
Cut fuel consumption and bills with optimized route planning
By integrating factors such as distance, traffic patterns, and vehicle capacity, TMS platforms help shippers optimize transport routes and cut fuel expenditures. For example, consider a medium-sized shipper delivering organic produce to supermarkets in a metro area. When route planning is managed incorrectly, complications like heavy traffic, multiple stops, and multiple deliveries can end up eating into the firm’s fuel budget, hurting efficiency and margins.
Implementing a TMS can help the company anticipate and respond to these events by altering delivery routes accordingly. For example, if a particular route has heavy traffic, the TMS will automatically reroute vehicles to avoid delays, reducing idle time and emissions. Similarly, efficient route planning can reduce the number of trips needed to serve all customers, cutting supply chain emissions associated with unnecessary mileage.
Choose more environmentally friendly—and budget-friendly—modes
The right transportation mode for a given load may not always be apparent to shippers juggling multiple tasks. A TMS can help shippers make smarter decisions about transportation modes by taking into account factors like distance, cost, and delivery time. For example, it’s often more cost- and fuel-efficient to ship long-distance overland loads by rail than by truck. But for smaller shipments, partial truckloads may be the best option.
When combined with route optimization, mode selection features can offer shippers alternatives that fulfill immediate operational requirements—while reducing supply chain emissions. These efficiencies can stem from the nature of the chosen mode, such as ocean freight’s lower emissions; shorter lead times, which occasionally occurs with ground transportation; or minimized risk, as is often the case with air transport.
Streamline operations and cut supply chain emissions with Honeybee TMS
While cutting supply chain emissions may be challenging for small and medium-sized shippers, a strategic investment in a transportation management solution can help these firms overcome barriers and drive meaningful progress towards a greener operation. CTSI-Global’s Honeybee TMS empowers shippers of all sizes to take control of their logistics ecosystem and make transportation management simpler and more cost-effective. With features like carrier management and load optimization, Honeybee TMS makes the optimal, greener choice easy and efficient.
Contact our team of logistics experts to learn how our suite of software tools can help you cut supply chain emissions while building a stronger and more resilient operation.
