The use of a GPS tracking system for railway freight transport can help create a more complete picture of your freight or railcar’s journey. It can provide you access to various metrics including duration at origin, transit times, and time at destination. This can help you manage both scheduling and delivery expectations. This can help ensure that the transit times are highly efficient.
Thus, GPS tracking can help improve railcar freight transport scheduling in different ways.
Using GPS Technology for Railcar Scheduling
Railways are used to transport vast amounts of goods across not just within countries, but also across continents. It requires highly precise asset management systems. Using GPS technology can provide real-time location data, help improve scheduling, and reduce downtime. Such a level of monitoring helps ensure deliveries are made on time. It can also improve shippers’ ability to respond promptly to logistics challenges. All this can lead to improved supply chain efficiency.
GPS tracking system railway can help your business in different ways. When shipping goods by rail, there will be times when it is required to know the exact location of your shipment. GPS devices are now used in almost all aspects of the shipping process. When it comes to trains, GPS technology helps with scheduling and tracking.
- Navigation: GPS can also help trains navigate and anticipate traffic delays. It can help update schedules in advance.
- Tracking: The technology can allow shippers to keep track of their shipments along the route. Companies can also allow their clients to log in and access location data. Shippers can provide shipment location and schedule estimates at any given time. When clients are kept in the loop, it can make them feel safe about their freight.
With GPS tracking, any time delays occur, accurate and real-time location data can help you catch up with the schedule to keep it up-to-date.
There are more ways that GPS can help with scheduling. For example, whenever you need to make a less expected shipment or need to ship something on short notice, GPS helps you identify the railcar or train that can pick up the shipment at the earliest.
Comparing Truck & Rail Shipping
Traditionally, tracking shipments on trucks has been simpler compared to doing it on trains. However, that has been changing in the freight industry. In many jurisdictions, major freight railroads have entered joint ventures to speed up the process of GPS integration and smoother tracking of rail cars. As it becomes simpler for companies to track rail shipments, railroads can grab hold of a good market share from trucking.
The freight rail sector is quite profitable. Still, with the widespread integration of GPS technology, it can find greater opportunities elsewhere.
Improving Scheduling with GPS Railcar Tracking
There are different ways that a GPS tracking system railway can help improve scheduling. This includes:
- Accurate ETAs: Data on precise location can help shippers provide accurate information on ETAs to clients. This improves logistics planning and enhances customer satisfaction.
- Route Optimization: With real-time data, you can analyze travel times and likely bottlenecks. This information allows you to select efficient routes for railcars. This helps reduce travel time and improve network efficiencies.
- Dynamic Scheduling Changes: Whenever a railcar loses its sync with the schedule, shippers can instantly make changes to the schedule. This can help maintain flow and keep all the stakeholders in the loop.
The integration of GPS technology in freight railcars involves pushing the boundaries of this technology in asset management. It can help provide exceptional visibility and control over the assets. This can result in improving operational efficiency and gaining a competitive edge. Such an integration in freight railcars management can be considered as a revolution and not just an improvement.