Companies need to get their products to their customers. The larger the company, the more complicated its distribution and transportation needs will be. This means it's a good idea for any organization to have a plan to manage transportation in place. Here are six methods companies use to manage transportation.

1. Incorporating Communications Management

Companies need to make sure all levels of distribution are managed well. Not only do they need to ensure all internal processes are streamlined, but they also need to find ways to ensure all product deliveries get where they need to go in an appropriate amount of time. Establishing good working relationships with your clients and partners is key, as is incorporating communications management methods and tools, such as branded call technology.

2. Utilizing Transportation Management Tools

Transportation management tools such as transportation management systems (TMS) are vital to successfully keeping your distribution and transportation on track. These systems can take much of the workload off your employees' shoulders by automating repetitive tasks, including collecting real-time data and interfacing with your supply chain management, ERP and logistics management software. The automation allows your employees to focus on other aspects of transportation management, such as resource allocation and data analysis. It also improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your transportation management.

3. Assessing Processes And Workflows Regularly

It's important to assess all aspects of your company regularly, and transportation management is no exception. Make sure all transportation management processes and workflows are included in your assessments. Assessments, reviews and audits are meant to identify what aspects of your transportation management are successful and where your pain points are. You can then take the data and patterns you collect from your assessments to refine what's already working, improve or find workarounds for pain points and retire or pause processes and workflows that aren't benefiting you anymore.

4. Focusing on Logistics

Logistics management must be in place across your entire organization and its processes to ensure all workflows and production lines are in order. In terms of transportation and distribution, logistics help you recognize and track patterns, both to ensure your transportation system is working within previously specified parameters and to collect data you can use to improve your transportation management later. Investing in logistics can help you analyze industry trends, prepare for issues such as breaks in the supply chain, provide accurate data for audits and reviews and effectively manage your inventory and distribution destinations.

5. Monitoring Vehicles And Drivers

A simple and effective aspect of transportation management is monitoring your vehicles and drivers. Doing this helps keep your drivers safe, the vehicles they use to do their jobs are undamaged and their schedules on track. Many companies use tools such as optimized route planning, GPS monitoring, location trackers and regular check-in requirements. These tools help prevent schedule slip by updating drivers in real-time of traffic and managers and clients of potential delays. You should also regularly perform maintenance on your vehicles to ensure everything is in working order and the vehicle can be safely driven.

6. Building Good Relationships With Business Partners

One aspect of transportation management that may be overlooked is building and maintaining relationships. You need to make sure your transportation team has good relationships with the other departments in your company, particularly logistics, sales and teams that work directly with your suppliers, vendors and distributors. You also need to ensure good external relationships with partners, clients and other business entities. Doing so will ensure a bond of trust and improve your communication with other organizations. This will improve your transportation and distribution processes. Then, if there are distribution issues or shipping delays, there will be a solid foundation from which you can work together to find the source and develop a solution.

Many transportation management practices can be scaled up or down depending on the size of your company and your distribution needs. Make sure you develop a well-defined plan to ensure distribution is as seamless and organized as possible.