How Your Fleet Can Improve Last Mile Delivery

When you’re looking for ways to improve your logistics operations, the final stage of the delivery process is key. This last step is the most complex in the entire delivery process, so optimizing it with fleet upgrades and new practices is critical.

Companies need to focus on last mile delivery to create a more reliable supply chain and gain customers’ approval.

7 Common Last Mile Delivery Challenges for Heavy Equipment Transport

There are several ways last mile delivery is made more complex by last-minute arrivals and rerouting. Organizations must create innovative solutions for these key challenges facing last mile delivery fleets:

1. High operational costs: Building and maintaining a fleet capable of transporting industrial and agricultural equipment can be costly, especially when delivering to dense urban areas or remote jobsites.
2. Timeliness: Last-mile delivery is highly time-sensitive, and maximizing your on-time delivery rate is crucial for meeting customer expectations.
3. Agility: In modern shipping and delivery, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. A flexible, customized delivery network is critical for making last-minute decisions when drivers are already en route to their destinations.
4. Idling and downtime: When delivery trucks break down, malfunction, or overheat, drivers can’t get back to work without taking downtime for repairs and maintenance. These long gaps in service can impact your on-time delivery rates and interfere with your ability to provide top-tier delivery service.
5. Customer expectations: Customers expect fast, seamless delivery with precise time frames, whether they’re waiting for a mini excavator or a small household item. They also increasingly look to companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by reducing emissions and switching to electric vehicles where possible.
6. Out-of-route miles: While many last mile drivers use global positioning systems (GPS) and route optimization systems to navigate their delivery routes, they often have to reroute around unexpected issues like heavy traffic and road accidents.
7. Technology integrations: Although digital transformation is well underway across virtually every industry, it has a clear positive impact on fleet management and delivery optimization. Even heavy equipment companies must integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and automated software platforms into their operations to give customers more transparent and reliable service.

Fortunately, the right equipment and technology can help solve these issues.

Our Last Mile Fulfillment Solutions

Finding the right solution provider is key for getting the most out of your last mile delivery investment. You’ll want to ensure the company you go to for trucks and service is a reliable, clear communicator with an extensive selection of equipment for your specific application and beyond.

Last mile logistics is one of our specialties at Thompson Truck Source. Some of our most effective last mile delivery solutions include:

1. Leveraging Sustainable Technologies

In response to growing concern about the environment, customers are increasingly looking for sustainable, eco-friendly brands to buy from. Last mile delivery is part of that sustainable brand image, even if it’s not the most visible to customers.

For example, AI-powered route optimization technologies can help you ensure your drivers are taking the most efficient routes to their destinations, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces delivery times. It also helps you cut down on carbon emissions so you can comply with evolving environmental regulations like the CDP Supply Chain Initiative.

That said, legacy vehicles may not integrate well with modern fleet management or tracking solutions without custom adaptations.

2. Prioritizing Customer-Centric Fleet Procurement

Customers increasingly demand delivery options that are flexible, transparent, and trackable. As you add more vehicles into your fleet, or you begin upfitting existing vehicles, considering these demands is essential for supporting excellent performance.

Proactively equipping your last mile delivery station with the specific pieces your team needs, such as destination-specific vehicles, can help you ensure safe and smooth handoffs for efficient deliveries. Additionally, installing security solutions can protect purchases from theft.

With advanced logistics and fleet management software solutions, you can provide your team and your customers with additional visibility into your fleet’s status at any given time. These programs offer customers the ability to track deliveries and give feedback on your drivers’ performance, which can help you work toward continuous improvement.

3. Designing Purpose-Built Trucks

A purpose-built delivery vehicle ensures your team has all the tools they need to quickly drop off the equipment on board and satisfy the customer. Here are some helpful tips for upfitting a vehicle that may address the last mile problem:

• Right-sizing: If you deliver to dense urban areas, it’s important to ensure your trucks match your environment. We can help you choose the right transport vehicles for your application to help you shave valuable time off last mile deliveries.
• Equipment-specific alterations: The specific equipment models you typically transport each have their own loading and unloading requirements, which means you need a unique workflow for each type of equipment. You can improve delivery efficiency by installing equipment, like hooks or tracks, that will secure equipment in place for safe, speedy delivery.
• Technology integrations: Integrating emerging technologies into your trucks can help you prevent some of the most common last mile issues, such as lack of visibility and transparency. Fleet management solutions can help you and your customers track your delivery vehicles while they’re en route to help alleviate concerns and build trust.

4. Preparing for Scalability

Scalability is a challenge for some last mile delivery operations in seasonal industries like construction and renovations. Your company may have limited ability to add vehicles, technology, or staff in response to spikes in demand due to space or budget constraints.

Designing your last mile delivery station for flexibility and scalability can help. Some suggestions include:

• Modular shelving and workstations for rapid reconfigurations.
• Temporary structures for easy setup during peak periods.
• Automated fleet management software for real-time tracking and efficient dispatching.
• Diverse vehicle fleet with the right models for each route.
• Centralized scheduling and resource allocation for improved oversight.

Ready to Transform Your Last Mile Delivery?

While successful, cost-effective last mile delivery can be challenging, the right vehicles and fleet management solutions can help your organization cut costs and improve efficiency. And that’s what we do at Thompson Truck Source.

In addition to helping you build a fleet that meets your company’s unique needs, we also offer genuine parts and services to ensure your trucks are always in peak condition. From comprehensive DOT inspections to diesel engine repairs and more, we’re here to support your drivers in completing that last mile.

You can trust the experts at Thompson Truck Source to help you find the ideal solutions for your fleet’s last mile delivery needs. Visit your nearest location or contact us online today to get started.