Effective route planning in transport companies with fireTMS

Effective route planning is one of the key elements of transport company management, directly affecting the profitability of each order. In an industry where every kilometre and every minute counts, route optimisation is a measure of success. See how Here maps work in fireTMS and how they change the transport planning process.

Planning routes for drivers requires taking into account many variables, from vehicle parameters and order deadlines to current road conditions. In addition, truck route planning requires taking into account specific restrictions, such as traffic bans for vehicles or restrictions on maximum height and total weight. Thanks to modern solutions such as fireTMS, we can significantly streamline this process and eliminate common problems, thereby effectively optimising transport.

Typical problems in route planning

Route planning challenges are an everyday reality for transport companies. Alongside transport planning and order management, it is one of the basic tasks involved in preparing freight transport. Experienced dispatchers know how difficult it can be to find the optimal route that balances travel time, costs and customer requirements. One of the most common problems is inaccurate route cost calculation. Transport companies must take into account not only fuel consumption, but also road tolls, which vary significantly between countries. For example, driving through Germany with a vehicle with a lower than Euro 6 emission class generates additional costs that can negatively affect the profitability of an order.

Ferry crossings are another challenge. They are sometimes a necessary part of an international route, but often their use is not necessary. Such crossings, which often incur additional charges, can also increase the cost of an order. It is therefore important to be able to exclude them from calculations or compare routes that include ferry crossings with those that do not.

The need to modify routes is also a significant problem. When a dispatcher discovers a better route or has to bypass unexpected obstacles, manually entering changes can be time-consuming and lead to errors. In addition, taking into account specific vehicle parameters, such as dimensions, axle load or emission class, requires additional work and verification that the newly planned route does not include sections with traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles. It is also important to monitor the actual journey. Even the best plan will not deliver the expected benefits if the driver deviates significantly from it during the execution of the order. The lack of tools to monitor compliance with the planned route can lead to unplanned costs and delays.

In addition, transport companies face time constraints in different countries. Traffic restrictions for trucks on certain days and at certain times must be taken into account during planning, which can be extremely difficult without the right tools. Last but not least, there is the need to avoid certain countries. Manually planning alternative routes takes valuable time that could be spent on other tasks.

Here Maps in fireTMS as a modern solution for route planning

Modern technologies are changing the transport industry. The fireTMS system offers the ability to quickly and accurately plan routes based on proven mapping solutions from several providers. One of these is Here Maps, an advanced tool that can help you deal with the problems mentioned above. 

Here Maps have an intuitive interface for route planning and accurately calculate travel costs. It is worth mentioning that the tool allows you to plan using drag & drop on the map, which significantly simplifies the task. Simply select the desired point and move it to the preferred location, and Here will immediately suggest a new route – without the need to manually enter addresses – and then calculate the travel costs based on the vehicle data and driver rates you have entered.

A unique advantage of Map Here is the ability to exclude ferry crossings from route suggestions. This ensures that the proposed options will not include this type of transport, which makes it easier to calculate the cost of the order. The option to avoid motorways works in a similar way. This, in turn, helps carriers to limit transport on routes where vignettes or tolls are required.

In addition, fireTMS allows you to skip selected countries when planning a route. This feature is invaluable when avoiding countries with high road tolls, such as Switzerland, or with unstable political situations.

fireTMS features supporting truck route planning

Here maps in fireTMS have been designed with the specific needs of truck transport in mind. The system plans routes taking into account the type of vehicle and parameters such as dimensions, axle load and emission class, which has a direct impact on the final cost calculation and avoids traffic bans or local tonnage restrictions. Based on the data entered, three route options will be generated:

• fastest – with the shortest travel time,
• shortest – with the fewest kilometres,
• the cheapest – with the lowest road tolls.

In addition, you can choose one of three map backgrounds: classic (with marked restrictions for heavier vehicles), with traffic information or with a satellite view. This makes route planning with Here maps more accurate and tailored to road conditions.

With Here maps in fireTMS, you can significantly optimise your operating costs by:

• reducing fuel costs (choosing the shortest routes),
• reducing transport fees (avoiding ferry crossings and countries with high tolls),
• making better use of drivers’ working time (choosing the fastest routes),
• shortening delivery times (avoiding countries with periodic truck bans).

One of the key advantages of Here maps in fireTMS is the ability to quickly transfer transport costs from the map. Once you have selected the optimal route option, a single click is all it takes to include the calculations in a specific order. The system will automatically update the financial data, allowing you to instantly check the profitability of a given transport.

Why choose fireTMS for route planning

Effective transport route planning in fireTMS is not only about Here maps, but also several other solutions that will help you optimise your transport costs. One of them is Actual Routes, a tool that allows you to set the width of the transport corridor, and when the driver leaves it, the system alerts the dispatcher by email and records the event in the system. Actual Routes enable a quick response to deviations from the plan, thus reducing excess transport costs.

Comparing the costs of the planned route with the actual number of kilometres travelled is another feature related to this process that transport companies will appreciate. Thanks to this feature, after integrating fireTMS with GPS telematics, the system will display actual data from the vehicle’s odometer, allowing you to verify the efficiency of planned routes.

Would you like to see how effective route planning and optimisation can look in your company? Create a free account and test fireTMS for 14 days! See for yourself that our system provides tools that will allow you to manage transport and shipping effectively and comprehensively.