How Long Does Last-Mile Delivery Take?

The most important step of the entire shipping process is the final leg of the journey called the last-mile. It’s the finish line of all shipping projects. This is the step when a product is delivered to its final destination. It’s also the most costly step and where the most could go wrong.

Depending on a few different factors, last-mile delivery can take anywhere between one day and several weeks.

Dive into what can affect the speed of the final-mile of delivery and how these issues can be improved.

Need to get caught up on the details of last-mile delivery? Read our article, Last Mile Logistics Explained: How it Impacts Your Business 

What Affects the Speed of Last-Mile Delivery?

A lot goes into last-mile delivery:

• Orders entered into systems for tracking
• Items brought to the transportation hub or last-mile delivery station
• Eventually, orders are assigned to drivers based on best-optimized routes
• A final scan before loading
• The driver reaches the final destination

Most of these final steps happen within a last-mile delivery station where packages are received from larger facilities and sorted for final delivery.

During the entire shipping process, the most difficult and expensive part is the final delivery. With a higher demand for quick and efficient delivery, the effort put into this step is monumental. 

Open Road negates most of the waiting required and inefficiencies of traditional shipping methods. Don’t wait for a full truck or available drivers, Open Road connects you directly to a specialized hotshot trucker who can deliver your cargo directly to its final destination. For when you need things shipped yesterday, Open Road.

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Vehicle

The kind of vehicle used for final-mile delivery can affect how long it takes. If a shipment requires a flatbed, it may take a bit more time to reach the final destination. Sprinter vans and smaller vehicles are more agile and can speed up the last-mile process.

Season

During busy seasons, drivers have a lot more to deliver, meaning they likely have additional stops on their routes. Peak seasons with lots of product being moved and shipped, like November and December, can slow down the speed of final delivery.

Distance

The distance a driver has to travel to deliver a package will also affect how long it takes. Rural areas and anywhere farther from dispatch centers should expect longer delivery times. 

Traffic and Weather Conditions

It might not seem like a big deal, but traffic can have a huge impact on the time it takes for a package to be delivered. If there is an accident or harsh weather conditions, shipments will get delayed.

Cargo Size

Shipment size can affect the speed of delivery. Large items like furniture will take longer to be delivered than something like a computer mouse. If the item is large enough to warrant a specialized vehicle, the timing will vary greatly.

Open Road’s hotshot drivers specialize in LTL deliveries, meaning large cargo less than 10,000 pounds. We’re able to deliver large shipments faster than regular LTL freight. When timing is everything, turn to Open Road. Sign up today.

Product Type

Some items take longer to ship due to the nature of the product. Restricted products like…

• Seeds and plants
• Firearms
• Batteries
• Alcohol and tobacco 
• High-value items

…will have a slower shipping time due to the restrictions.

Optimization

Finally, the biggest offender for slow last-mile delivery is optimization. Every package needs to be assigned to a route in a specific order. With drivers being tasked with more and more deliveries to fulfill, keeping these routes optimized is incredibly difficult. 

This also includes how trucks are packed. Most delivery vehicles are packed to the brim before leaving the warehouse. A driver needs to have access to the first shipments on the route. As they deliver packages for later deliveries become accessible.

Without proper optimization, drivers may need to circle back or dig through packages to find the right one.

Streamlining The Last-Mile of Delivery

Last-mile logistics are a big undertaking. However, when done correctly, the entire process can be streamlined, bottlenecks can be avoided, and your deliveries can happen right on schedule. 

One such way of improving the final-mile process is using hot shot truckers. These specialized drivers can get goods directly to where they need to be—no changing hands, no having to worry about other stops, and no getting lost in a sea of orders.

Open Road connects businesses directly to hotshots. Using our platform can simplify the entire shipping process by providing a single driver to deliver your goods to their final destination.

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