Transportation Service Providers

IHS Transportation Consulting draws on vast data repositories and access to more than 325 analysts to create solutions for private and public firms engaged in international trade and transportation. Our solutions customarily result in reduced transportation costs of 10-20%.

Clients rely on our data and industry experts to:

• Develop strategic plans
• Determine the impact of policy changes on infrastructure
• Size and benchmark markets
• Source cost- and service-efficient routes and modes
• Allocate sales, marketing and fleet resources
• Determine the types and number of commodities moving on US roads
• Identify point of origin and destination for commodities
• Pinpoint ports that need to expand to meet growing trade
• Choose the optimal region for sourcing materials
• Benchmark transportation costs across all modes

With IHS Transportation Consulting, clients gain:

• Access to the largest commercially available collection of economic and financial data
• Reliable intelligence from the most consistently accurate economic forecasting firm
• IHS Consulting support in presenting results to stakeholders
•  More mode, commodity and geographical detail than from any other source in the industry
• Unbiased, transparent results substantiated by data and facts

Learn more about our services, or contact us for an exploratory meeting.

Terminal Network Optimization

Evaluate the configuration of your terminals and service areas to assure maximum fleet utilization, man-power deployment and fuel efficiency while maintaining high caliber customer service levels. Our consultants:

• Evaluate and support your decisions to combine, relocate or eliminate terminals based on asset deployment and freight density
• Evaluate large geographic areas to position your new terminals in the most cost-efficient locations
• Use our freight and economic forecasts to strategically plan your terminal location

See Case Study #1

Fleet Asset Utilization Improvement

Reduce empty miles, locate backhaul and minimize wait times for loads. Our consultants help you:

• Evaluate your routing and scheduling to assure best utilization of assets to attain maximum revenue
• Identify fleet operating practices that maximize driver satisfaction, recruitment and retention
• Analyze and suggest trans-loading opportunities

See Case Study #2

Locate New Customers by Commodity and Geographic Area

Leverage our database of potential shippers to identify new customers and new lanes with high freight density. IHS consultants:

• Leverage our Freight Finder database of US and Canadian manufacturing, warehousing and retail facilities, including information on sales and freight volumes to identify potential shippers by commodity and to match freight to your equipment type
• Optimize your marketing penetration by assuring that sales coverage reaches every potential revenue source

See Case Study #1

Contact us for an exploratory meeting.

Case Study #1: Less-than-truckload Carrier: Terminal Network Rationalization

Challenge: In an effort to reduce operating costs, a regional less-than-truckload motor carrier needed to expand its terminal network in large urban areas while decreasing the number of its smaller terminals. The carrier needed validation that it was opening and closing the correct facilities.

Solution: IHS Consulting employed its proprietary database to determine the location of major shippers near existing terminals. We compared travel and driver times with existing larger terminals where capacity could be absorbed. We also identified potential customers in both service areas as well as potential new accounts in the large urban areas.

Results: The network's redesign saved the client more than 30% over expenses incurred. In addition to identifying potential customers and accounts, IHS Consulting advised them on which terminals to close and where to open new terminals in the most cost-efficient locations. The company board gained a more compelling story to share with employees, shareholders and analysts. See Terminal Network Optimization and Locating New Customers by Commodity and Geographic Area.

Case Study #2: Empty-miles Reduction Program

Challenge: A major truckload motor carrier was logging an excess of empty miles which reduced its profitability and equipment utilization.

Solution: We developed an empty-mile reduction program which identified return lane opportunities that matched the fleet characteristics.

Results: The carrier was able to better focus its marketing efforts. See Fleet Asset Utilization Improvement.