Systems and methods for optimizing shipping practices

摘要

According to various embodiments, a load planning system is provided for simulating shipments based on a shipping entity's planned routing of packages and a shipper's (e.g., shipping entity customer) historical shipping volume. By using the load planning system to simulate shipments according to a variety of package routing plans, a user of the load planning system may identify shipping routes along which certain shipments may by-pass the sorting process of regional shipping hubs. These by-passing routes allow the shipping entity to provide the shipper with more efficient and less costly shipping options according to various embodiments.

主权项

1. A load planning system comprising one or more memory storage areas and at least one computer processor configured for executing the steps of:
(A) receiving user input requesting retrieval of historical shipment data and indicating a certain shipper, a certain origin location, and a certain time period; (B) retrieving historical shipment data relating to one or more packages previously shipped from said certain origin location for said certain shipper by one or more shipping entities during said certain time period, said historical shipment data comprising an indication of one or more package attributes associated with each of said one or more packages, wherein said one or more package attributes include a destination location; (C) receiving user input requesting a first simulation and indicating a simulation origin location associated with a shipping hub operated by a certain shipping entity; (D) retrieving package routing data for said certain shipping entity, said package routing data comprising data indicating a next shipping hub to which a shipped package would be routed if shipped from said simulation origin location based, at least in part, on the shipped package's destination location; (E) generating said first simulation, wherein said first simulation simulates the shipment of said one or more packages according to said package routing data, and wherein generating said first simulation comprises identifying the next shipping hub to which each of said one or more packages would be inbound if shipped from said simulation origin location according to said package routing data, and identifying a daily number of said packages that would be inbound to each next shipping hub if shipped from said simulation origin location according to said package routing data; (F) receiving user input requesting a second simulation and indicating one or more modifications to said package routing data; (G) generating modified package routing data based on said modifications; and (H) generating a second simulation simulating the shipment of said one or more packages according to said modified package routing data, wherein generating said second simulation comprises identifying the next shipping hub to which each of said one or more packages would be inbound if shipped from said simulation origin location according to said modified package routing data, and identifying a daily number of said packages that would be inbound to each next shipping hub if shipped from said simulation origin location according to said modified package routing data.