ITMATTERS [ INSIGHT ]
by Amy Dean VP of Operations, SC Codeworks adean@sccodeworks.com | 614-389-0692
3 Logistics Metrics That Matter More Than You Think
A late truck, a surprise freight charge, a broken pallet—these things show up in dashboards daily. They’re the kind of problems that seem minor at first. You fix them and move on, but over time, they add up.
stacked and what the carrier can handle. If damages spike on certain days or at certain docks, look at loading practices and dock availability. Some facilities load directly to the trailer during late shifts, while others have staging zones that increase touches. Not every provider handles freight the same way, and some types require different handling expectations up front. Problems can be more easily fixed when you narrow down the cause instead of guessing. So, try tracking damage by carrier, lane and product type. Add a field in your reporting system for loading method or team on duty. Some logistics teams track metrics. Others actually use them. The difference shows up in how quickly they respond when something changes. Waiting for a weekly or monthly report creates lag, and by the time the data gets reviewed, patterns have already taken shape. Teams that move faster treat metrics like early warnings. They don’t just log a missed delivery and move on. They ask what caused it, call the carrier, check the pick windows and then look at who was working the dock. The tools are out there. The hard part is building the habit of checking in real time and acting before an issue repeats. n
metrics. Focus on actual pick-up and delivery times, not just system-generated ETAs. Look at lead time performance and frequency of missed appointments. Digging into those numbers can often clear up where the problem really starts. 2. Freight cost trends don’t explain everything. Looking at freight cost averages is easy. Looking at volatility takes more work but paints a deeper picture. A sharp increase on a particular lane might point to a mode mismatch or seasonal contract gaps. Maybe your team defaults to air when ground would work. When you see costs jump, check for changes in packaging, shipment size, carrier mix or booking behavior. The goal is not just to lower spend but to understand why certain lanes keep creeping up. 3. Damages are often a chain reaction. Most damage reports don’t tell you why something broke, just that it did. Repeat claims often reveal more about processes than packaging. If one product type keeps showing up damaged, there may be a mismatch between how it’s being
Late deliveries might look like a warehouse problem at first glance. Freight charges might seem high for reasons that have nothing to do with fuel or demand, while product damage often gets blamed on packaging when the real issue is somewhere else entirely. Treating these data points as signals can help you fix small problems before they become expensive ones. 1. Late is rarely just late. A late outbound could point to an inventory miss, inefficient slotting or a bottleneck in your staging lanes. If inbounds are late, it may be worth reviewing your carrier’s performance or checking whether containers are sitting longer than expected at port. Instead of lumping all delays together, break them apart by type and origin. Sort by carrier, time of day, and lane. If outbound shipments are late every Monday from a specific facility, you’re better off addressing that than guessing at warehouse-wide scheduling changes. Carrier scorecards are helpful here, but only if they include the right
24 Inbound Logistics • October 2025
Powered by FlippingBook