How multistep truckload shipping helped meet critical delivery times

• Consolidation cut costs sharply. Shifting from LTL to multi-stop truckload saved up to 50% on certain delivery routes.
• On-time delivery stayed high. The program reached 98% on-time delivery across 900 scheduled shipments.
• The right equipment protected freight. Trailers with air ride and e-track kept fixtures safe and sped up unloading at each store.

A leading specialty department store that operates 1,163 stores in 49 states, plus an online retail hub, needed to improve efficiency around special promotions. The company carries a number of recognized brands and is known for offering robust promotions that bring in droves of shoppers throughout the year.

Behind the scenes, the logistics of these merchandising initiatives are complex and often executed under tight schedules and turnaround times. The retailer sought a transportation and logistics provider that could maximize delivery efficiency while also offering cost savings for two of its mid-year promotions.

The retailer was preparing for a mid-year promotion spanning more than 800 stores. To ensure a consistent customer experience, merchandise fixtures needed to arrive within the same delivery window as new apparel lines.

Key requirements

• Coordinate fixture deliveries across 800+ retail locations.
• Align fixture arrivals with corporate marketing and promotional timelines.
• Deliver shipments after store hours so merchandising teams could assemble and stock displays overnight.
• Manage freight originating from multiple suppliers within compressed delivery windows.

Challenges

• The retailer traditionally relied on less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping for promotional fixture rollouts.
• Multiple suppliers created fragmented shipment schedules.
• Delivery timing was critical because fixtures, including service desks, wall displays and shelving units, were required before stores opened the next day.
• Planning windows were limited to just two to three weeks for each deployment phase.

Project scope

• Phase 1: 750 deliveries between July and August.
• Phase 2: 150 deliveries between September and October.
• More than 900 total deliveries across two promotional phases.

In a few weeks, Schneider conducted a detailed analysis of all the retailer’s shipments and locations involved in its mid-year campaign to present an effective solution. Factors considered included:

• Size of shipment
• Adjacent shipping destinations
• Distance from origin
• Specific store hours, requirements and coordination with assembly teams
• Coordination of delivery times
• Available carrier and third-party capacity
• Cost of delivery

For each promotional period, Schneider engineered multi-stop shipments that delivered product regionally and within time-sensitive windows. The retailer needed safe drivers willing to handle special loading requests, plus specialized equipment to protect shelving units, wall fixtures and more. Schneider trailers equipped with air ride and e-track kept merchandising equipment safe and expedited unloading and set-up at each store.

Schneider was asked to create and implement a more efficient, Dedicated delivery plan for a peak season promotion. Schneider’s program delivered:

• A 98% on-time delivery across 900 total shipments
• Cost savings up to 50% on certain delivery routes due to modified stops-per-load requirements
• Complete project plans created and run within two to three weeks
• Twice-daily delivery tracking updates from drivers to the retailer via a smartphone app
• Support for third-party carriers in meeting the company’s expectations 

While the retailer and Schneider had a longstanding relationship, previous projects were implemented on a much smaller scale. The company recognized the Schneider team’s leadership in understanding their business needs and objectives for accomplishing a logistical project of this magnitude. Schneider provided the creativity and effective supply chain solutions the retailer was looking for and now knows it can look to Schneider when additional large-scale projects arise.

email: solutions@schneider.com