How Heimdall Helped a Specialized Manufacturer Turn Empty Miles Into Profit
An Interim Assistance case study in fleet optimization, TMS implementation, and transportation efficiency.
Executive Summary: A specialized manufacturer operating a private truck fleet was absorbing significant transportation cost due to low fleet utilization and excessive empty miles. Heimdall Supply Chain Consulting was engaged through its Interim Assistance model to solve a focused operational challenge: improve fleet utilization and transportation efficiency without disrupting internal service requirements.
Through targeted fleet optimization, transportation management system (TMS) implementation, and real-time fleet analytics, Heimdall helped the company increase asset utilization by 26%, convert empty backhauls into billable miles, and transform a cost center into a controlled revenue stream without adding headcount or compromising product handling standards.
The Situation: High Service Standards, Low Fleet Utilization
When the CFO of a specialized manufacturing company reached out to Heimdall Supply Chain Consulting, the problem was both clear and costly.
The company operated a private truck fleet to transport high-value materials requiring:
Strict handling protocols
Controlled environments
Real-time visibility and tracking
Outsourcing transportation was not an option. The products were too sensitive, and service reliability was non-negotiable.
Yet despite these high standards, fleet performance told a different story.
The fleet was operating at approximately 50% utilization.
Every outbound delivery was followed by an empty return trip to the warehouse. These empty miles drove:
Unnecessary mileage and fuel cost
Underutilized fixed fleet assets
Eroding transportation margins
This was not a transportation network design problem.
It was a fleet utilization and transportation management problem.
And it was exactly the kind of targeted issue Heimdall’s Interim Assistance offering is designed to solve.
The Challenge: Reduce Empty Miles Without Compromising Internal Service
On the surface, the solution seemed obvious:
Sell unused backhaul capacity into the truckload market.
In practice, it was far more complex.
Constraint #1: Internal Loads Always Came First
The fleet existed to serve the company’s proprietary products. Any third-party freight had to:
Never interfere with internal delivery windows
Match specialized handling requirements
Fit precisely within existing routes and schedules
Maintain on-time delivery performance
Transportation efficiency improvements could not come at the expense of internal service reliability.
Constraint #2: The Truckload Market Is Unforgiving
Competing for backhaul freight meant meeting market expectations:
Tight pickup and delivery windows
Real-time shipment visibility
High service reliability with near-zero tolerance for failure
Heimdall had to design a dual-purpose fleet strategy, one that balanced internal transportation needs with external revenue opportunities through disciplined transportation management.
This was not about filling space opportunistically.
It required systematic fleet optimization.
Heimdall’s Solution: Intelligence-Driven Fleet Optimization
Heimdall’s mandate was clear:
Maximize fleet utilization and transportation efficiency without compromising internal operations.
The solution focused on three tightly integrated pillars.
1. Increasing Network Flexibility for Internal Transportation
The first step was unlocking flexibility inside the existing transportation network.
Heimdall re-engineered internal routing and scheduling by:
Re-sequencing outbound delivery routes
Adjusting internal cutoff and dock times
Creating flexible loading and unloading workflows
Developing alternative routing scenarios
This fleet optimization work expanded the number of usable backhaul windows without changing service commitments.
Result:
More available capacity in the fleet calendar and a larger pool of viable backhaul opportunities.
2. Transportation Management System (TMS) Implementation
Before Heimdall’s engagement, fleet operations were managed reactively. Dispatch decisions were made manually, with limited visibility into capacity, routing, or utilization trends.
Heimdall implemented a Transportation Management System (TMS) to professionalize transportation management and enable scalable optimization.
The TMS enabled:
Proactive load planning and routing
Automated matching of compatible backhaul freight
Real-time route optimization
Exception alerts and workflow automation
Mileage tracking for utilization and cost analysis
This TMS implementation transformed the fleet from a static operation into a data-driven transportation management system capable of competing in the broader freight market.
3. Real-Time Fleet Visibility and Analytics
To successfully sell backhaul capacity, the fleet needed transparency and reliability.
Heimdall deployed telematics and fleet analytics tools across the fleet, providing:
Live GPS tracking
Accurate ETA prediction
Safety and compliance monitoring
Driver performance metrics
Proactive maintenance alerts
This real-time visibility improved fleet reliability while making the transportation operation commercially viable for external customers.
The Results: From Cost Center to Revenue-Generating Asset
By combining fleet optimization, TMS implementation, and real-time transportation analytics, Heimdall delivered measurable results:
26% increase in fleet asset utilization
Significant reduction in empty miles
Conversion of unused capacity into billable backhaul freight
100% fulfillment of internal transportation requirements
Improved fleet reliability, safety, and predictability
New, controlled transportation revenue stream
Most importantly, these gains were achieved without hiring additional staff, restructuring the fleet, or compromising handling standards.
The fleet evolved from a pure cost center into a hybrid operational and revenue asset.
Why Companies Use Heimdall’s Interim Assistance
This engagement highlights the purpose of Heimdall’s Interim Assistance model:
You bring a specific, high-impact supply chain or transportation problem
Heimdall identifies the root causes
We design and execute the solution
You continue running your business without disruption
From fleet optimization and TMS implementation to logistics efficiency and transportation cost reduction, Heimdall delivers targeted execution, not theoretical advice.
Need Help Solving a Transportation or Fleet Challenge?
If you’re facing challenges with:
Fleet utilization
Empty miles reduction
Transportation management
TMS implementation
Logistics efficiency
Heimdall’s Interim Assistance can help you improve utilization, reduce cost, and unlock measurable operational gains without adding headcount.
Emerge victorious over inefficiency.
Schedule a consultation and turn operational drag into competitive advantage.