Multi-Commodity Hauling: Managing It All in One System

Transporting multiple types of bulk commodities presents a variety of challenges for haulers. For companies hauling coal and coke, crude, or grain and hay, each product type has unique logistics challenges and compliance requirements.

Managing the finer details of multi-commodity hauling through manual spreadsheets or siloed databases is inefficient and error-prone. Thankfully, a modern transportation management system (TMS) streamlines operations for haulers transporting multiple bulk commodities, providing a centralized system with customizable workflows for each product type.

Simplifying Complex Multi-Commodity Operations

Companies that haul more than one type of bulk commodity can experience operational inefficiencies due to siloed processes. For instance, the energy division might use a niche tool for oilfield dispatching, while the agricultural division relies on manual scheduling. Plus, different commodities might require different equipment with varying maintenance schedules.

Without integrated systems, everyone’s job gets harder: Dispatchers lack fleet-wide visibility, financial teams can’t easily make apples-to-apples comparisons regarding profitability, and drivers need to switch back and forth between disconnected mobile apps for various industry-specific tools.

Transportation management software eliminates these common blind spots by consolidating everything into one centralized platform. Load details, routes, rates, and invoices for various bulk commodities all flow through the TMS in real time, providing enhanced visibility and control across the board.

One System for Many Commodities

Integrated transportation management solutions allow dispatchers, drivers, and office staff to work within the same system. Dispatch features streamline scheduling with live insights into asset availability and route progress, while fleet management solutions help decision-makers track and analyze KPIs and financial data.

Consolidated dashboards provide insights across commodity types, efficiently comparing performance metrics by region or product type to monitor trends and uncover areas for improvement. These company-wide insights are difficult to acquire when your data is scattered across multiple disconnected systems.

Driving Efficiency Through Industry-Specific Solutions

The best TMS solutions can automatically suggest route improvements and optimize asset utilization, thereby minimizing empty miles. Haulers can set up custom workflows that take into consideration compatible commodities, demand forecasts, and resource allocation, resulting in more efficient and profitable operations.

For companies hauling crude, for example, the best TMS for energy is one that considers the complexities of oilfield hauling and regulatory compliance. But if that company also hauls agricultural products, they need a TMS that extends seamlessly into other commodity types, providing a holistic view of fleetwide operations that isn’t possible with disconnected software platforms.

Pairing these industry-specific tools with live GPS tracking and convenient digital ticketing, companies can react quickly to changing conditions on the road. Bulk commodity transportation software helps haulers assign trucks and drivers to the routes where they’re needed most, reducing downtime and improving on-time performance.

PakEnergy Transportation: Robust Cross-Functional Capabilities for Multi-Commodity Haulers

Managing multiple commodities shouldn’t mean juggling several different systems. The right transportation management software brings together fleet operations, dispatching, billing, compliance, and more for multiple bulk commodities within one convenient platform.

For companies hauling commodities that span different product types or even industries, PakEnergy’s TMS platform can pull it all together and keep your entire operation in sync. Schedule a free demo today and find out how PakEnergy’s integrated transportation management solutions can optimize every aspect of the load lifecycle.