Definition

Explanation

Transport route line

A transportation route line is the actual route that the transportation needs to go. It can be several pickup addresses and several delivery addresses on a truck route, and each of this combination will have a transport route line.

Each transportation route line will have properties like estimated weight, volume and body length/width. A sequence of transport route lines is the destination addresses.

Transport route

A transport route is in this document defined as a planned transportation. The transportation is most often related to a “mode of delivery”. The transport route has some physical limitations like max payload weight, max volume, max cargo body length/width. The transport route is the “header” of a set of transportation route lines, and is most often represented as a truck or container.

Outbound cargo

The outbound cargo is the unit that is combined under a Serialized Shipping Container Code (SSCC). Most often it will be a pallet that consists of a set of items. The buildup of an outbound cargo is done when picking the goods, or at the staging area at the outbound cargo build, or at a packing station, depending on how the logistic process model is defined.

Sales orders

Sales order is normal Dynamics AX sales order, and represents what is sold to the customer.

Transfer orders

Transfer orders are internal transfers between two warehouses in the same company. There are no invoicing related, but the process will follow the same processes as sales orders.

Inventory/output orders

If a sales order or a transfer order has been created and you want to inform the warehouse that the items are to be picked and shipped to the customer, you can use a picking list or an output order. An output order is an advanced picking function and is the basis of a shipment. From the shipment you can activate a pallet transport, a picking route, or both.

Shipments

A shipment is a collection of items that are packed in the same container for transport by, for example, ship, rail, truck, or plane. A shipment includes an entire order, a part of an order, or a consolidation of multiple orders.

Based on the contents of the shipment, one or more picking routes, one or more internal transports, or both are created.

Output order is a request for picking requirements and is the basis of a shipment. From the shipment you can activate an internal transport, a picking route, or both. The shipment status is based on the lowest denominator of the shipment lines status.

Inventory order transaction

The inventory order transaction is the actual lines that are to be picked. The inventory order transactions are not created before an inventory order has been connected to a picking route.

Picking route

The picking route is the picking lists that a warehouse operator will pick from an area, warehouse or/and according to a defined sequence.

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure – local time

RTD

Real Time of Departure – local time

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival – local time

RTA

Real Time of Arrival – local time

Ted

• Transportation coordinator

• Logistics

Ted tracks shipments and advises on customs regulations and shipping documentation. Ted is knowledgeable about shipping, the freight forwarding industry, and international trade issues. He has key relationships across these areas.

Sammy

• Shipping and receiving

• Logistics

Sammy manages shipping and also receives goods and verifies them against purchase orders. He also supervises the other warehouse employees.

John

• Warehouse worker

• Logistics

John puts received items away and picks items that need shipping. John waits for Sammy to tell him what to do.

Scenario name

Create transportation route

Problem statement

Ted has the responsibility to order and plan transportation to a set of customers. Ted wants to order trucks to transport the goods to the end customer.

User situation

Ted will have an overview of orders that are now ready to be released for picking and shipping. It is the responsibility of the order management to release orders for shipping, and to create the Inventory Orders. The Inventory orders are the main source of information for Ted.

User goals

After the transportation planning is done, Ted has scheduled one or more trucks to arrive at the distribution centers. The date and pickup time is planned. Ted also creates the shipments, but does not activate the shipments. He informs Sammy, that the shipments are now ready, and that we have planned transportations to the set of shipments.

Persona(s)

Ted – Transportation coordinator – Logistics

Scenario steps

1. Ted opens the transportation create screen to see what inventory orders is now available for shipping. Ted filters the available inventory orders according to a shipping template, and other criteria’s.
   
2. Ted marks the Inventory orders he would like to create transportation for, and create transportation route lines. A transportation route line is a transportation task from a pickup address to a delivery address.
   
3. Ted has integration to the freight forwarder, so he can send all transportation route lines to the freight forwarder, and the freight forwarder will then plan the number of trucks needed and the loading sequence for each truck.
   
4. Based on the input from the freight forwarder, trucks will be built up. Truck building means, that transportation route lines will be assigned to transportation routes. This can be done based on the results from the integration, or manually when moving transportation route lines.
   
5. When Ted is pleased with the transportation plan, Ted creates the needed shipments. The shipments are then the main source for the rest of the process of picking, packing and shipping. Sammy and John will take over the process and execute.

Transportation route types

Description

Central distribution    

All goods will be shipped from the central distribution center. If internal replenishment is required, the replenishment system (Wave planning) will handle this.

Decentralized distribution

All goods will be distributed from another warehouse than a central distribution warehouse. This is typical for full trucks going directly to customer from a production finished goods warehouse.

External Terminal

All goods will be picked from different warehouses. The carrier will consolidate, sort and ship the goods from the carrier’s terminal. In this scenario a multi warehouse pickup is possible, but all goods (transport route lines) will have the address of the carrier’s terminal. The cargos will be marked with the final delivery address.

Multi warehouse distribution

In this scenario the freight forwarder will pick up the goods from several warehouses. The load sequence is important here. In this scenario, the transport route lines can have different types.

Transportation route line types

Description

Internal replenishment

This type is used for moving goods from one warehouse to another. This type can only be used on transportation route lines. This type is also used for filling up the distribution center when required.

Collection

This type is used for picking up goods at warehouses. This type can only be used on transportation route lines. A transportation line of the type collection means that this pickup is in a sequence of pickups. The final pickup place will have the type “final loading“.

Final loading

This type is used for picking up goods at warehouses. This type can only be used on transportation route lines. A transportation line of the type final loading means that this is the last pickup place. At this place the necessary form letters needs to be printed (CMR, Bill-of-lading, packing slip, proforma-/invoice etc)

Steps

Description

Prepare    

Transportation route lines are created on the basis of inventory orders, securing that all limitations like max weight, volume etc is maintained.

Plan internal

Ted, the transport planner, may change the transportation route type on the Transportation route lines, to decide what the external carrier should pickup, and what should be internally transported.

Plan external

The transportation route lines are then sent to the external carrier to book the transportations. Internal transports are not sent to the carrier. The carrier may come with other suggestions, that effect the plan.

Create shipment

On the basis of the transportation, the system will create a shipment for each truck. The system will generate one picking route per warehouse, as status “registered”. The shipment will cover all planned pickups and deliveries.

Picking and

Replenishment

When the transportation date closes, Sammy, the shipping manager, will release all picking routes and internal replenishments related to the shipment. This will happen 1 day (or x days) prior to the shipping date. John, the warehouse worker, will pick the goods accordingly into “outbound cargos“. When an outbound cargo is picked, the outbound cargo will get the status “picked“. Each outbound cargo can be marked with a shipping label and a contents label. If the outbound cargo is sent internally, the outbound cargo status will be “In transit” until received at the final shipping warehouse. The outbound cargo will wait at the outbound dock until the truck arrives. The status of the outbound cargo will be “staged” when the outbound cargo is placed in the outbound dock.

Loading

When the truck arrives, John, the warehouse worker, will load the outbound cargo into the truck. The status of the picking route and outbound cargo will change from “staged” to”loaded“.

Final load

At the final pickup place all related documents are printed (Bill-of-lading)

Steps

Description

Prepare    

Transportation route lines are created on the basis of inventory orders, securing that all limitations like max weight, volume etc is maintained.

Plan internal

Ted, the transport planner, may change the transportation route type on the Transportation route lines, to decide what the external carrier should pickup.

Plan external

The transportation route lines are then sent to the external carrier to book the transportations. The carrier may come with other suggestions that affect the plan.

Create shipment

On the basis of the transportation, the system will create a shipment for each truck. The system will generate one picking route per warehouse, as status “registered”. The shipment will cover all planned pickups and deliveries.

Picking and

Replenishment

When the transportation date closes, Sammy, the shipping manager, will release all picking routes related to the shipment. This will happen 1 day (or x days) prior to the shipping date. John, the warehouse worker, will pick the goods accordingly into “outbound cargos“. When an outbound cargo is picked, the outbound cargo will get the status “picked“. Each outbound cargo can be marked with a shipping label and a contents label. The outbound cargo will wait at the outbound dock until the truck arrives. The status of the outbound cargo will be “staged” when the outbound cargo is placed in the outbound dock.

Loading

When the truck arrives, John, the warehouse worker, will load the outbound cargo into the truck. The status of the picking route and outbound cargo will change from “staged” to “loaded“.

Final load

At the final pickup place all related documents are printed (Bill-of-lading etc)

Steps

Description

Prepare    

Transportation route lines are created on the basis of inventory orders, securing that all limitations like max weight, volume etc is maintained.

Plan internal

Ted, the transport planner, may change the transportation route type on the Transportation route lines, to decide what the external carrier should pickup.

Plan external

The transportation route lines are then sent to the external carrier to book the transportations. The carrier may come with other suggestions that affect the plan.

Create shipment

On the basis of the transportation, the system will create a shipment for each truck. The system will generate one picking route per warehouse, as status “registered”. The shipment will cover all planned pickups and deliveries.

Picking and

Replenishment

When the transportation date closes, Sammy, the shipping manager, will release all picking routes related to the shipment. This will happen 1 day (or x days) prior to the shipping date. John, the warehouse worker, will pick the goods accordingly into “outbound cargos“. When an outbound cargo is picked, the outbound cargo will get the status “picked“. Each outbound cargo can be marked with a shipping label and a contents label. The outbound cargo will wait at the outbound dock until the truck arrives. If the outbound cargo is sent internally, the outbound cargo status will be “In transit” until received at the distribution center. The status of the outbound cargo will be “staged” when the outbound cargo is placed in the outbound dock at the distribution center.

Internal replenishment receive

John, the warehouse worker”, will scan each pallet in the internal transportation. The PDA will inform John where to place the contents. Some will go directly to the outbound dock, while others will be used to replenish picking locations. Some pallets may replenish multiple picking locations at the distribution center.

Loading

When the truck arrives, John, the warehouse worker, will load the outbound cargo into the truck. The status of the picking route and outbound cargo will change from “staged” to “loaded“.

Final load

At the final load all related documents can be printed (Bill-of-lading etc).

Steps

Description

Prepare    

Transportation route lines are created on the basis of inventory orders, securing that all limitations like max weight, volume etc is maintained.

Plan internal

Ted, the transport planner, may change the transportation route type on the Transportation route lines, to decide what the external carrier should pickup. Ted also plans internal transportation lines to be sent to the warehouse with VAS capabilities.

Plan external

The transportation route lines are then sent to the external carrier to book the transportations. The carrier may come with other suggestions that affect the plan.

Create shipment

On the basis of the transportation, the system will create a shipment for each truck. The system will generate one picking route per warehouse, as status “registered”. The shipment will cover all planned pickups and deliveries.

Picking and

Replenishment

When the transportation date closes, Sammy, the shipping manager, will release all picking routes related to the shipment. This will happen 1 day (or x days) prior to the shipping date. John, the warehouse worker, will pick the goods accordingly into “outbound cargos“. When an outbound cargo is picked, the outbound cargo will get the status “picked“. Each outbound cargo can be marked with a shipping label and a contents label. The outbound cargo will wait at the outbound dock until the truck arrives. If the outbound cargo is sent internally, the outbound cargo status will be “In transit” until received at the distribution center. The status of the outbound cargo will be “staged” when the outbound cargo is placed in the outbound dock at the distribution center.

Internal replenishment receive

John, the warehouse worker”, will scan each pallet in the internal transportation. The PDA will inform John where to place the contents. Some will go directly to the outbound dock, while others will be used to replenish picking locations. Some pallets may replenish multiple picking locations at the distribution center.

VAS operations

At the warehouse with VAS-capabilities, the operator will receive the goods from the internal transport. The VAS-operator will perform the VAS (Packing, mounting etc), and then pack it all into new outbound cargos, and send these to the final distribution center for consolidation and pickup from the external carrier.

Loading

When the truck arrives, John, the warehouse worker, will load the outbound cargo into the truck. The status of the picking route and outbound cargo will change from “staged” to “loaded“.

Final load

At the final load all related documents can be printed (Bill-of-lading etc).

Function

Explanation

Add

The add function consists of two functions; Add output orders and add transport lines. The add Output orders allows the user to jump into the transportation planning form, and select orders that should be included with the transport order. In this process transport route lines also will be created.

Add transport lines will open the transportation route line selection form. Here transportation lines that are not associated to a transport route can be selected, and connected to the transport route order.

Functions

The functions consists of two menu items. Create shipment and activate shipment.

The create shipment function will create a shipment for all open output orders assosiated to the transport route. In the creation process, the shipments can also be activated, and thereby the picking process started. In the creation process it can also be specified if one shipment per warehouse should be created, or if one combined shipment for all warehouses should be created. In normal scenarios, is it recommended to have one shipment per warehouse.

Inqueries

Under inqueries there are two functions. Shipments and outbound cargo details. The shipment inquery will open the shipment screen, related to the transport order. The outbound cargo inquery will show all outbound cargos assosiated to the transport order.

Reports

The transport route is a report that shows the all transport route lines related to a transport route. This report should be handed order to the driver so that he have an overview of how many pallets and that should be unloaded per delivery address. The list is sorted according to the unloading sequence, so that the first pallet that should be unloaded is first on the report.

Field

Explanation

Transportation route

Unique identifier of a transportation route.

Route type

Route type is the classification of how a route should act. The following types are available :
Central distribution : All goods will be shipped from the central distribution center. If internal replenishment is required, the replenishment system (Wave planning) will handle this.

Decentralized distribution : All goods will be distributed from another warehouse than a central distribution warehouse. This is typical for full trucks going directly to customer from a production finished goods warehouse.

External Terminal : All goods will be picked from different warehouses. The carrier will consolidate, sort and ship the goods from the carrier’s terminal. In this scenario a multi warehouse pickup is possible, but all goods (transport route lines) will have the address of the carrier’s terminal. The cargos will be marked with the final delivery address.

Multi warehouse distribution : In this scenario the freight forwarder will pick up the goods from several warehouses. The load sequence is important here. In this scenario, the transport route lines can have different types.

Carrier ID

Name of the carrier that will perform the transport.

Distribution warehouse

In a central distribution scenario, all goods will be shipped from this warehouse. If the items are actually picked from a decentrilized warehouse, the already picked goods will be internally shipped to the central distribution center, and will be staged here. When the final shipping is taking place, the items will be loaded and this shipment will be sent from the distribution warehouse. This field is mandatory if the route type is ‘Central Distribution’.

Handling status

The handling status is the lowest handlingstatus from the transportation lines. The field is only updated by the statuses on the transprotation lines and the output orders assosiated to the transport. The field cannot be manually updated by the user, and reflect how far in the delivery process the picking and staging has came. The available statuses are :
Registered – Used when the picking is not yet activated.

Activated – Used when the transport is released for picking but is not yet started.

Started – Used when the picking is started but not finished.

Picked – Used when the picking is completed, but all items have not yet been staged.

Staged – Used when the goods have been staged.

Loaded – Used when the goods have been loaded, but not yet shipped.

Complete – Used when the transport is loaded is finished.

Route status

The route status is a more external status ised in communication with the carrier, and explains the current status of the transportation. The available statuses are :

Sent To Planning – The transport route has been sent to external software for transport route planning. Normally this is only valid for transport route lines.

Planned – The transport route is planned from the carriers perspective.

Started – The transportation route is started, and the loading process of the transportation route has been started.

Internal Transit – The goods that should be with this transportation route is in internal transport from the source warehouse to the distribution warehouse.

Shipped – The transportation route has been shipped, and the truck has left the warehouse.

Received – The transportation has delivered all the goods to all destinations, and the transportation is completed.

Cancelled – The transportation is cancelled.

Trailer numer

The licenseplate or any other identifier of the trailers.

Pallets

Number of planned pallets that is to be included with the trailer. The calculations of numer of pallets are the total units/pallet quantity.

Parcels

Number of planned pacels that is to be included with the trailer. The calculations of numer of parcels are the total units/packing material quantity. (if license/handling unit conversion is used, then this will also me applied)

Net Weight

Planned weight of the transport order.

Load length

Load length is the expected length that the items will occupy in the truck. The load length is calculated on the basis of the load lenth specified on the standard pallet type, or on the item-pallet specification.

Outbound dock distribution warehouse

Here the outbound dock on the distribution warehouse. In a central distribution scenario with internal transports, this is the outbound dock where staged goods will be transported. The field is manually specified.

Seal numbers

If the transport is marked with a seal number this can be specified here.

Transport instructions

Here manual transport instructions can be specified.

Driving instructions

If the transport route lines is specified with valid addresses, the driving intructions will display the route using google maps, and also specify the driving instructions. This feature is a demo feature, and is ment for professional use.

Field

Explanation

Unload sequence ID

This number is the unload sequence of the transportation. The unload sequence ID is the sequence witch the truck should be unloaded at the customers. Each destination should have a different unload sequence ID. The unload sequence is the reverse number of the load sequence of the truck.

Line ID

Unique ID of the transportation line.

Picking warehouse

This is the warehouse where the items are picked. If must not be confused with where the items are distributed from or where the final loading of the truck happens. Picking routes is created per picking warehouse.

Distribution warehouse

This is the warehouse where the actual loading of the truck happens. If the picking warehouse and the distribution warehouse is different, then a internal outbound cargo transport will move the goods from the picking warehouse to the distribution warehouse before final loading and shipping.

Delivery Name

Name of the receiver of the goods.

Line type

Each transportation line have a type:

Internal replenishment : the picking warehouse and distribution warehouse if different, and the outbound cargo’s must therefore be internally transported before final loading.

Collection : the final truck will collect this line at the distribution warehouse. This used in a multi site distribution scenario.

Final loading : This is the last line that must be included in the transportation. When line marked as final loading is loaded, then the transportation documents like bill of lading, and transport route document can be printed.

Handling status

The handling status is the lowest handlingstatus from the picking lines. The field is only updated by the statuses on the output orders assosiated to the transport. The field cannot be manually updated by the user, and reflect how far in the delivery process the picking, staging and loading has came. The available statuses are :
Registered – Used when the picking is not yet activated.

Activated – Used when the transport line is released for picking but is not yet started.

Started – Used when the picking is started but not finished.

Picked – Used when the picking is completed, but all items have not yet been staged.

Staged – Used when the goods have been staged.

Loaded – Used when the goods have been loaded, but not yet shipped.

Complete – Used when the transport is loaded is finished.

Route status

The route status is a more external status ised in communication with the carrier, and explains the current status of the transportation line. The available statuses are :

None – No planning is done.

Sent To Planning – The transport route line has been sent to external software for transport route planning.

Planned – The transport line is planned from the carriers perspective.

Started – The transportation route is started, and the loading process of the transportation route has been started.

Internal Transit – The goods that should be with this transportation route is in internal transport from the source warehouse to the distribution warehouse.

Shipped – The transportation route has been shipped, and the truck has left the warehouse.

Received – The transportation has delivered all the goods to all destinations, and the transportation is completed.

Cancelled – The transportation is cancelled.

ETD

Estimated time of departure. The expected departure time from the distribution warehouse.

Units, Parcels, Pallets Netweight and Volume

Quantity and volumetric information related to the transport line.

Seal number

If the transport line is marked with a seal number this can be specified here.

Mode of delivery

If available, mode of delivery is specified here.

Delivery address

Delivery address for the transportation line.

Field

Explanation

Order picking

The order picking will then include order picking lines in the first grid. The order picking is a filter field on output orders.

Consolidated picking

Same as the order picking, but is also including consolidated orders.

Type

This is cargo type, and is related to the available capacity of the truck. The type is used to notify the transport coordinator that the selected lines exeed the transport capacity of the selected transport type.

Shipment template

Shipment templatate is used to provide an additional search and filter capabilities. Typical there should be created a shipment template to ease the creation of transports, and shipping templates should be defined so that orders that normally will be combinly delivered is covered. This will simplify the selection process.

Field

Explanation

Marked

If this mark is checked, the lines will be included in the process of creating transport lines.

Reference

Related to the transaction type the output order is related to. Normally this is sales orders or transfer orders.

Number

Ordernumber, like sales order number or transfer order number.

Customer

Customer name

Delivery name

Name of the customer or warehouse if the output order is related to a transfer order.

Item number

Idenification of the item on the output order.

Warehouse

If warehouse is selected on the sales order, then this is the prefered picking warehouse.

Quantity

Quantity defined in the inventory unit.

Quantity not in shipment

Quantity where there has not been created any shipment on, and hence there are no picking on.

Carrier

Perfered and selected carrier.

Mode of delivery

Selected route/mode of delivery. See mode of delivery in dynamics AX online help for more information.

Delivery date

Delivery date, or confirmed delivery date from the sales or transfer order.

Parcels and Pallets

Estimated number of pallets and parcels. The number is a calculation based on the quantity.

Net weight and Gross weight

Estimated Net and gross weight of the output order.

Volume and Load length

Volumetric dimensions of the output order.

Field

Explanation

Stop creating transport orders if an error occurs

If an error occurs on one of the output orders, then no transportation lines should be created. This to prevent the creation of transport route lines which don’t contain the entire selection.

Force central distribution

If all transportation must be routed through the distribution center, regardless of from where the items hva been picked, then this option should be selected.

Allow split of output orders.

An a output order exeeds the transportation restriction, or if a item must be picked from multiple warehouses, then this option can be selected.

Close transportation route line afeter selection.

If no more output order should be added to the transportation lines, then this option should be selected. This closes the transportation line, so that other output orders will create new transportation lines. In a scenario where a external transportation route planning system is integrated to WM&D, the lines will be closed when the transportation lines have been sent over to the transportation route planning tool.