Dispatchers inherit run sheets. New managers rarely rebuild them from scratch. Over years, small inefficiencies compound: a Tuesday trip that made sense when you had a contract in Narrogin but now detours for two drops, or a backhaul lane you stopped using when a driver retired.
Pattern 1: The habitual half-load
Same vehicle, same day, same route — but average load factor below 60%. Check whether orders have shifted to other days or whether sales still promise a Tuesday window nobody needs anymore. Consolidating with a Wednesday run often works if you give customers a week’s notice.
Pattern 2: The orphaned backhaul
You deliver to Merredin but return empty through Kellerberrin where you have three active accounts. A 20-minute detour on the return leg can eliminate a separate small-vehicle trip later in the week.
Pattern 3: Mismatched vehicle class
Sending a semi-rigid to towns with narrow main streets or sending a pantech on a line-haul leg built for B-doubles. Vehicle type should follow access constraints and load density, not whatever was parked closest to the dock.
Pattern 4: Duplicate town visits
Two different runs hitting the same town on consecutive days because product lines are split between dispatchers. Merging pick waves in the warehouse is usually cheaper than merging trucks on the road, but both options deserve a look.
Pattern 5: Ignoring seasonal calendars
Seeding, shearing, and school holidays shift order patterns. A run sheet tuned for March often fails in September. Revisit lane density at least twice a year.
A fleet route assessment gives you a route-by-route commentary on these patterns with revised templates your team can trial the following week.