Are you finding that your HGV vehicles are taking longer than expected to make deliveries or are getting into issues around intricate road systems? It’s something many fleets have to deal with and getting ahead of it requires planning and forward thinking. Factors such as vehicle size, weight and road restrictions all need to be taken into consideration. If all this sounds like a big job to do manually, that’s where a HGV route planning software can step in.
In a world where we are experiencing rising fuel costs, increased customer expectations and growing traffic congestion, it’s more important than ever that goods are transported efficiently to keep customers happy and minimise costs.
Here we take a look at how HGV route planning systems can increase efficiency within your food and produce deliveries and save your business time and money.
What is a HGV route planner?
A HGV route planner is a vehicle routing and scheduling software tool, it includes the latest mapping data with optimal paths for heavy goods vehicles, considering various factors such as vehicle size, weight and road restrictions (for example low bridges). It helps drivers avoid unsuitable roads, ensuring goods are transported safely, cost effectively and delivered on time.
For example, a HGV route planner would be essential for a driver delivering perishable goods, such as fresh produce, to a supermarket in a city centre. The planner would help the driver avoid low bridges, narrow streets, and roads with weight restrictions, ensuring the large vehicle stays on suitable routes. It would also suggest the most efficient path to the delivery point, reducing travel time and fuel consumption, which is crucial for maintaining the freshness of the food and ensuring on-time delivery and minimising cost..
Why is HGV route planning important in the food industry?
When you are making deliveries of perishable goods like food, timing is essential and can lead to a loss of goods and potentially some very unhappy clients for late deliveries.
HGV route planning can help with large food deliveries, planning routes that will mitigate the traffic risk and pick the most optimal route possible.
What are the main benefits of a HGV route planner?
There is a cost to implementing any new routing system, but there are plenty of tangible benefits that come with HGV route planning software.
Cost reduction
HGV route planning will reduce costs for businesses. Optimised routes will translate to fewer miles, reduced fuel consumption, leading to significant fuel savings. The shorter journeys will also benefit the environment because vehicle emissions released into the atmosphere will also be reduced, bringing a positive reflection on a businesses sustainability efforts.
The reduced mileage will also lead to less wear and tear on the vehicles, increasing the lifespan and decreasing maintenance costs. On top of this, shorter journeys will mean drivers will spend less time per delivery, leading to more productive working hours. All these factors will lead to a reduction in costs for businesses.
Increased efficiency
Shorter delivery journeys will lead to an increase in efficiency, from delivery times to reduced idle time. The increased success rate from more accurate delivery times will improve satisfaction and build trust with customers who will expect their deliveries to be made on time.
More efficient and realistic deliveries will reduce stress on drivers trying to make delivery commitments, helping with staff retention. The reduction in staff turnover will also save time, as new staff won’t need to be recruited and trained.
An example of an industry that can greatly benefit from increased efficiency is in food delivery on a commercial scale. Figures from the Department of Transport (DfT) mention that one in three HGVs on Britain’s roads are empty. The empty vehicle miles will have a big carbon impact, so increasing the efficiency of the ones that are on the roads will help both a businesses bottom line and the environment.
Enhanced customer satisfaction
The increase in on time deliveries will enhance customer satisfaction and help your business earn a greater reputation among its clients.
As well as this, the use of HGV route planning systems will improve the communication with customers through the use of real time tracking and delivery notifications, keeping customers informed throughout their delivery. In the area of food delivery management, incorporating HGV route planning software with effective order tracking and notifications for the final mile of delivery will provide further benefits.
Delivery safety
With delivery software’s ability to use real time monitoring also means compliance and safety will be greatly improved. This will be achieved in a couple of ways:
- Adherence to regulations: Software will always be up to date with driving hours and weight restrictions, ensuring compliance with local road rules. If a fleet is driving abroad, there could be additional driver rules that will need to be taken into account.
- Driver safety will also be improved, with paperless vehicle safety checks and proactive management of drivers’ hour compliance. No driver should face the impossible choice of breaking drivers’ hours or missing a customer delivery.
- Overall, we hope this article has been insightful in helping you know as to why you should choose a HGV route planning system for your fleet.