Route optimization can dramatically reduce delays, fuel costs, and failed deliveries for big and bulky items.
The software brings structure, speed, and accuracy to delivery teams moving heavy goods.
Here’s the major problem with big and bulky items when it comes to last mile delivery: arriving late.
But it’s more than just planning the perfect routes. “Route optimization allows you to communicate to your customers an updated, more accurate estimated arrival time,” explains Zoom2u Technologies CEO Steve Orenstein.
“You can say to your customers that their parcel is 10 in the queue of 80 parcels to be delivered today, with an arrival time of 11:15 am.”
Many furniture companies only tell customers the day before that the delivery will be made, often without providing an ETA.
When customers aren’t home, an expensive redelivery must occur, which can cost your business dearly.
Let’s look at how most last mile delivery problems can disappear by using route optimization software.
WATCH: What Is Route Optimization?
What Is Slowing Your Last Mile Delivery Down in the First Place
Picking up orders from the warehouse daily before setting out to the delivery locations requires precise planning. If the planning process is flawed, your entire last mile operation slows.
Locate2u’s route optimization software sorts all the deliveries for the day into routes for each driver.
There is an automated process driven by an algorithm that figures out the most efficient route. It considers how big each vehicle is, ensuring the right number of items goes into that vehicle.
Knowing which route will be taken ahead of time, the driver can pack their vehicle efficiently.
They have a list of all the parcels, and as they scan them, Locate2u software tells them which number the parcel is, and how many still need to be delivered that day.
“This makes it a lot easier for the driver to pack the vehicle, saving them anywhere from thirty minutes to hours a day, depending on how familiar they are with the area,” says Orenstein.
Customers, on the other hand, are also not in the dark. They receive accurate updates and know exactly when their delivery will be made.
From warehouse to front door, where things go wrong
Last mile deliveries go wrong when bulky items are treated like small parcels.
It’s one issue that triggers a chain of problems, from poor planning to wrong vehicles to customers who aren’t properly prepped.
1. Poor planning at the dispatch phase
Bulky items require more time to load and unload. If you don’t have the right software to factor in delivery complexity and access limitations, things can fall apart on the road.
2. Wrong vehicle on the job
Sending a truck that can’t maneuver through the inner city’s narrow streets can slow the delivery process. Worse, it can result in damaged items.
3. Time slots shouldn’t be too optimistic.
Unlike small parcels, bulky item deliveries need proper scheduling. Time windows must be realistic. If they’re too wide, you risk failed deliveries.
4. Customers aren’t properly prepped
Clear communication with the customer should ensure that the space is ready and accessible for the item being delivered.
Is Route Optimization Just a Map Tool?
Many small businesses think route optimization is just Google Maps on steroids. But it’s much more than that.
It determines delivery time windows, load capacity, vehicle types, and driver availability.
1. More than directions, route optimization plans your whole day
Route optimization is a tool for big and bulky items that builds the entire team’s schedule.
It also factors in each stop, where heavy items must be assembled, and which driver is best suited for each task.
It’s a balance between speed and reliability. Here’s why:
- It reduces delayed or failed deliveries.
- It avoids driver burnout from poor scheduling.
- It maximizes the number of successful deliveries.
2. Using delivery windows during the last mile delivery to your advantage
When real-time tracking updates are tied to route optimization, it helps give customers a more precise Estimated Arrival time.
It also enables:
- More accurate delivery windows, often under two hours
- Automatic customer notifications when a driver is running late
- Better customer experience, with clear communication about delays
How Route Optimization Makes Heavy Deliveries Feel Lighter
When your routes are lighter and smarter, there’s no more wasted time between jobs. Route optimization considers real-world challenges like traffic patterns, peak hour congestion, and road access issues.
It prevents long detours and unnecessary backtracking, saving fuel and protecting your drivers’ patience, especially when handling heavy items like fridges or beds.
Drivers receive clear instructions so they know exactly where to go and when without second-guessing or needing to call dispatch.
The team’s workload is better balanced.
No single driver gets stuck on the road all day while others finish early. Route optimization helps distribute deliveries fairly based on time, distance, and job complexity.
Finally, it improves first-attempt delivery success by aligning routes with customer availability, so someone is actually home when the delivery arrives.
1. Cutting Down Idle Time with Smarter Sequencing
Idle time is one of the biggest silent killers of efficiency in delivery operations. Drivers often wait between stops or arrive too early, which hurts productivity.
Route optimization minimizes downtime by sequencing stops based on time, not distance. Drivers spend less time hovering and more time delivering.
It avoids early arrivals that lead to unnecessary waiting. The software knows when a driver should leave and how fast to drive to meet their next time window.
It also considers loading and unloading times, especially important for bulky deliveries involving lift gates, staircases, or setup time.
By tightening the schedule and reducing gaps, route optimization helps the day run more smoothly. No dead time, no wasted effort.
2. Using Historical Data to Avoid the Same Mistakes Twice
Route optimization learns from your past. It tracks how long deliveries take, so future estimates are far more accurate, especially for bulky items that need extra handling.
Over time, the system identifies consistently delayed or hard to access addresses. This helps you plan more realistically and build time into the route where it matters.
It also remembers customer preferences, making repeat visits smoother and more efficient.
By analyzing this historical data, route optimization helps eliminate daily bottlenecks so you don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Picking a Route Optimization Tool That Gets Your Business
Once you’re ready to use route optimization, the next step is to find a tool that fits your business’s needs.
If you’re delivering big and bulky items, not every system will work for you.
A lot of software is built for fast, small package drop-offs. That might be great for couriers, but it doesn’t help when you’re moving heavy things like furniture or gym equipment.
You need something that takes into account longer delivery times, setup, tricky access points, and the fact that customers need to be home.
Some platforms, like the ones used at Locate2u, are built with bulky deliveries in mind.
They make it easier to plan smarter routes, stick to delivery windows, and avoid missed drop-offs without overcomplicating your workflow.
About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
