| name | logistics-review |
| description | Review logistics operations including route optimization, carrier performance, cost benchmarking, lead time analysis, and last-mile delivery assessment. TRIGGER when: user says /logistics-review, "review logistics", "shipping analysis", "freight audit", "carrier review", "transportation analysis".
|
| argument-hint | [lane/region] [carrier] [time-period] |
| user-invocable | true |
Logistics Review
Evaluate and improve logistics operations across the transportation network to reduce cost, improve service reliability, and increase visibility.
Input Gathering
| Input | Description | Required |
|---|
| Shipment data | Origin, destination, weight, mode, carrier, cost, dates | Yes |
| Carrier contracts | Rate cards, accessorial schedules, SLA commitments | Yes |
| Time period | Review window (recommend minimum 6 months) | Yes |
| Delivery performance data | Promised vs. actual delivery dates, damage/claim records | Yes |
| Network map | Warehouse/DC locations, customer density, lane volumes | No |
| Benchmark data | Industry rates, peer comparisons, market indices | No |
| Customer requirements | Delivery windows, special handling, compliance mandates | No |
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1 — Shipment Profile Analysis
Build a complete picture of the logistics operation:
| Dimension | Analysis |
|---|
| Mode split | % of spend and volume by TL, LTL, parcel, air, ocean |
| Lane concentration | Top 20 lanes by volume and spend; Pareto analysis |
| Shipment density | Average weight, cube utilization, pieces per shipment |
| Temporal patterns | Day-of-week, monthly, seasonal volume fluctuations |
| Geographic coverage | Heat map of origin-destination pairs, delivery zones |
Flag anomalies: shipments below minimum weight, excessive accessorials, split shipments that could consolidate.
Step 2 — Carrier Performance Scorecard
Score each carrier on a weighted composite:
| KPI | Weight | Measurement | Target |
|---|
| On-time delivery (OTD) | 30% | Delivered within promised window | > 95% |
| Damage / claims rate | 15% | Claims filed per 1,000 shipments | < 2 |
| Invoice accuracy | 15% | % of invoices matching contracted rates | > 98% |
| Tender acceptance rate | 15% | % of loads accepted on first tender | > 90% |
| Transit time consistency | 15% | Std deviation of transit days per lane | Low variance |
| Responsiveness | 10% | Time to resolve exceptions and inquiries | < 4 hours |
Produce a quarterly ranking and identify carriers eligible for volume increase or reduction.
Step 3 — Cost Benchmarking and Spend Analysis
Analyze logistics spend against benchmarks:
- Cost per unit shipped (by mode and lane).
- Cost as % of revenue — compare to industry median (typically 4-8% for manufacturing, 8-15% for e-commerce).
- Accessorial spend breakdown — fuel surcharge, detention, liftgate, residential, redelivery.
- Rate trend analysis — contracted rates vs. spot market over the review period.
- Spend leakage — shipments moving outside contracted rates, unauthorized carriers, off-contract accessorials.
Build a savings waterfall identifying each opportunity by category and estimated annual value.
Step 4 — Lead Time Analysis
Map end-to-end lead times for key lanes:
| Lead Time Component | Measurement | Optimization Lever |
|---|
| Order processing | Order placed to ship-ready | Automation, cut-off times |
| Warehouse dwell | Ship-ready to carrier pickup | Pickup scheduling, dock slots |
| Transit time | Pickup to destination arrival | Mode selection, routing |
| Customs / clearance | Border arrival to release | Pre-clearance, broker perf |
| Last-mile delivery | Hub arrival to customer receipt | Network design, carrier mix |
| Total order-to-delivery | Sum of above | Process redesign |
Identify the longest and most variable components; quantify the opportunity from reducing each by 10-25%.
Step 5 — Last-Mile Delivery Assessment
Evaluate last-mile performance specifically:
- Cost per delivery by zone, package size, and delivery type (standard, express, same-day).
- First-attempt delivery success rate — target > 92%.
- Customer satisfaction scores tied to delivery experience.
- Returns logistics cost — reverse logistics as % of forward cost.
- Alternative delivery model evaluation — gig economy, locker networks, micro-fulfillment, crowd-shipping.
Step 6 — Recommendations and Action Plan
Prioritize opportunities using an impact-effort matrix:
| Priority | Initiative | Annual Savings | Effort | Timeline |
|---|
| 1 | Quick wins (rate corrections) | $... | Low | 0-30 days |
| 2 | Carrier mix optimization | $... | Medium | 30-90 days |
| 3 | Mode shift opportunities | $... | Medium | 60-120 days |
| 4 | Network redesign | $... | High | 6-12 months |
Output Format
## Logistics Review — [Scope/Region] — [Period]
### Executive Summary
- Total logistics spend reviewed: [$X]
- Shipments analyzed: [count]
- Identified savings opportunities: [$Y] ([%] of spend)
- Service level: [current OTD%] -> [projected OTD%]
### Shipment Profile
| Mode | Shipments | Spend | Avg Cost/Shipment | Volume Trend |
|--------|-----------|-----------|-------------------|--------------|
| TL | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| LTL | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Parcel | ... | ... | ... | ... |
### Carrier Scorecard
| Carrier | OTD | Damage Rate | Invoice Accuracy | Tender Accept | Composite Score |
|---------|-------|-------------|------------------|---------------|-----------------|
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
### Cost Benchmarking
- Cost per unit shipped: [$X] vs. benchmark [$Y]
- Accessorial spend: [%] of total (target: < 15%)
- Savings waterfall: [chart or table]
### Lead Time Breakdown
| Component | Current (days) | Target (days) | Gap |
|-------------------|----------------|---------------|-------|
| Order processing | ... | ... | ... |
| Transit | ... | ... | ... |
| Last mile | ... | ... | ... |
### Recommendations (Prioritized)
1. [Initiative — savings — timeline]
2. ...
Quality Checklist
Edge Cases
- Multi-modal shipments (e.g., ocean + truck): Analyze each leg separately; attribute cost and transit time per segment; watch for dwell time at transshipment points.
- Cross-border / international lanes: Include customs brokerage, duties, and compliance costs; factor in trade agreement impacts and tariff changes.
- Peak season vs. off-peak distortion: Normalize metrics by season; benchmark peak performance separately; evaluate surge capacity strategy.
- Small parcel high-volume shippers: Focus on zone skipping, regional carrier diversification, and dimensional weight optimization.
- Dedicated fleet vs. common carrier: Run total cost of ownership comparison including fixed fleet costs, empty miles, and driver utilization.
- Fragile or hazardous goods: Assess specialized carrier performance separately; include regulatory compliance cost in benchmarking.
