Smart choices for logistics and efficient routing tested

March 15, 2011 by timbercommunity

The forest company Sveaskog is testing a new model that calculates the most efficient route choice for transport of logs, pulp wood chips and biofuels. Sveaskog will start testing the model in some pilot areas before it goes fullscale. The project has been developed over several years by the Forestry Research (Skogsforsk) and SDC. - The most important thing is that we get a consistent view of which choices are right, "says Anders Järlesjö, logistics manager at the forest company, to the website Transportnet.se.

Since last fall, Sveaskog have been testing the system in simulations and it is now time to implement the system. If everything goes the way the system can gradually will be used in all the company's trucking. There are many factors when choosing a route from the first step of loading to the customer. What is the road of fatigue, how wide are the roads and how fast can the transport company drive? Everything is computerized and the system calculates the best route choice from a cost and environmental perspective.

The most important gain is that we will get a consistent view of which choices are right, "comments Anders Järlesjö, Logistics at Sveaskog to the magazine. There have been various ways of calculating distances in different parts of the country, but he now hopes that soon there will only be one way to calculate. If everyone in the forest industry agrees on distances and routing this makes it easier to reach standardized agreement on business deals with truck operators.