Transportation Consolidation

Scheduling requirements are becoming increasingly more complex as more and more consignees consolidate and schedule inbound deliveries. Intelligent transportation management systems should reveal and suggest opportunities for inbound and outbound consolidation.

An example inbound consolidation program for a major retailer in the U.S. bringing goods in from the Asia-Pacific is illustrated in the figure. Inbound consolidation programs yield lower transportation rates over a large portion of the length of the major transportation segment, often building LTL loads in full truckloads in over-the-road transport and LCL loads into full container loads in ocean or air shipping.

Example Asia-Pacific Inbound ConsolidationCombining multiple shipments under one master bill of lading. Program

Outbound consolidation, or pooling, is another means of achieving freightmoney paid to a carrier in exchange for transportation services savings. The practice is sometimes referred to as zone skipping in parcel shippingIncludes ground and air shipments of packages and parcels that weigh 150 pounds or less, and were transported by a for-hire carrier. since full containerA Container is defined as any conveyance entering the U.S. used for commercial purposes, either full or empty. Includes containers moving in-bond for the port initiating the bonded movements. The following are examples of a Container: Stakebed truck, truck with a car carrier, van, pickup truck/car, flatbed truck, piggyback truck with two linked trailers/containers = 2 containers, straight truck, bobtail truck, railcar, rail flatbed car stacked with four containers = 4 containers (on each rail car if there is multiple box containers count each container and the flatbed car.), and tri-level boxcar with multiple containers inside = 3 containers [TransStats] loads of parcels bound for destinations that are several USPS or UPS or FEDEX zones away are shipped directly to those zones, skipping the transit through the zones along the way and avoiding the associated high transport rates. The consolidated loads are typically shipped directly to a sorting center or hub for the parcel handler of choice. De-consolidation and loading for local delivery takes place at the hub.