Transport strategies are used to execute existing transport orders. With the help of transport strategies, it is possible for transport planning to direct the transport units to the appropriate destinations. There are four transport strategies: station strategies, route strategies, empty run strategies and traffic strategies.

Station strategies

Station strategies are used both to process transport orders at specific stations and to refill the means of transport with units. Processing can be carried out in a fixed order, according to the “first come, first served” principle, or in a free processing order. In this case, loading units are collected at a station, regardless of the order in which they reached the station, and then transported to their destination in a bundled manner. Free handling is therefore also referred to as load bundling. There are different loading strategies for filling the means of transport. These are “single-destination loading” and “mixed-destination loading”. While single-destination loading involves filling the means of transport only with goods that have the same destination, mixed-destination loading involves filling the means of transport with goods whose destinations are on the same route.

Transportation strategies are operating strategies that the transportation planning uses to execute the pending transportation and driving orders with the help of transportation control, to route the transportation units to their destinations and to control dispatch at the stations and transportation hubs. (Timm Gudehus / Logistics / 3rd revised edition / page 823)

Route strategies

Route strategies are used to determine the order and route in which stations are approached. There are three different route strategies.

• Minimum route strategies

The route can be selected based on distance, travel time or travel costs. The selection is ultimately made in relation to the load and the destination.

• Maximum capacity utilization strategies

Means of transport should always be used in such a way that capacities are utilized to the maximum.

• Timetable strategies

A fixed timetable should help to ensure that maximum capacity utilization can be achieved with minimal travel distances.

Empty run strategies

Empty run strategies are used to determine the number of empty and full transport units. Empty run strategies can be divided into:

• Single trips
• Combined trips
• Empty trip minimization

A means of transport is either reloaded at the unloading point or transported directly to the next station.

• Scheduled capacity

A schedule regulates the route of the means of transport. This schedule is based on a demand that was previously created in a forecast.

• Empty vehicle clearance

If there are more empties at the unloading stations than necessary, then these means of transport are transported to the next free empty vehicle buffer.

Traffic Strategies

Traffic strategies are used to direct transport units in such a way that maximum throughput is achieved while the planned transport time is not exceeded.

The general advantage of transportation strategies is that they support the achievement of logistics goals. These include, for example, increasing performance, reducing costs and ensuring quality.

For more information on the strategies that can be used in replenishment, see Replenishment Strategies.

 

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