A truck running empty earns nothing — but fuel and wages keep running. Route optimisation for hauliers is about carrying more goods and driving less without. Here is what you can specifically do.
What does poor route planning cost you?
The average empty running share in Danish road transport is 20-30%. That means one in every four to five kilometres is driven without cargo.
For a truck driving 150,000 km per year with 25% empty running, 37,500 km is pure expense. Reducing empty running by 5 percentage points means real savings of over DKK 60,000 per year per truck — in fuel alone.
On top of that, the dispatcher spends too long planning routes manually, drivers call in with questions and customers wait too long.
What is route optimisation?
Route optimisation is not just about finding the shortest route. It is about planning the overall sequence of stops, time windows, capacity and return loads so you get the most out of every trip.
For a haulier with multiple trucks and varying orders, this is a complex task. Most solve it with experience and Excel — and that rarely gives the best result.
5 ways to reduce empty running
- Group orders geographically. Cluster stops in the same area rather than planning them individually. A trip with five stops close together beats five separate trips.
- Plan return loads actively. When the truck is empty on the way home, there is a potential order. Work systematically to find and offer return loads.
- Use flexible time windows. Orders with flexible time windows give you freedom to combine trips. Try to negotiate this with regular customers.
- Get a visual overview. A map-based or calendar-based overview makes it possible to see and adjust routes across trucks and days — something Excel cannot do.
- Measure your own numbers. You cannot improve what you don't measure. Track empty running and capacity utilisation — and use it for continuous improvement.
How DORA helps with route planning
The calendar view gives the dispatcher a unified overview of all orders and trucks distributed across days. This makes it easy to see available capacity and combine orders into efficient trips instead of driving individually.
The dispatch function lets the dispatcher assign and adjust routes directly in the system. Changes are automatically shown in the driver's app — no calls needed.
The KPI module gives you the numbers: empty running share, delivery accuracy, capacity utilisation and revenue per truck. This is the foundation for improving over time — not gut feelings.
Good dispatching is not about finding the shortest route — it is about finding the route that carries the most cargo for the fewest kilometres.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good empty running rate?
Below 15% is generally good for road transport. Specialist transport and certain segments will naturally have higher empty running. The most important thing is to know your own number and actively work to reduce it over time.
Can DORA integrate with GPS systems?
Yes. DORA supports integration with the most widely used GPS and fleet management systems, so position data can be pulled directly in and give the dispatcher a real-time overview. Contact us about your specific system.
When is route optimisation software worth buying?
From typically 3-5 vehicles and upwards. The more complex the dispatching — with many stops, time windows and drivers — the faster the payback period. Many customers see benefits already in the first month.
