Hyperconnected Multi-Carrier Multi-Hub Less-Than-Truckload Freight Transportation and Logistic System

Abstract

 Many less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers operate independently, retaining control over their fleets, networks, and limited hub facilities, shaping the LTL industry into a myriad of small carriers with low interconnectivity. This solo practice often leads to inefficiency and unsustainability: trucks often less than 60% loaded with about 25% empty trips, low freight consolidation potential, long order-to-delivery times, high service costs, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, constrained market reach, and limited flexibility.To breaks away from the current pitfalls, this paper examines leveraging the Physical Internet concepts, models, and principles to reimagine LTL freight transportation and logistics as a highly scalable hyperconnected system, with open dynamic multi-carrier multi-hub cooperation and consolidation. The paper focalizes on identifying transformational gaps and pathways from the current to a hyperconnected LTL freight system, with emphasis on the conceptual and pragmatic systemic change requirements and avenues at the operating, transactional, and orchestration levels.