Shape up and ship out

Making more efficient use of available capacity in the road haulage of finished vehicles is a priority for carmakers and carriers alike. Strict regulations on loading, including weight and height, and labour issues that include FMCSA hours-of-service (HoS) rules, as well as the endemic shortage of drivers, are all issues facing the vehicle logistics industry. Combined with economic pressures on small-to-medium-sized haulaway providers, that can impact investment in new equipment. 

More specific challenges facing the outbound transport of vehicles include the under-utilisation of available capacity because of inefficient manual load planning, delays in deliveries and missed service level agreements (SLAs), as well as fragmented visibility across yards, planners and carriers. These contribute to the difficulty the sector faces in accurately allocating capacity and adapting to last-minute changes. This highlights the need for greater visibility in road-based finished vehicle logistics.

Load-building engine

ICL’s AutoLoad Planner addresses these challenges and improves communication of critical data across all parties. It is an advanced, dynamic load-building and route-optimisation platform designed specifically for the finished vehicle logistics market. It consolidates vehicle inventory, transport capacity and routing parameters into a single decision-making engine.

The platform uses customisable logic to build loads according to available capacity and customers’ priorities, while maximising the load factor and minimising work time through efficient multi-stop routing.

AutoLoad Planner enables scheduling not just based on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis but on five other criteria that are important to OEMs: SLAs, manual prioritisation, retailed versus stock, invoice date and client priority. It also provides real-time adaptability to inventory and scheduling fluctuations. That ultimately meets the macro goal of revenue generation for the user. 

Positives for planners

For the carrier representative responsible for load planning, Autoload Planner ensures precise load configurations aligned with the technical specifications of each truck, preventing operational errors at origin.

The system automatically projects trips based on assigned VINs, simplifying advance scheduling, and by reducing false loads it enables better personnel allocation and helps optimise both time and operating costs. 

Load planners benefit from improved communication of critical data in identifying priority trips, providing customers with early visibility and allowing direct assignment to authorised carriers with negotiated rates. 

The benefits for load planners of gaining visibility across the outbound delivery process include being able to make accurate load projections tailored to the equipment available during each shift. The technology helps maximise load capacity by accounting for the dimensions and characteristics of each assigned vehicle model. 

Quantifiable savings

ICL’s AutoLoad Planner has already had measurable results for OEM customers. It has resulted in a 130% increase in loads per truck per week, and a 70% reduction of workload. The platform has also helped customers achieve zero SLA violations after implementation. ICL also reports clearer dispatching as well as more reliable OEM relationships through better delivery performance, transparency and predictability.

“When implemented at an OEM-level across all their carriers, the savings can be measured in millions of dollars,” according to ICL. 

Those savings include a reduction in empty miles thanks to smart routing and milk-run logic to minimise non-revenue generating trips. The platform also enables faster planning and better truck-to-vehicle matching to reduce yard delays and driver waiting times.

Savings are also made in terms of manual effort, with automation significantly cutting overheads in dispatch and planning. Added to which, visibility of real-time constraints and the ability to filter inventory prevents dispatching trucks with suboptimal loads, cutting down on misallocated resources. 

Sustainable savings

Waste is also reduced in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By improving load factor and reducing empty miles while optimising route distances, as well as idle truck time at yards, AutoLoad Planner cuts GHG emissions. It also supports carbon tracking metrics down to the mile, enabling environmental impact reporting. 

Cutting waste goes hand in hand with cost saving. Using fewer trucks per volume improves utilisation and saves on labour by making more efficient use of driver planning and allocation. The drivers also benefit from the technology because clearer load assignments mean they are not delayed on site and the smarter routing means they can cut the time spent on the road. Better planning translates into more predictable work days and the platform cuts downtime by supporting last minute changes. The platform also saves on labour by reducing the workload by 70%.

Data-driven optimisation helps target cost-per-mile and load profitably. Added to which, fewer SLA penalties and better OEM compliance equate to cost savings.

Affordable technology

AutoLoad Planner doesn’t require massive tech infrastructure. That makes it accessible to small and mid-sized carriers, which make up the overwhelming majority of capacity in the US. The benefits of the system for those carriers include the replacement of manual spreadsheets with automation, quick onboarding and smart load allocation, which ensures smaller carriers can maximise each haul. The platform helps to grow business through efficiency rather than additional assets. 

Continuous improvement

Since the launch of AutoPlanner in 2024 ICL has been refining the platform based on operational use and feedback, with 15+ performance KPIs now introduced.

Thanks to their day-to-day operational expertise and close involvement with actual loading and planning processes, frontline employees have been instrumental in shaping the evolution of AutoLoad Planner.

Upgrades include implementing customs-related conditions for load building of imported vehicles and updating with an enhanced quick-search functionality using a built-in VIN extractor to search for vehicles and loads by VIN or keywords. 

Field testing, ongoing feedback and practical observations have enabled the team to identify areas for functional and usability improvements, and adjust configurations to accommodate real-world situations not initially anticipated. They have also been able to validate projections and outcomes, ensuring the tool responds accurately to operational needs. 

Their contributions have been essential in transforming AutoLoad Planner into a practical, reliable solution that aligns with the demands of everyday logistics operations. 

Keeping the quality

Ensuring quality for OEM customers across a diverse range of service providers is critical in finished vehicle logistics. ICL enables transport providers to maintain vehicle quality standards by supporting performance monitoring, exception handling, and intelligent algorithm design that prioritises both efficiency and safety, while also providing visibility into quality-related KPIs. 

The load-building algorithm maximises load factor while maintaining quality standards to minimise the risk of in-transit damages and ensure compliance with safety and legal requirements. 

For multi-stop deliveries, the system optimises vehicle positioning according to the planned drop sequence, reducing unnecessary unloading and reloading operations that could lead to damage or delays. 

Additionally, the platform incorporates alerts and KPI tracking for anomalies such as invalid vehicle data or load rejections, helping planners take immediate corrective action. 

Getting vehicles where they need to be on time and in good condition requires optimised planning and execution. AutoLoad Planner streamlines and automates vehicle logistics, improving load efficiency, reducing planning time and minimising unnecessary vehicle movements – all of which contribute to lower costs, reduced environmental impact and fewer opportunities for damage.