Empty Stop considerations in Transportation Planner

Pre-built loads sent to optimizer for re-planning may include loads with empty stops, such as for Skeleton Load or Pre-booked Capacity.

Loads having empty stops that rate successfully may have empty stops filled or additional stops added from the pool of available shipment legs. Shipment legs will only be added to these loads if they meet corresponding eligibility conditions and doing so results in an overall reduction in solution cost.

Shipment leg eligibility conditions for skeleton loads

The following conditions apply when determining if an available shipment leg may be added to a skeleton load:

• An eligible shipment leg will have an origin matching an existing skeleton stop having a ‘Pick’ or ‘Pick/Drop’ stop type, and a destination matching an existing skeleton stop having a ‘Drop’ or ‘Pick/Drop’ stop type (that is sequenced after the matched origin). If both origin and destination cannot be matched, the shipment leg may still be added, but only if the leg qualifies under defined stop insertion rules.
• A non-skeleton stop may be inserted in a skeleton load’s stop current sequence if skeleton locations on both sides of the insertion point permit it.
• If a matched skeleton stop’s associated skeleton location (either on origin or destination) defines a Commodity ID, the shipment leg may not specify a different commodity.
• If an available shipment leg specifies “hard commits” for any of carrier, service, tractor or trailer equipment type, they must match the “hard commits” (if any) of the skeleton load.
• Shipment leg pickup and delivery windows must not cause the defined service times of any skeleton location to be missed.
• The candidate shipment leg must schedule successfully without requiring the re-sequencing of skeleton stops. Non-skeleton stops may be re-sequenced, but the result must satisfy defined stop insertion rules.

Shipment leg eligibility conditions for pre-booked capacity loads

A pre-booked capacity load that is also linked to a skeleton route follows the eligibility conditions defined for skeleton loads. If the pre-booked capacity load is not a skeleton load, the following conditions apply:

• An eligible shipment leg will satisfy all criteria defined on the assigned carrier’s tariff/service rules for shipment selection the shipment selection for tendered load extension.
• All added shipment legs will route, rate and schedule successfully for all “hard commits” specified on the pre-booked capacity load.