Transport strategies are used to execute existing transport orders. Transportation strategies can be used for transportation planning to route the transport units to the appropriate destinations. There are four transport strategies: station strategies, route strategies, empty run strategies and traffic strategies.

Station strategies

Station strategies are used to handle transport orders at specific stations as well as to refill the materials handling equipment with new units. The dispatch can take place in a fixed order, according to the principle “First-Come-First-Served”, or in a free dispatch order. Load units are collected at one station, regardless of the order in which they have reached the station, and then transported to their destination in bundles. Unrestricted clearance is therefore also referred to as cargo bundling. There are different loading strategies to fill the transport vehicles. These are “dedicated loading” and “mixed loading”. While dedicated loading means that transport vehicles are only filled with goods that are destined for the same location, mixed loading means that they are filled with goods whose destinations lie on the same route.

Transport strategies are operational strategies according to which the transport dispatching department, with the help of transport control, has the pending transport and driving orders executed, directs the transport units to the destinations and controls the dispatching in the stations and transport nodes.

Timm Gudehus / Logistik / 3rd revised edition / Page 823

Route strategies

Route strategies are used to define in which order and on which way stations are approached. A distinction is made between three route strategies.

• Strategies for minimum travel distances

The choice of the route can be made according to distance, travel time or travel costs. The selection is finally made in relation to the cargo and the destination.

• Strategies for maximum capacity utilization

Means of transport should always be used in such a way that capacities are utilized to the maximum.

• Timetable strategies

A fixed timetable should help to ensure that maximum capacity utilization can be achieved with minimum travel distances.

Empty run strategies

Empty run strategies are used to determine the number of empty and filled transport units. Empty run strategies can be divided into:

• Single trips
• Combined trips
• Minimization of empty runs

A means of transport is reloaded with contents at the place of unloading or transported directly to the next station.

• Scheduled capacity

A timetable controls the route of the means of transport. This timetable is based on a demand that was previously created in a forecast.

• Empty vehicle clearance

If there are more empty means of transport at the unloading stations than necessary, these means of transport are transported to the next free empty vehicle buffer.

Traffic strategies

Traffic strategies are used to direct transport units in such a way that a maximum throughput is achieved while the planned transport time is not exceeded.

The general advantageof transport strategies is the support in achieving logistics goals. This includes e.g. performance improvement, cost reduction and quality assurance.

For more information on the strategies that can be taken during replenishment, see Replenishment Strategies.

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