In transportation and logistics, the final mile often steals the spotlight. It’s the most visible, so it is no wonder that it gets credit when deliveries happen on time and the wrath of frustrated consumers when things go wrong. But the real hero of supply chain is the middle mile. It’s often overlooked but absolutely essential. Without the middle mile holding everything together, nothing would get where it’s going.
The middle mile explained
The middle mile is sandwiched between the first mile, when goods move to an initial warehouse or hub, and the last mile, when they are delivered to their final destination. What happens in the middle mile impacts delivery speed, transportation costs, inventory accuracy, and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.
The middle mile often makes up the longest and most intensive leg of the freight journey. Because several moving parts have to come together for the middle mile to be successful, it requires coordination among all stakeholders, including freight providers (like Amazon Freight), drivers, and warehouse workers. Clear communication and visibility ensure everyone is on the same page. It can also help get ahead of problems by cutting them off before they occur or responding quickly if issues arise.
Visibility within the middle mile has an added bonus: when everyone knows what is going on and where freight is located, shippers can make informed decisions about their inventory.
Opportunities to drive efficiency in the middle mile
There are several strategies to increase efficiency and control costs in the middle mile, including:
- Work with dependable providers: Choosing a provider can be one of the most important decisions to impact middle-mile performance. Work with providers that have reliable equipment, strong communication tools and tracking capabilities, technology to increase efficiency, and a proven track record.
- Select the best mode: You will likely need to choose between full-truckload or less-than-truckload freight. LTL combines freight from multiple shippers into one trailer and can be ideal for smaller shipments, but it can take longer to arrive. FTL dedicates the full trailer to a single shipment, providing more control over the load and potential cost savings.
- Optimize the network: Analyze routes, remove empty miles, and minimize touchpoints to streamline shipments and increase efficiency.
- Maximize trailer utilization: Making the most of trailer space and consolidating freight into each shipment reduces the total number of trips required to move the same amount of goods.
- Leverage trailer pools: Trailer pools improve flexibility and asset utilization by allowing drivers to drop off a loaded trailer and pick up an empty one without waiting for live loading or unloading.
The potential for problems in the middle mile
With so much riding on the middle mile, it is no surprise that it presents its own unique set of challenges, but they can be managed. Here’s how:
- Be prepared to pivot: Disruptions, such as weather, traffic, or equipment breakdowns, can create delays. While visibility reduces the risk of disruption and keeps you informed, it is essential to have a contingency plan.
- Use a broker to find capacity: If your primary carrier experiences an issue or your order volumes suddenly spike, you may need additional capacity quickly. A freight broker can help you source capacity, book loads, and manage the shipment.
- Reduce the risk of product damage: If freight is damaged during the middle mile, it means the products won’t even make it to the final mile. A well-packaged and properly labeled load ensures products arrive at their destination safely.
Use middle mile as a strategic advantage
At Amazon Freight, we have more than 70,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers along with technology to make the middle mile work for your shipping needs. Create an account to immediately start getting quotes for your loads.
