Logistics are what keeps your company humming along, but it’s an area of business that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. However, if you want to perform more efficiently or save money, logistics is one of the first places you should look.

The tips below will help you improve transport management whether this is the entire focus of your company or simply one part of what you do.

The Value of Planning

Planning is essential to effective transport management. Among the many things that must be taken into account are procurement, storage, delivery, cost, time and what is involved in transportation. On top of that, there needs to be a plan for dealing with delays, supply chain issues, damage and other unexpected but unfortunately common problems. There are so many different parts involved, and it can be challenging for a manager to keep up with all of it when they do not have an integrated system.

GPS Solutions

Utilizing Samsara’s GPS-based solutions can be one answer to the planning and tracking issue that managers face. Increasingly, GPS offers real-world improvements in safety and savings. A fleet manager’s guide to GPS can help in understanding the scope of assistance these systems can offer and how they can fit into an overall transport management plan.

Staff Improvement

Another critical element of improving transport management is staff development. Especially with how much the labor shortage is affecting the supply chain industry, you need to hire, train and retain the best drivers and other employees. While good pay will attract drivers, you need to make sure you get and keep only the best. Good communication, performance rewards, good working conditions and building a sense of teamwork can all help with motivation.

Staff improvement often means manager improvement, or, in other words, managers may need to be trained on how to improve their staff. It’s common for people promoted into managerial positions to have been placed there because they were good at a job, but they don’t necessarily have a background or innate talent for leading a team. Fortunately, management skills can be taught, and it’s worth investing in courses or other types of trainings so that your transport, logistics and other managers are able to be more effective in their roles.

Emphasize Teamwork

One issue that can arise is a disconnect between the front and back office. This disconnect means drivers can be siloed from other staff, and both areas feel as though they are working at two different companies. It’s important to have both concrete and cultural solutions in place to help prevent this. There needs to be trust and communication between the areas, and information must be shared.

From a work culture standpoint, it’s important that the areas do not feel pitted against one another but instead are working toward a common goal. Management can help set the tone for this. A human resources department can also go a long way toward establishing a particular kind of culture within a company. HR needs to be on top of compliance issues and responsive to the various needs of all employees.