“Ready for Pickup” status Revolutionizes RFS Hauliers Planning and Reduces Terminal Congestion

In the logistics industry, timing is critical. For RFS hauliers, aligning truck schedules with shipment readiness has long been a challenge, resulting in inefficiencies, delays, and terminal congestion.

While "Freight on Hand" status updates are standard for freight forwarders, road feeder services (RFS) remain at a disadvantage within the air cargo industry. The root cause? Freight forwarders are part of the contract of carriage and "known" to ground handlers, whereas road feeders are not. This lack of real-time information has created planning inefficiencies for hauliers that ripple across the supply chain.

Current Haulier Planning Challenges

Without access to cargo readiness updates, hauliers rely on service level agreements (SLAs) between airlines and ground handlers, often adding buffer hours to their schedules. However, if ground handlers fail to process the cargo in time, trucks arrive unable to load shipments. This leads to:

• Unproductive Waiting Hours: Trucks remain idle, driving up operational costs.
• Missed Connections: Delays in loading can cause shipments to miss critical delivery timelines.
• Terminal Congestion: Overcrowding at airport handling facilities exacerbates delays and operational inefficiencies.

The absence of real-time cargo visibility creates manual communication bottlenecks. Hauliers depend heavily on phone calls and emails to confirm cargo availability, leading to staff spend excessive time on calls and emails to ground handlers. In additition Ground handlers, often overwhelmed, may not respond promptly, creating uncertainty about cargo readiness.

This lack of transparency disrupts operations and makes planning both inefficient and costly.

How a "Ready for Pickup" Status Transforms Haulier Planning

A "Ready for Pickup" status solves these challenges by providing real-time updates on cargo readiness. This transforms haulier operations by:

• Improving Planning Accuracy Hauliers can dispatch trucks precisely when needed, minimizing idle time and improving resource utilization.
• Streamlining Workflows Real-time data eliminates manual calls and emails, saving time for both hauliers and handling staff.
• Enhancing Driver Efficiency Reduced waiting times improve driver satisfaction and operational output.

This accuracy not only lowers costs but also fosters better collaboration between RFS hauliers and ground handlers.

Trucking CDM has succesfully implemented a Ready for Pickup" status for RFS Hauliers and ground handling operators. This unique feature contributes to an increased  service level for Hauliers and ground handling in the service they provide to their airline customers. The overall optimized efficiency in air cargo logistics increased the quality of the air cargo product and results in a higher "delivered as promised" ratio

Reducing Congestion at Facilities

One of the biggest advantages of a "Ready for Pickup" status is its impact on terminal congestion. By ensuring trucks arrive only when shipments are ready, it prevents unnecessary queues and bottlenecks. Ground handlers can operate more smoothly, while hauliers benefit from faster turnaround times. Fewer idle trucks also reduce emissions, creating a safer and more sustainable environment around airport terminals.

Driving Efficiency and Sustainability

A "Ready for Pickup" status is a win-win for the industry:

• For Hauliers: Lower fuel costs, reduced operational delays, and improved planning accuracy.
• For Ground Handlers: Smoother operations, reduced congestion, and optimized resource allocation.
• For the Environment: Reduced emissions and energy waste from idle trucks, aligning with sustainability goals.

Conclusion

The "Ready for Pickup" status is more than just a convenience, it's a game-changer for the air cargo industry. By solving the longstanding challenge of cargo visibility for hauliers, it streamlines operations, reduces congestion, and supports sustainability efforts.

It’s time to embrace smarter logistics. With real-time readiness updates, hauliers, ground handlers, and the entire supply chain can move toward a more efficient, coordinated, and greener future.

Raoul Paul CEO, CargoHub