The phenomenon of empty runs causes not only high costs, but above all makes logistics companies not earn money during this time. No wonder that more and more logistics company owners strive to minimize empty runs to minimize expenses and at the same time fill trucks with loads enough for such runs to be financially profitable. Get to know a few ways to minimize driving so-called “empty”.
What are empty runs in logistics?
Empty runs in the logistics industry mean driving a truck empty, i.e. without any load. This happens in a situation when there are too few loads on the market to take, and the driver e.g. necessarily has to return to the base.
In the logistics industry, such runs are colloquially referred to as “empty”, because the cargo space in such vehicles is not completely filled.
Such a situation most often takes place during a trip to another destination e.g. during delivery of an oversized load to a customer and the return trip of the truck to a given city without a load. It affects not only generating costs for transport companies, but also takes up drivers’ valuable time. To reduce costs associated with cargo transport, more and more drivers and company owners strive to completely fill the truck with goods.
What are the Polish and European statistics regarding empty runs?
According to GUS statistics, over 30% of trips carried out by Polish transport companies are trips carried out empty, i.e. without any loads.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the total value of vehicle-kilometers of trucks without loads, i.e. empty, amounted to approx. 157 million vehicle-kilometers, so Polish transports without loads are only a small part of such trips.
This does not change the fact that every trip “empty” causes very large costs for owners of logistics companies. Such a phenomenon requires not only internal changes in the company m.in. in better process management and fuel used, but also greater control of drivers, as well as more accurate planning of drivers’ routes.
What influences the occurrence of the phenomenon of empty runs?
Are you curious what factors influence the frequency of empty runs? These are primarily changes in the Mobility Package, as well as industries for which loads are delivered and the specific nature of shipments e.g. oversized shipments involve an increased risk of empty runs, because in such a situation it is very difficult to plan full loading of the truck.
What are the consequences of driving with empty runs for companies?
The first consequence of driving with empty runs are huge costs for business owners. That is why more and more customers from various industries in which cargo transport is carried out – wonder how they can effectively reduce them to minimize logistics costs in their companies.
Helpful in this regard is not only the use of a modern fleet of vehicles, but also outsourcing, e.g. to shorten the time of travel from one place to another and using an appropriate telematics system.
Effective ways to reduce empty runs in the logistics industry
1. Use of modern telematics systems
One of the effective ways regarding reduction of empty runs in the logistics industry is accurate planning of drivers’ routes. The use of telematics software helps most in this, which with greater effectiveness helps owners plan drivers’ routes.
The telematics system on an ongoing basis, i.e. in real time, allows selecting the most appropriate routes for drivers and at the same time choosing the shortest routes for drivers and thus minimizing the distance between one destination and the next.
Using such a solution allows to realistically limit empty driving and at the same time increases the possibility of filling the truck with goods.
2. Delivering additional loads to fill the vehicle to full
Many times in your company trucks were not filled with goods to full, and you were looking for ideas where to get a little more additional goods? The solution in such situations are transport exchanges, on which you can find orders and take a load along the way to fill the vehicle with additional goods and minimize the risk of empty runs in your company.
3. Using a modern fleet of vehicles
EU requirements regarding minimizing emissions of harmful pollutants are relentless and therefore more and more business owners decide to replace the fleet to minimize the level of carbon dioxide and other substances emissions into the atmosphere.
The impact of ecology has a huge significance on the choice of logistics companies, which is why it is worth using modern vehicles to increase customer interest in your services and at the same time minimize the percentage of empty runs. A modern fleet of vehicles contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, which is also important for customers who care about taking care of the ecological environment.
Using a modern fleet of vehicles to deliver loads for customers has many advantages. It allows not only realistically reducing the amount of pollution in the environment, but above all affects generating a smaller amount of exhaust fumes, and this also allows reducing fuel levels.
4. Optimize cargo space in your truck
Another way to fight empty runs is optimizing cargo space in the truck. It is worth planning trips in such a way as to know how much space will be left in the truck and be able to plan transport of subsequent loads. Planning skills are essential for effective minimization of trips without loads.
What are the benefits of reducing empty runs?
Reduction of empty runs primarily allows limiting unnecessary expenses related to transport. In addition to financial benefits, it enables developing better organizational standards among planners in internal logistics departments of companies.
Professional and ecological transport with Trans-Tok
Do you want to delegate transport of a load domestically or abroad and do not know which logistics company to choose for this purpose? Do you care about your load being properly secured and prepared for travel? At Trans-Tok you can count on comprehensive and professional support of experienced logistics operators who will help you minimize the risk of empty runs and organize every type of cargo transport professionally, on time and safely. Check logistics services and decide on cooperation with us right now.
Logistics outsourcing at Trans-Tok as a way to minimize empty runs
One of the effective ways to minimize empty driving is logistics outsourcing. If e.g. you have a load but do not want to transport it yourself, you can consider logistics outsourcing at Trans-Tok.