Second Harvest of the Big Bend (SHBB), a nonprofit food bank, faced challenges in its distribution process, including high idle times during product pickups and inconsistent operational practices. To understand these challenges, we conducted truck ride-alongs, interviewed drivers and toured facilities to gather important preliminary information about the logistics. We then performed a quantitative analysis, using software tools such as Verizon Connect to extract the top 10 retail stores with the highest idle times. Our utilization study revealed that SHBB’s fleet operated 20-30% below industry standards in idle time/movement time ratios, indicating significant room for improvement. We calculated cost metrics, highlighting idle time as the primary area for potential savings.
To address this, we implemented three solutions: a standardized package for day-to-day trucking operations to minimize non-value-added idle time, management visibility tools such as automated dashboards and route optimization to ensure that high-idle stores received pickups consistently at the same time. These measures aimed to streamline operations, improve internal and external communications, reduce costs and enhance overall efficiency.