SCDigest Editorial Staff

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The “just-in-time” nature of the automotive-related supply chain may also present complications, as each party would have to assess what will happen if glitches in their own supply chain or receiving processes cause delivery timing issues with the other party in the relationship. What do you say? Click Here to Send Us Your Comments Click Here to See Reader Feedback

While the potential cost savings from “collaborative transportation” have been understood for some time, a variety of factors have consistently blocked any real industry progress towards shippers more proactively sharing capacity.

Maybe skyrocketing diesel and fuel surcharge costs will finally do it.

Mitsubishi Motors announced this week that it was considering a collaborative transportation program with equipment maker Caterpillar. Under the arrangement, parts coming into the US from Asia or US suppliers would be combined with parts shipments going to a Caterpillar factory.

The plan can work in part because of the proximity of the plants considering the arrangement. The Mitsubishi plant is in Normal, IL, just 30 miles from Caterpillar factories in Peoria. Carriers would make a stop at the Mitsubishi plant, unload, and then continue on to Peoria.

The concept was “fueled” in part because Mitsubishi uses Caterpillar’s logistics services arm (Caterpillar Logistics) to manage its inbound freight, in a contract that began two years ago.

Finally, because the Mitsubishi plant is operating at about half capacity, its inbound volumes often aren’t heavy enough from specific areas of supply to build full truck loads, increasing transportation expense.

“There is a potential here for less expense, which is going to become a bigger issue as fuel prices rise," Tom Spangler, general manager for logistics for Mitsubishi's procurement and supply operations, told Automotive News this week.

As always with collaborative transportation, there are some complications to the potential Mitsubishi-Caterpillar relationship. For example, the parts used in the more industrial equipment made by Caterpillar tend to be larger and heavier, meaning the trucks might weigh out before they cube out, reducing the opportunity to combine loads.

(Transportation Management Article - Continued Below)