How to Plan a Good Truck Route
The moment you need to have something hauled across the state or even across the country, you have to consider truck route planning and other logistics. It can have an impact on the permits that you need, the time it will take your load to arrive, and much more.
Why Proper Planning is a Must
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as loading a trucker up with your load and sending them on their way. You have to consider the route that will work the most effectively so that you adhere to state requirements as well as protect the integrity of your load.
You’ll want to consider such things as:
- Road closures
- Permit requirements by state
- Highways permitted for the size load that you have
Even the needs of the trucker have to be considered, including rest breaks, meals, rest areas, and parking. It can be overwhelming to consider all of these things, which is why professionals will provide routes for you.
Determine the Total Distance
The total distance has to be calculated. Whether this is hundreds of miles or thousands of miles, you have to determine what that will mean for the trip. You’ll want to account for gas as well as the number of stops that will need to be made.
A trucker will have to make multiple stops throughout the day for using the bathroom and to eat. After a certain number of miles covered in a day, they will also need to stop for the night to rest – and that means finding a place where they can park their truck and get some sleep.
Avoid Dangerous Areas
Some areas of the country are dangerous – and for different reasons.
Some cities may need to be avoided because of the potential for a truck jacking. You don’t want to risk your load being stolen because of criminal activity.
Other cities or areas may be dangerous because of the weather, road conditions, or something else.
You’ll want to do your research by looking at the various cities where a driver will have to pass through as they go from Point A to Point B.
Identifying places for truckers to avoid can save time and reduce stress on the drivers. You don’t want to run the risk of them getting stuck anywhere as it can pose a number of complications – including the safety of the driver and your load.
It can also lead to significant delays if you fail to conduct adequate research.
Assess Permitting Needs
Permits need to be obtained any time there is a heavy load. This includes when a load is too long, too wide, too high, or too heavy.
The permitting varies by state – and sometimes even by county.
Particularly when you have a load traveling across multiple states, you have different routes that you can take. If you know one state has particularly difficult permitting processes, you can choose a route where you don’t even need to travel through that state.
Knowing the permitting requirements of the varying states before you even begin the route can make it that much easier for you to follow the rules and regulations – and avoid particularly difficult areas.
Explore the Weather
The weather will always be a factor when you’re doing any kind of truck route planning. If there are storms in one area, you might want to avoid them – if at all possible.
Consider any kind of weather that may delay a route or cause problems for the driver. This can include high winds, strong rains, snow, and ice. Certain times of the year will involve different weather patterns, so be sure that you’re doing all of the necessary research.
Ensure Communication is Available
You’ll want to have a way of communicating with the driver at all times. Some areas of the country may not have reliable cell signals. This is when you may have to rely on CB radio or some other means of communication. Know where the troubling signals are so that you can communicate effectively.
When you’re able to communicate, it ensures that you can keep up with deadlines and ensure that there are no issues along the way.
Get Help with Truck Route Planning
Expertise is critical with truck route planning. And when you are involved with planning multiple truck routes, it can be that much more overwhelming.
Since there is so much research involved in planning the routes every step of the way, it’s best to work with logistics professionals who have experience.
At Osage Specialized Transport, we have over 40 years of experience. We can plan the truck routes and help in every other way to ensure that your shipping and logistics needs are met affordably and efficiently. Contact us today.
