What does JIT mean?

Just-in-Time (JIT) is a logistics strategy of delivering goods exactly when they are needed, rather than holding them in stock. It cuts warehousing and inventory costs but depends on precise, reliable transport, because there is little or no buffer if a delivery runs late.

How JIT works in road freight

JIT shifts the buffer from the warehouse to the road, so it only works with tight coordination between supplier, carrier and recipient. Delivery windows are narrow, often booked to the hour, and the carrier has to hit them consistently. That makes accurate route planning, realistic ETAs and real-time tracking essential.

JIT, milk runs and warehousing

JIT is often run as a milk run: one vehicle collects from several suppliers on a fixed schedule and feeds a production line just in time. It is common in automotive, retail and perishable goods, where holding stock in a warehouse is costly or impractical.

The weak point of JIT is timing: one late tour can stop a production line. In the Planner Module from IMPARGO, routes are planned with driving and rest times and per-country tolls so delivery windows stay realistic, and the tour goes to the driver with truck navigation in the DriverApp.