Improving Agricultural Logistics with Transportation Logistics Software [UPD 2023]

Updated on July 21, 2023 by Alina Kostukova

Managing transportation logistics in the agricultural sector is a unique challenge.

If you’ve ever organized agricultural logistics, then you understand the importance of working with tight timeframes and a high level of flexibility. The logistics supply chain in agriculture is constantly changing, and you have to be able to adapt to it.

It is vital in a demanding industry like agriculture that the logistics network can keep up. There is little room for error here, so systems need to be as efficient as possible.

This is why it's crucial to use the right transportation management software. We will discuss the importance of such software in agricultural logistics and the criteria for selecting the best available solution.

Understanding transportation logistics management in agriculture

The complex nature of agricultural logistics can only be grasped by looking at the industry as a whole.

The agricultural sector has one of the most extensive supply chain systems.

A typical agricultural supply chain will involve three main steps:

• Moving produce from the farmers to the intermediate silos.

• Moving produce from the silos to the transportation plants.

• Moving produce from the transportation plants to the end client.

In each of these different steps, multiple decisions need to be made. And with each decision that needs to be made, there are multiple possible outcomes.

Planning an efficient agricultural supply chain requires a strong understanding of the crops and the multiple possibilities that could result from each action.

Transportation logistics management needs thoroughly evaluate every step and make the best judgments depending on every scenario.

This means that logistics managers need to be flexible and able to figure out the best way to handle logistics as quickly and easily as possible. This is why it's so important to have the right transportation logistics management software.

Why transportation logistics management is essential in agriculture

Agricultural logistics poses a unique set of challenges, which we will explore later on.

Firstly, it’s essential to understand that agricultural logistics relies on both inbound and outbound shipments.

For example, farmers need inbound shipments of seeds and fertilizers. They then produce the final crop which is transported in an outbound shipment. Both of these shipments are reliant on one another, and both need to be optimized for success.

Agricultural goods are also incredibly delicate. Fresh crops have a limited shelf life and need to be stored and managed very specifically.

Any damaged crops or produce during transportation could have a significant impact on the overall agricultural supply chain.

When dealing with perishable produce like this, it’s so important that each area of the supply chain is handled carefully.

The different parties involved include farmers/producers, manufacturers, retailers, and transportation companies. Every position comes with a certain amount of duty, and each role affects the next one. 

Maintaining careful logistics management is vital for delivering a consistent and predictable supply chain.

Beyond this, there are also far more regulations involved in agricultural logistics.

This includes regulations around food safety, regulations for fertilizers that could be hazardous, and more. These additional regulations add further complexity to managing agricultural logistics and supply chains.

The bottom line is that agricultural logistics involves significantly more moving parts and processes than most supply chains.

Logistics managers need to be able to respond to challenges quickly and always maintain a high standard throughout the supply chain.

To achieve this, you need to use the right agricultural supply chain tools for deliveries and other operations. Dealing with these processes manually could be impossible to keep up with.

We’ll explore how to find the best transportation management software in more detail.

Agricultural logistics challenges

To improve agricultural logistics with transportation logistics software, it’s vital first to have a clear understanding of the different challenges that exist.

Below are some of the main challenges in agricultural logistics

Visibility

Whether for inbound or outbound logistics, maintaining visibility is one of the key challenges.

Accurate ETAs for each of these areas is essential for an efficient supply chain.

Whether we apply this to self-delivery, carriers, 3PL, or shippers, clear visibility across the logistics process is vital.

Everyone involved needs to have a clear understanding of the status of delivery, and where each party involved in the supply chain is. Without this, a complex logistics chain could turn into a logistical nightmare.

You may finally put an end to the problem of unnecessary idling with the help of advanced real-time drivers statuses in Track-POD web 2.0. When a driver has been inactive for too long, their pin will change colour.

Communication

Communication in agricultural logistics is closely linked to visibility.

This could be communication between drivers and logistics managers or communication at the different stages of the supply chain.

Whatever the case, ensuring all parties are consistently updated and kept in the loop is essential.

Without clear communication, managing logistics can become a serious challenge.

Compliance

We have already touched on the challenging regulations around the agricultural supply chain.

Keeping up with compliance is an important part of managing farm transportation because it involves handling fragile and quickly spoiled goods.

This includes compliance around the agricultural products being transported and compliance related to the actual transportation process.

Logistics managers must ensure that every route, vehicle, and shipment is always fully compliant.

There are many considerations to make here, and keeping up with a vast number of shipments and delivery routes can be challenging.

Managing agricultural compliance in transportation is incredibly challenging when the routes become international.

Transportation

Of course, the final challenge comes down to actual transportation management.

Managing logistics is difficult in any industry, especially one with as many considerations as agriculture.

Agricultural transportation routes can often be a particular challenge. This can make route planning and optimizing each delivery route difficult.

Then there is also the management of the vehicles, managing the drivers, and making sure that all shipments are on track.

Agricultural logistics generally involves long-distance deliveries in areas that are often remote.

To manage this effectively, it’s crucial to have a clear and accurate system for staying up-to-date with any potential transportation challenges.

Using transportation logistics software

Luckily, these challenges can be easily solved with the right transportation logistics software.

The best transportation management software should offer the following possibilities, which can help address and manage the discussed challenges.

Routing

One of the biggest benefits of transportation logistics software is more intelligent route planning.

Routing software can be used to solve various agricultural transportation challenges.

With the right route optimization software, you will be able to automatically adjust and plan routes.

Not only does this save time, but it helps you make sure that each vehicle is on the smartest and most efficient route possible. This is important for keeping up with the complicated supply chain in agriculture.

Transportation logistics software like this can help logistics managers make decisions in no time.

If there are changes to be made to the routes, the software will be able to do this right away. It also makes sure that the right vehicles get the correct loads. 

If you are dealing with complex delivery routes, then using route planning software like this is a lifesaver.

Track-POD web 2.0 Plan & Track page comes with a responsive map that gives more control for effecient route plannning. Use order cluster and a new selection tool for extra-precision.

Communication

Communication can be vastly enhanced with the right transportation logistics software.

As we already mentioned, this is one of the main challenges associated with agricultural logistics.

Transportation software can easily open up visibility and communication between logistics managers and drivers. It can also help to open up visibility between the different people involved in an agriculture supply chain.

This can be achieved through things like accurate vehicle tracking and instant shipping notifications.

These features ensure that the delivery status is always up to date and accessible by all parties.

There is also better communication between transportation management and delivery drivers.

Instead of manually sending updates, changing routes, or asking for their location, all of this can be done instantly through the software.

For example, if a route is suddenly changed, the route will be automatically updated in the driver app.

Manual communication is no longer necessary, as total communication accuracy is maintained.

GPS tracking

GPS tracking capabilities are essential for improving agricultural logistics.

GPS tracking helps improve visibility, communications, and transportation management.

It also helps ensure that every party involved is on the same page and that freight can be easily tracked.

This plays a vital role across the entire agricultural logistics chain, and it helps each party stay up-to-date and on track with the delivery.

Fleet maintenance

Maintaining delivery vehicles is essential for any kind of transportation logistics.

Vehicles are some of the most expensive assets of any logistics company, so they must always be kept in top shape.

Trucks must remain in good working order to reduce ongoing costs, like fuel expenses and repairs.

The right transportation management software offers a solution to this.

The software helps fleet managers and drivers stay current on all aspects of their vehicles.

Vehicle checks and inspections can be enhanced through the software, which saves transportation companies a great deal of money in the long run.

Having your fleet management software available through a single platform will make agricultural logistics easier.

Freight management

We mentioned how difficult it can be to carry delicate and perishable crops in agricultural transportation. Using the right software can help make this process easier.

The right delivery management system will be able to assign suitable cargo to the right vehicle.

All special considerations will be taken into account, such as the weight of the cargo, the limitations and type of the vehicle, and so on. So the cargo will automatically be assigned to the appropriate vehicle.

Many different factors are involved when it comes to managing deliveries and assigning goods to the right vehicle.

Using a built-for-purpose logistics software solution will go a long way in refining this process.

This will help add value to each member of the overall supply chain.

Other benefits of using transportation logistics software in the agriculture industry

Transportation logistics software is essential for improving agricultural logistics.

It doesn’t only help solve the main challenges faced in this industry but can also add many advantages to logistics management.

We’ve outlined some of the main ones below.

Saves money

The right transportation logistics software helps make all kinds of processes far more efficient. This allows logistics companies to get more out of their transportation networks, which saves money.

Saves time

Transportation logistics automates various processes and handles complicated administrative tasks. This will save agricultural logistics managers loads of time and effort.

In Track-POD We 2.0, users can swiftly add orders or change settings and know that all sub-users will see the changes right away. 

Saves fuel

With smarter routing options and route optimizations, the software can help improve fuel management.

This is also achieved by assigning the right cargo to the right vehicle and maintaining the fleet well-managed.

Helps customers

Transportation software isn’t only for logistics managers and delivery drivers.

It can also improve the customer experience in a big way.

The right transportation logistics software helps your business become more customer-centric and adds value to the client’s journey.

This is particularly important in agricultural logistics, where various people can be involved in the supply chain, each requiring fast and efficient service.

Conclusion

Agricultural logistics can be a tough nut to crack.

With so much happening in an agricultural supply chain, staying on top of all processes can be a particularly challenging job for logistics managers.

This is why the right transportation logistics software is necessary.

The software can make a wide range of processes easier to manage and more efficient to operate.

This is essential for keeping agricultural logistics transparent and on track – things that are incredibly important for an industry with such a complex supply chain.