7 Truck Route Planning Tips for SMEs in Road Freight

Small and medium-sized logistics companies often struggle with manual route planning, hidden costs, and driver delays. These 7 actionable tips help SMEs plan truck routes more efficiently using digital solutions tailored for EU road freight operations.

Table of Contents

• Consider Legal and Road Restrictions for Trucks
• Ensure Cost Transparency Before Sending a Quote
• Plan Multi-Stop and Multi-Day Tours Effectively
• Use Real-Time Tracking to React to Delays
• Maximize Fleet Usage and Reduce Empty Trips
• Replace Excel with Smart Route Planning Tools
• Support Drivers with Digital Navigation Tools

1. Consider Legal and Road Restrictions for Trucks

Not every road fits every truck. Manual planning often ignores:

• Height, weight, and hazardous goods restrictions
• Night driving bans or city restrictions
• Vehicle types (e.g. articulated trucks, tankers)

✅ Realistic Tip: Build vehicle profiles in your route planner with specific axle count, trailer type, ADR class, and dimensions.

🔧 Solution: Use the IMPARGO Truck Route Planner for safe, compliant routing.

2. Ensure Cost Transparency Before Sending a Quote

Quoting without accurate costs leads to financial loss:

• Underpriced transport orders
• Unexpected toll or fuel expenses
• No way to compare tour profitability

✅ Realistic Tip: Simulate tolls by CO₂ class and weight. Include fuel, AdBlue, and driver costs.

💡 Tip: Use the IMPARGO Toll Calculator and Truck Cost Calculator.

3. Plan Multi-Stop and Multi-Day Tours Effectively

Every stop adds cost. Poor planning leads to:

• Wrong stop sequences
• Higher fuel use and driving times
• Missed delivery windows

✅ Realistic Tip: Include time windows, legal rest times (Regulation EC No 561/2006), and real-time traffic.

🚛 Tool: Try the IMPARGO Order & Dispatch Software.

4. Use Real-Time Tracking to React to Delays

Delays happen. Without visibility:

• Deliveries arrive late
• Detour costs increase
• Service level agreements (SLAs) are missed

✅ Realistic Tip: Use geofencing and client-friendly live tracking links.

📍 Track live with: IMPARGO TMS Platform and DriverApp.

5. Maximize Fleet Usage and Reduce Empty Trips

Empty trips = lost margin. Issues include:

• Partially loaded vehicles
• Unused fleet capacity
• High cost per kilometer

✅ Realistic Tip: Consolidate shipments, analyze load factors, track empty km weekly.

📦 Optimize using: IMPARGO Fleet & Partner Management.

6. Replace Excel with Smart Route Planning Tools

Excel lacks automation and consistency:

• No route optimization
• No integrated time or cost logic
• High manual effort

✅ Realistic Tip: Use template-based, browser-accessible planning tools with PDF import.

🖥️ Upgrade to: IMPARGO TMS for FTL, LTL, Express, and ADR.

7. Support Drivers with Digital Navigation Tools

Uninformed drivers cause errors:

• Wrong stops
• Missed documents or instructions
• No way to report problems

✅ Realistic Tip: Give drivers an app with stop order, document upload, ETAs, and proof of delivery photos.

📱 Solution: The IMPARGO DriverApp supports tracking and event capture — no extra hardware needed.

People Also Ask

How do I plan efficient truck routes for EU logistics?
Use a truck-specific planner like the IMPARGO Truck Route Planner to factor in legal, size, and traffic constraints.

What are common truck routing mistakes?
Manual planning, ignoring toll and fuel costs, and no real-time updates lead to missed deadlines and higher costs.

Which tool helps with multi-stop planning?
IMPARGO Dispatch Software sequences stops, plans rest periods, and manages multi-day tours.

How can I track trucks without extra hardware?
IMPARGO’s DriverApp offers real-time GPS tracking and event reporting directly from the driver’s phone.