Is your company’s data too big and complex to manage? It may seem so, especially when load planners are inundated with data and struggling to make decisions amid volatile rates and daily fluctuations in demand and capacity.

Planners must simultaneously analyze and evaluate many variables to match drivers and equipment to loads. And in this business, even small mistakes prove very costly in terms of lost revenue and wasted resources.

Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged in fleet management applications that help companies regain control. Fleets can use new AI-powered transportation management systems (TMS) to automate routine tasks and create valuable insights for planners to make better decisions and focus on high-value activities.

This article explains how an AI-powered TMS can be a game changer for truckload fleets by accurately forecasting capacity and demand up to five days in advance. With this foresight, planners can shift from a reactive to a proactive mode to better utilize resources and reach higher profitability and customer service levels.

Unlocking Efficiency in Load Planning

Truckload fleets are accustomed to the chaos caused by daily imbalances in their freight networks. On any given day, key markets have more capacity than orders or vice versa.

To effectively manage the chaos, load planners must know what assets and orders will become available several days in advance. Only then can they proactively make driver-load assignments that maximize revenue and minimize extra costs, such as deadhead mileage and layovers.

AI-powered load planning can help fleets reach a new level of efficiency by giving people insights they need to:

1. Accurately forecast. New features in a TMS can accurately predict demand and capacity by leveraging sophisticated algorithms that analyze various data sources. With this predictive intelligence, load planners can make assignments days in advance, optimizing resources to significantly reduce empty miles and improve on-time service.

As a real-world example, Magnus Technologies added a new load planning feature in its TMS that precisely predicts over and undersold markets up to five days in advance. This insight enables companies to maximize revenue and optimally allocate resources. 

2. Maximize Capacity. Efficient load planning hinges on asset utilization. AI-powered tools can analyze demand data and shipment characteristics to identify opportunities for assets and drivers to stay moving by synchronizing headhauls with backhauls and consolidating routes, where possible, to build freight density and save time and fuel.

3. Make Real-Time Adjustments. AI can detect changing patterns and conditions to give people the insights they need to adapt quickly and positively change outcomes. For instance, AI-powered load planning tools can dynamically recalculate the ETA of loads based on traffic conditions, drivers’ hours of service, and other variables. The same tools can immediately notify people to take corrective actions, where possible, to prevent customer service failures.

4. Improve Decisions. AI can analyze data from various sources and give users precise and timely information. When pairing this capability with integrated workflows, load planners get the right information, when and where they need it, to inform their decisions. With AI-powered load planning tools, they gain additional context to prevent mistakes and positively change outcomes. This is especially helpful for less experienced workers to pay more attention to important details.

Elevate Load Planning Today 

Powerful AI systems that accurately forecast demand and capacity and provide users with timely insights to maximize profitability and customer service have reshaped load planning. By harnessing the power of AI, trucking companies can move ahead of the competition, quickly adapt to changing market conditions, and forge stronger partnerships with customers.

Magnus Technologies recently unveiled several game-changing, AI-powered innovations to its Magnus Platform. The new load planning feature accurately forecasts over and undersold markets to balance demand and capacity proactively. With comprehensive load planning metrics and customizable views, the new capabilities enable users to strategically reposition resources to transform empty miles and dwell time into revenue. 

Don’t take our word for it. Like most things, seeing is believing. Schedule a customized demo today to learn how to use Magnus' technology breakthroughs to your advantage.