TTrailerrailer T Taskingasking T Technologyechnology

AutoLoaderT3AutoLoaderT3

Copyright © 2000

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What is AutoLoaderT3?What is AutoLoaderT3?

AutoLoaderT3 is a truck loading system:Uses expert rule-driven planning engine to load

trailersGoal is to maximize load weight/cube and

minimize loader effort Works in conjunction with WMS (Warehouse

Management System)

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What Can AutoLoaderT3 Do For What Can AutoLoaderT3 Do For Your Warehouse Operations?Your Warehouse Operations?

AutoLoaderT3:• Reduces effort in

loading trucks• Supports better

cube/weight utilization

• Saves money

Make sureall the

product fitsKeep left toright weight

balance

Remember, theload must be

braced forwardand backward

Segregatestops

Don’t put morethan 34,000 lbs.

on this axle!

Remember, thiscarrier has light

trailers, heavy cabs.

Keeporders

together

Stack only ontop of strong

things

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TradeOffTradeOff

Trailers must be

legal

Transportationis expensive – want to use all

capacity

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Safe Rather Than Sorry Safe Rather Than Sorry ApproachApproach

• The complexity of “maxing” out a truck’s capacity has meant a safe rather than sorry approach.

• Shipper’s deliberately use “rules of thumb”, such as “a truckload is 44,000 lbs.”– Don’t know what tractor/trailer will be used– Loader expertise varies

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Safe Rather Than Sorry Safe Rather Than Sorry ApproachApproach

93%

94%

95%

96%

97%

98%

99%

100%

94% 96% 98% 100% 102% 104% 106%

Heaviest axle weight (% legal)

Legal Illegal

Need to be here

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Loading is Time IntensiveLoading is Time Intensive

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AutoLoaderT3 Keeps Loads AutoLoaderT3 Keeps Loads LegalLegal

Axle Weight Axle Weight Axle Weight

34,000 34,000 12,000

80,000

AutoLoaderT3 makes safe loads that maximize the use of the trailer

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Sample Results...Sample Results...

Without AutoLoader T3

With AutoLoaderT3

Overweights 2%

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AutoLoaderT3 Makes the New AutoLoaderT3 Makes the New Hire as Good as the Hire as Good as the Experienced VeteranExperienced Veteran

• Calculates weight/balance

• Configurable to the exact trailer which arrives at the dock and carrier tractors

• Ensures that loads fit into the assigned trailer

X y

y x+y

x x+y

a b

ba+b

a a+b

Tare Tare

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Sample Results...Sample Results...

Without AutoLoader T3

With AutoLoaderT3

Reloads 6% 1%

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AutoLoaderT3 Increases AutoLoaderT3 Increases ProductivityProductivity

• Reduces planning time by eliminating thinking time

• Eliminates double handling by sequencing staging and retrieval

• Tries to have loaders pick up two items at once

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AutoLoaderT3 Increases AutoLoaderT3 Increases ProductivityProductivity

48

40

#2

Chimney Block Narrow/Wide

48

40

#4

Wide/WideBest Load Narrow/Narrow

Easiest to load Hardest to load

48

40

#1

40

48

#3

48

40

• Groups items to minimize number of trips to staging and storage

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Sample Results...Sample Results...

Without AutoLoader T3

With AutoLoaderT3

Units/Hour +9%

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AutoLoaderT3 Eliminates AutoLoaderT3 Eliminates DamageDamage

•Minimizes crush

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AutoLoaderT3 Minimizes AutoLoaderT3 Minimizes DamageDamage

Particularly when reefer • Attempts to use

forward locking to minimize transit damage

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AutoLoaderT3 Reduces AutoLoaderT3 Reduces OverhangsOverhangs

• “A” has no overhang if it is at the front of the trailer

• “B” has a partial overhang forwards, and a total overhang backwards

• “C”has no overhang forwards, and a partial overhang backwards

• “D” has no overhang forwards, but may have a total overhang backwards, depending on where the rear of the trailer is

B

ACD

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AutoLoaderT3 Reduces AutoLoaderT3 Reduces OverhangsOverhangs

• Since trucks can stop faster than they can start, a forwards overhang is worse for load stability than a backwards one

B

ACD

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Sample Results...Sample Results...

Without AutoLoader T3

With AutoLoaderT3

Damage % sales

0.3% 0.1%

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AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer RequirementsRequirements

• Supports unloading with a pallet jack–if necessary (upper pallets cannot be removed with a pallet jack, must use forklift)

• Supports varying laws on gross weight & axle weight. May need to be user-set based on trailer type (i.e. tandem axle may have 34,000 lb. limit, in some areas may be 36,000 lb.)

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AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer Requirements Requirements

• Handles various trailer configurations

• Supports multi-stops

45’ 48’ 53’

Okay -- but not optimalDon’t want a stop “B” here Tough to unload

BEST

H

HH

H

Stop “H”

H

HH

HB

H H

B H

H

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AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer AutoLoaderT3 Meets Customer RequirementsRequirements

• Tries to keep pallets for the same order together (may be multiple orders for the same stop)

#1 #3 #4#2

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AutoLoaderT3 Allows Loads To AutoLoaderT3 Allows Loads To Be MaximizedBe Maximized

AutoLoaderT3 supports maximizing the utilization of expensive trailer capacity at 3 levels:

• Generic truck• Carrier specific vehicle using carrier specific

database of tractors and trailers (i.e. J.B. Hunt)

• Tractor/trailer specificDetailer setting, if desired, can be to the pin setting.

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Case StudyCase Study

AutoLoaderT3 reduced transportation costs at a plant serving the Northeast U.S.

Without AutoLoaderT3

With AutoLoaderT3

Average Cost Per Load

$1221 $1162

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How AutoLoaderT3 WorksHow AutoLoaderT3 Works

WMSData

T3Knowledge

Base

T3Sequencing

Engine

Sequence“Scoring”

SuggestedSequence

ProblemsNeeding

Resolution

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Running AutoLoaderT3Running AutoLoaderT3

Retrieve Data

SpecifyManual Inputs

SequenceLoad

Sequence“Scoring”

Review Goals& ResetTargets

SequenceReporting

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Major Inputs/Outputs – Main Major Inputs/Outputs – Main ScreenScreen

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Major Inputs – SettingsMajor Inputs – Settings

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Major Outputs – Message for Major Outputs – Message for ShipmentShipment

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Major Outputs – Trailer Load Major Outputs – Trailer Load ProfileProfile

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Major Outputs – Loading Major Outputs – Loading InstructionsInstructions

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Major BenefitsMajor Benefits

• No overload fines

• More product on each trailer

• Less damage

• Increased productivity

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Contact Us For More Contact Us For More InformationInformation

Warehouse Optimization, LLCPhone (615) 791-8000

Email: info@warehouseoptimization.com