Be honest. Is your distribution team doing delivery logistics the outdated, inefficient way? We’re talking emails, phone calls, and the old-fashioned pencil-and-paper method. If that’s the case, or partially the case, it’s time for an upgrade. 

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If you want to keep up with current construction demand without completely draining your internal team, you need a modern route planner and TMS system. Here’s what they are, what they do, and why you need both working together to smooth out operations. 

What is a route planner?

A route planner is a method dispatchers use to calculate the most efficient delivery routes. They take into account factors like traffic, distance, vehicle capacity, delivery windows, and road closures. The goal is to optimize the route to reduce drive time and fuel costs, while maximizing the number of deliveries made per shift. 

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These systems, in execution, can range from intuitive software that automatically detects the best routes to Excel sheets to the good old manual hardcopy method. Depending on the company's size, route planning could be handled by a team or by a single person using a desktop app. 

What is a TMS?

The Transportation Management System (TMS) is crucial for construction distributor teams. This software platform helps businesses plan, execute, and optimize their delivery logistics, from ordering to booking to confirming delivery completion. 

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The TMS serves as the main hub for managing delivery logistics, including vehicle selection, route planning, delivery tracking, and, in some cases, invoice management. The goal is to create a unified space that improves efficiency, reduces operational costs, and provides all stakeholders with the visibility they need into the intricacies of the supply chain. 

Route planning: the conventional method vs. modern 3PL planners 

If the old Google Sheet or notepad method works for you, why change things? Well, just because your team is familiar with a certain route-planning method doesn’t mean it's the most efficient one. In reality, your business is likely leaving a lot of money on the table. 

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Conventional route planning relies on fixed routes and minimal visibility. That means when orders change or there are road delays, adapting is nearly impossible. Reworking routes by hand also means wasting valuable time and resources while drivers take inefficient paths or worse, sit idle. 

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Modern 3PL systems like Curri’s, for example, serve as software specifically designed for routing construction materials. It will automatically optimize routes based on live traffic conditions and supply the right driver, vehicle, and route you need to take. This way, planning comes down to a few simple drag-and-drop actions, and there’s no need to overwork your internal fleet or worry about maintenance and gas costs. 

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3PL software makes route planning as efficient and effective as possible, turning it from a chore into a smart, adaptive system that bookers can rely on. 

What to look for in a TMS

No two TMS systems are the same. When you’re shopping around for the perfect, have-it-all software, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

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• Core logistics functionality: Make sure the TMS supports live tracking, provides estimated arrival times, and proactively manages delays. Proof of delivery is also a must-have, especially when making a delivery for the first time. 
• Construction-specific adaptability: Ensure the TMS integrates with the other construction tools in your digital toolstack. It should also support shareable tracking links that the booker can give to all relevant construction stakeholders.
• Analytics support: A great TMS should also provide performance metrics and actionable insights. This will keep bookers analyzing operations, finding blockers, and improving future logistics.

How route planners and TMS systems work together

A route planner, at the end of the day, is just a handy part of the larger TMS. The TMS uses route-planning algorithms to generate the most efficient routes, which are then dynamically adjusted based on live data. 

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The TMS uses the integrated route planning data to inform its other basic tasks, including optimizing schedules and handling logistics management such as load building, cost control, and real-time tracking in a single unified platform. 

How Curri has you covered with both tools

Curri is a unified logistics platform that acts as an intuitive TMS with advanced route planning baked right in. Curri’s route planner uses live traffic data to help guide you to the most effective answers every time, and offers three simple route planning methods, including: 

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• Drag-and-drop: Dispatchers can drag orders from a queue right onto a driver’s route.
• Lasso tool: Users can draw a zone around all dropoff points and assign the route right to a driver. 
• Auto-assign: This AI-powered feature uses advanced logic to automatically build complex routes. It also runs scenarios to minimize the number of vehicles, helping bookers optimize their fleet size and save money.

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Curri also helps you scale your delivery radius with ease. Bookers can leverage a nationwide fleet of drivers, meaning leaving the city or the state is no problem. From Washington, to Philadelphia, to San Francisco, to Phoenix, no route is too far. And you can get there via LTL, hotshot, dedicated route, or even parcel service. 

Try Curri today and simplify operations for the future

Are you ready to upgrade your TMS and route planner to one easy-to-use app? Get Curri. Getting started is as simple as signing up and making your first booking. And Curri is always competitively priced, with a support team standing by to help if you need it. 

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Take the weight off your internal team, and grow your business with ease. Book a demo today.