also I don't know that I agree with the maps cause the closet load is not always your best option.
it really depends on the the profit per day not miles driven.I would rather deadhead 300 miles for a load that was going to generate 1000 profit per day of travel than pick up a load even at the same shipper I am sitting at for a reduced rate. the closet load does not mean its the best choice.
That was the insight I was curious about. This company takes the approach of trucks as a commodity and not as a service. It isn't advantageous for the carrier or the shipper necessarily just because it is closer. It is definitely more efficient for the highways, environment and time.
If everyone bought all their groceries from Walmart it would probably reduce road congestion, environmental impact and time as well considering a Walmart is most likely closer to customers than specialty stores providing a some what similar product offering. You can get clothes, household supplies, sporting equipment and food there instead of going to Old Navy, Target, Sports Authority and Whole Foods. Unfortunately that isn't how the industry works.
It's easy to think of trucks as a commodity instead of a service until you become involved in the transportation world. Then you start to understand how service driven it is from on-time delivery, safety, payment, communication, efficiency and product condition.
