NEWSROOM

TIME SLOT MANAGEMENT (ZFM) FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS

An empirical study on the effectiveness and acceptance of time slot management systems in practice

Foreword

For the first time, CARGOCLIX surveyed transport and logistics service providers about the effectiveness of time slot management systems. A total of 622 companies have participated.

“Waiting times at the ramp”. The topic has been high on the agenda for years in industry, trade and services. Reports are written, sworn transparency among stakeholders, yet it indicates the cause no doubt: As long as carriers can deliver unplanned any time, the congestion on the ramp is connected to long queues at peak times and several hours of waiting times inevitable.

The conclusion of all known studies can be summed up in a simple formula: good and flexible time slot management increases ramp efficiency for ramp operators and logistics service providers alike. It improves freight operations and enables more efficient use of the infrastructure. Last but not least, punctual handling at the loading ramp helps to improve working conditions. The satisfaction of the ramp operators with time slot management systems, in particular with regard to a higher transparency of the processes in the incoming and outgoing goods and thus a higher economic efficiency, now prove numerous practical examples.

Nevertheless, the discussion about the benefits of time slot management systems is particularly controversial among freight carriers. According to the study of the Federal Ministry of Transport “Interface ramp – solutions to avoid waiting times” from the year 2013, the ramp operators give the instrument time slot management a higher contribution to the tense situation on the ramp, as the logistics service providers. According to this, 59.8 percent of shippers, and still 44.8 percent of carriers, certify that the systems are making a high and very high contribution to solving the problems on the ramp. In contrast, only 35.7 percent of the transport and logistics service providers in time slot management systems see a high and very high contribution to shortening waiting times or bureaucratic effort on the ramp. Transport and logistics service providers are therefore rather critical of the introduction of time slot management systems.

For the first time, CARGOCLIX commissioned a survey of logistics service providers as users for the effectiveness of time slot management systems.

A total of 622 logistics service providers answered the questionnaire on changes and improvements on the ramp after the introduction of time slot management systems. This makes the study one of the largest of its kind.

Taking into consideration the critical attitude of the target group, the results are both surprising and pleasing. The high acceptance values indicate that approval for time slot management has increased among logistics service providers. This may also be due to the fact that the increasing number of deliveries and pickups without time slot management systems would be difficult to cope with. At the same time, however, Timeslot management Systems have evolved significantly and are now adapting to individual requirements thanks to new dynamic functions “like a tailor-made suit”.

As a need for action number 1, the present study also shows that ramp operators have room for improvement, especially with regard to the observance of time windows and the communication of success through the use of time slot management. As a leading provider of time slot management systems, we are pleased to provide this study with a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness and acceptance of time slot management systems in practice.