Transportation and storage

Goods move by road, rail, air and sea; storage buffers timing.

• Map one route: origin, mode, handover, destination, with times.
• Know cost drivers: distance, weight, speed, handling, empty returns.
• Study cold chain and dangerous goods as special cases.
• Choose a niche: local last-mile, cold storage, small-parcel consolidation.
• Learn each mode's strength: road for flexibility, rail for heavy bulk over distance, air for speed, sea for volume; write one example for each.
• Note seasonal swings such as harvest, holiday peaks and spring road limits; check the provincial weight rule.
• Interview three shippers about volume, timing and damage history.

Activity. Map one route with costs.

Standard to meet. Show costs per mode.

Transport is regulated.

• Commercial driver licensing, hours-of-service and vehicle inspections apply.
• Dangerous goods need training and documents.
• Food and medicine storage need temperature records.
• Cross-border rules need customs paperwork.
• Learn that axle weights and spring road limits are set by the province; check the provincial rule before you plan a load.
• Write a daily pre-trip inspection checklist and keep signed copies.
• Check insurance requirements for carriers and warehouse operators; check the provincial and federal rule.

Activity. Build a rules table.

Standard to meet. Cite a source and a date for every row.

Good plans save kilometres and handling.

• Group stops by area and time window.
• Load in reverse stop order.
• Warehouse flow: receive, check, put-away, pick, pack, ship.
• Use simple routing software or a spreadsheet to compare route options.
• Order stops by time window first, then by distance.
• Design the dock with separate receiving and shipping areas where possible and keep aisles clear.
• Count touches: every extra handling adds cost and damage risk, so cut one.

Activity. Plan a 15-stop route two ways.

Standard to meet. Compare distances.

Know your cost.

• List the cost items: vehicle, driver, fuel, insurance and warehouse rent.
• Warehouse cost per pallet per month.
• Utilisation: loaded share of capacity.
• Work out the margin per load and the number of loads needed to cover fixed costs.
• Work out vehicle cost per km: fuel, tires, repairs, depreciation and insurance divided by km driven.
• For the warehouse, divide rent, utilities and labour by pallet positions to get cost per position per month.
• Test a utilisation case: if loads run 70% full, revenue per trip falls.

Activity. Build a cost sheet with 70% utilisation case.

Standard to meet. Show the cases.

Reliability sells.

• Track on-time and damage rates.
• Inspect each load at pickup for damage and secure it before departure.
• Do preventive maintenance on a schedule.
• Handle damage claims fast and keep the customer informed.
• Record arrival time at each stop against the promised window.
• Photograph the load at pickup and at delivery and get a signed receipt.
• Schedule maintenance by kilometres and log it; a missed service goes in the risk register.

Activity. Keep a 4-week delivery log.

Standard to meet. Compute rates.

Prove reliability.

• Prove reliability with trial loads before asking for a long contract.
• Quote in writing with terms.
• Partner with brokers and warehouses.
• Track the funnel from shippers contacted to quotes to customers.
• Write a one-page rate card with minimum charge, waiting time and cancellation terms.
• Offer a trial of five loads at the normal price, judged against an agreed on-time target.
• Ask partner brokers for one thing to improve and record the answer.

Activity. Pitch three shippers.

Standard to meet. Pitch has numbers.

Plan for hazards.

• Set fatigue and speed controls and follow the hours-of-service rules.
• Plan for winter driving with route alternatives and buffer days.
• Carry cargo insurance that matches the value you move.
• Prevent theft with locked yards, sealed loads and checked drivers.
• Set a rule for when a driver must stop for rest or bad weather, and state that no one is penalised for stopping.
• Prepare a winter kit and check the provincial rule on tires and chains.
• Compare cargo insurance limits with the value of a pallet.

Activity. Write a risk register.

Standard to meet. Name an owner for each item.

Prove one route.

• Run the pilot for 60 days.
• Measure on-time rate and cost per pallet.
• Stop rule: margin under 10% means re-price.
• Plan growth to more lanes only if the margin holds.
• Choose a lane with a willing shipper and repeat loads, such as two a week.
• Record cost per pallet and on-time rate every week.
• Decide in writing on day 60 whether to continue, re-price or stop.

Activity. Run pilot review.

Standard to meet. Review has decision.

L1: Service aware learner. You can define: name the main terms, people and rules of transportation and storage. Focus module: Understand freight and storage markets (Understand, 6 h). Goods move by road, rail, air and sea; storage buffers timing. Key points: Map one route: origin, mode, handover, destination, with times. Know cost drivers: distance, weight, speed, handling, empty returns. Study cold chain and dangerous goods as special cases. Choose a niche: local last-mile, cold storage, small-parcel consolidation. Learn each mode's strength: road for flexibility, rail for heavy bulk over distance, air for speed, sea for volume; write one example for each. Note seasonal swings such as harvest, holiday peaks and spring road limits; check the provincial weight rule. Interview three shippers about volume, timing and damage history.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A shipper sends 12 pallets weekly to three towns. If a loaded trip costs 100 per pallet and empty returns add 30%, the cost is 130 per pallet. Over 12 pallets that is 1,560 instead of 1,200, a difference of 360 a week. Then set the activity: Map one route with costs. Mark against the standard: Show costs per mode. Check at this level: What raises cost per pallet? Model answer: Empty return trips. Level note: Start here if new. Evidence: a one-page glossary and a visit or interview note.

L2: Helper. You can describe: explain how transportation and storage works from first contact to result. Focus module: Know transport and safety rules (Apply, 6 h). Transport is regulated. Key points: Commercial driver licensing, hours-of-service and vehicle inspections apply. Dangerous goods need training and documents. Food and medicine storage need temperature records. Cross-border rules need customs paperwork. Learn that axle weights and spring road limits are set by the province; check the provincial rule before you plan a load. Write a daily pre-trip inspection checklist and keep signed copies. Check insurance requirements for carriers and warehouse operators; check the provincial and federal rule.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Row: 'Drive commercial truck | provincial and federal transport rules | licence, logs, inspection | each day | log book'. A second row: 'Store chilled food | food safety rule | temperature log against the limit in the rule | at the interval the rule sets; check it | log sheet'. Date each source. Then set the activity: Build a rules table. Mark against the standard: Cite a source and a date for every row. Check at this level: What logs do drivers keep? Model answer: Hours-of-service logs. Level note: Evidence: a flow chart and a two-minute spoken explanation.

L3: Service provider. You can apply: carry out a routine task in transportation and storage to a written standard. Focus module: Plan routes and warehouse flow (Apply, 10 h). Good plans save kilometres and handling. Key points: Group stops by area and time window. Load in reverse stop order. Warehouse flow: receive, check, put-away, pick, pack, ship. Use simple routing software or a spreadsheet to compare route options. Order stops by time window first, then by distance. Design the dock with separate receiving and shipping areas where possible and keep aisles clear. Count touches: every extra handling adds cost and damage risk, so cut one.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Route A: 22 stops in 188 km versus 241 km unplanned. The saving is 53 km, which is 53 / 241 = 22%. At 1.20 per km for fuel and wear that is 63.60 saved per route. Then set the activity: Plan a 15-stop route two ways. Mark against the standard: Compare distances. Check at this level: Why group stops? Model answer: To cut distance. Level note: Evidence: a supervised task record that meets the standard once.

L4: Lead provider. You can analyse: diagnose why a transportation and storage result missed its target and fix it. Focus module: Cost per load and per pallet position (Evaluate, 8 h). Know your cost. Key points: List the cost items: vehicle, driver, fuel, insurance and warehouse rent. Warehouse cost per pallet per month. Utilisation: loaded share of capacity. Work out the margin per load and the number of loads needed to cover fixed costs. Work out vehicle cost per km: fuel, tires, repairs, depreciation and insurance divided by km driven. For the warehouse, divide rent, utilities and labour by pallet positions to get cost per position per month. Test a utilisation case: if loads run 70% full, revenue per trip falls.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Load price 2,400; cost 1,800; margin 600 (25%); fixed cost 24,000 a month gives 24,000 / 600 = 40 loads. At 70% utilisation revenue is 2,400 x 0.7 = 1,680 against the same 1,800 cost, a loss of 120 per load. Teaching figures in CAD. Then set the activity: Build a cost sheet with 70% utilisation case. Mark against the standard: Show the cases. Check at this level: What is utilisation? Model answer: Share of vehicle or space used. Level note: Evidence: a fault or gap analysis with a fix and a repeat test. This course targets this level.

L5: Supervisor. You can evaluate: judge options for transportation and storage against cost, risk and quality. Focus module: Win shippers and partners (Create, 6 h). Prove reliability. Key points: Prove reliability with trial loads before asking for a long contract. Quote in writing with terms. Partner with brokers and warehouses. Track the funnel from shippers contacted to quotes to customers. Write a one-page rate card with minimum charge, waiting time and cancellation terms. Offer a trial of five loads at the normal price, judged against an agreed on-time target. Ask partner brokers for one thing to improve and record the answer.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Funnel: 25 shippers, 8 quotes, 3 customers. Quote rate is 8 / 25 = 32%, win rate is 3 / 8 = 37.5%, and overall 3 / 25 = 12%. To win six customers you would contact about 50 shippers. Then set the activity: Pitch three shippers. Mark against the standard: Pitch has numbers. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 5: Run on time and damage-free): What is on-time rate? Model answer: Deliveries on time divided by all. Level note: Evidence: an options paper with numbers and a recommendation defended to a panel.

L6: Operations manager. You can create: design and pilot a new offer or process in transportation and storage. Focus module: Manage safety, weather and cargo risk (Evaluate, 6 h). Plan for hazards. Key points: Set fatigue and speed controls and follow the hours-of-service rules. Plan for winter driving with route alternatives and buffer days. Carry cargo insurance that matches the value you move. Prevent theft with locked yards, sealed loads and checked drivers. Set a rule for when a driver must stop for rest or bad weather, and state that no one is penalised for stopping. Prepare a winter kit and check the provincial rule on tires and chains. Compare cargo insurance limits with the value of a pallet.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Risk: 'Winter delay | 4 x 3 | buffer days and alerts | dispatcher | each season'. The score is 4 x 3 = 12. If a lost pallet is worth 6,000 and cover is 5,000, 1,000 is uninsured. Then set the activity: Write a risk register. Mark against the standard: Name an owner for each item. Check at this level: Why buffer days? Model answer: Winter delays. Level note: Evidence: a pilot with measured results over at least 30 days.

L7: Owner or director. You can lead: run a team or business in transportation and storage and develop others. Focus module: Pilot a lane (Create, 8 h). Prove one route. Key points: Run the pilot for 60 days. Measure on-time rate and cost per pallet. Stop rule: margin under 10% means re-price. Plan growth to more lanes only if the margin holds. Choose a lane with a willing shipper and repeat loads, such as two a week. Record cost per pallet and on-time rate every week. Decide in writing on day 60 whether to continue, re-price or stop.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Margin 22%: at a price of 2,400 the cost is 2,400 x 0.78 = 1,872 and the margin is 528. That is above the 10% stop line (240), so proceed and plan growth. Then set the activity: Run pilot review. Mark against the standard: Review has decision. Check at this level: What triggers re-pricing? Model answer: Margin under 10%. Level note: Evidence: a record of results over a year and of people you have coached to a higher level.