Logistics tech provider Fleet Enable has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that loads last-mile delivery trucks to eliminate shipment failures. The software, called Capacity Optimization, calculates cargo size and truck capacity, then dictates how orders are stowed in vehicles. Fleet Enable debuted Capacity Optimization for an audience of 1,800 during a recent logistics conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Fleet Enable said its new technology would ensure that all last-mile orders are on time and below weight, according to a press release. It stated that its AI technology is a first in the sector.
“Fleet Enable’s primary mission is to automate every aspect of the last-mile delivery, and we determined a void in the market for auto-optimization of delivery routes that included capacity management,” said CEO Krishna Vattipalli. “We believe we have created a first-of-its-kind capacity management AI exclusively for last-mile carriers.”
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Capacity Optimization is the second feature in two months added to Fleet Enable’s proprietary last-mile automation platform. In October, the company rolled out Fleet Enable Intelligence software that predicts volume shifts, on-time deliveries, revenue and driver performance.
Fleet Enable said Capacity Optimization replaces manual calculations that determine if deliveries fit on trucks and meet weight limits. It works by taking electronic requests from shipping customers to automatically generate orders. A dispatch scheduling tool then calculates variables such as appointment windows, truck availability, truck floor space, and maximum weight. The tool then generates routes that adhere to delivery constraints.
“There is a lot of complexity in determining what freight will fit onto a truck that ends up increasing the odds of a delivery failure,” said Vattipalli. “Capacity Optimization ensures we are creating the most profitable routes that can be scheduled, loaded, unloaded and delivered at the appropriate time.”
Last-mile carriers run the risk of missed deliveries when shipments are overweight or won’t fit on trucks. According to its press release, Fleet Enable’s tool can help carriers avoid costly delivery exceptions or emergency deliveries.
Capacity Optimization provides the warehouse with truck loading instructions to ensure proper shipment delivery and eases the stress of loading and unloading for drivers, according to the company.
“Our technology is smart enough to consider all of a shipment’s dimensions and weight and create a dispatch plan that will be successfully executed by the driver,” said Vattipalli. “In a market driven by high customer expectations, tight delivery windows and low margins, Capacity Optimization can strengthen a last-mile carrier’s reputation and protect its bottom line.”
Fleet Enable rolled out its last-mile automation software a year ago. Its platform digitizes scheduling, invoicing, and driver pay settlement. Fleet Enable's goal is to eliminate manual processes that slow down operations and back office performance.
