Last Mile Delivery
Here at Last Mile Logistics we pride ourselves on our ability to provide a first-class logistics operation tailored to businesses large and small.
Our combined 65 years' experience, commitment to transparency, robust systems, and resilience in the face of challenges ensures that our services are primed for the rigours of modern-day delivery and transportation, and more than capable of meeting the high standards expected.
Our range of services - including last mile, HGV operation, Cross-Dock & Warehousing, Storage and two-man home delivery – allows us to tailor our approach for businesses of all sizes. We enjoy close partnerships with everyone from global brands to smaller-scale private enterprises.
Based in Teesside in the North East of England, our location provides a strategic advantage with regards to last mile requirements, connecting the UK's main hubs in the Midlands to locations in the north of England, the far reaches of Scotland, and the rest of the UK.
Working in close collaboration with our business partners, we ensure a timely and efficient service built on transparency, trust, and integrity.
Our Services and Solutions
At Last Mile Logistics we've developed a number of sophisticated and efficient solutions to tackle today's last mile challenges and add value to your supply chain.
The methods described below are geared to minimize the cost of last mile delivery, ensure transparency, increase efficiency, and improve infrastructure.
Above all, we pride ourselves on the close-knit relationships we have with our clients, most of whom have worked with us for many years. By prioritising open lines of communication and an approachable nature, we create strong working rapports with our clients that results in high levels of service and delivery.
Road Freight
As proud members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), we maintain high standards of road transportation and freight security, and our varied fleet of vehicles allow us to offer a range of services bespoke to your requirements.
From Sprinter Vans through to Rigid Lorries and Articulated Lorries, we can offer less-than-truck-load (LTL), part-truck-load (PTL) or full-truck-load (FTL) depending on your shipment needs. Services include express, overnight, same-day and next-day options, along with additional options to improve efficiency, including groupage and backload services.
Latest Technology
We use the latest tracking technology with all of our vehicles to ensure full location visibility for our operations team, and the customer. In addition, our job management system provides further accuracy, with detailed data guaranteeing a transparent and efficient supply chain, and the ability to deliver at dedicated times.
Warehousing
Our Opus Park warehouse now totals over 70,000 square feet of space and can be used for both short-term and long-term storage solutions for volumes both large and small. We also have the capability and flexibility of increasing storage space beyond our existing capacity if and when required. ISO9001 certified and boasting the latest digital management systems, our warehouse solutions cover all aspects of e-commerce storage services.
Cross-docking
We offer a seamless cross-docking service that can help reduce clients' requirement for warehousing solutions and streamline your supply chain. We track and monitor the entire process as inbound goods arrive at our warehouse, are then unloaded and scanned, before being reloaded for the outbound journey and the last mile leg.
About Last Mile Logistics
Based in Teesside, within easy reach of all key UK hubs, Last Mile Logistics brings together a team with over 65 years of industry experience to offer national and regional logistics services for businesses large and small.
ISO9001 certified and proud members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), we're able to combine a reliable and robust nationwide road freight operation along with a trusted regional home delivery service in the north of England and Scotland.
Boasting decades of experience in logistics and home delivery, directors Chris Hardy, Paul Lambert and Craig Wilson lead a dedicated and expert operations team that continues to enjoy strong and lasting relationships with some of the most high profile names in retail and business.
That's because we prioritise an open and transparent relationship with our customers, while continually striving to deliver the most efficient and cost-effective delivery solutions capable of meeting today's last mile challenges. This includes the latest location and inventory tracking technology, alongside smart warehousing and cross-docking options.
Rhenus have used Last Mile for a number of years and have delivered on time every time , the attention to detail and customer service are second to none
ALAN HOLMER - HEAD OF LOGISTICS
What is Last Mile?
An increasingly important concept in today's supply chain landscape, "last mile" is the term used to describe the very final leg of a product's journey, most commonly to a buyer's door.
While the original journey from factory to warehouse is commonly done with high volumes going to one location or hub, the low volume and multi-drop requirements of last mile delivery make it traditionally the least efficient part of the shipping process.
With customers these days expecting high levels of speed and visibility, managing this last mile challenge without incurring high costs or taking too much time is of mounting importance for today's businesses.
Today's Last Mile Challenges
The exponential growth in online retail shows no sign of abating, with the Covid-19 pandemic only increasing the delivery service expectations of consumers.
The "Amazon Effect" means that customers now expect new purchases to arrive at their door quicker than ever, adding further pressures to business supply chains and, in turn, making last mile logistics more critical than ever.
This final leg of freight transportation has long been regarded as the most difficult consideration for both business to consumer (b2c) and business to business (b2b) deliveries. It is said that the last mile can account for anywhere between 28% and 58% of the total transport costs.
In rural areas, delivery points can be several miles apart, while stop proximity in urban areas and cities can often be negated by traffic jams and congestion. Throw in low drop sizes per customer – with one or two parcels per customer the norm – and last mile delivery can present a complex and inefficient process that can be difficult to successfully scale, with delivery costs often disproportionate to the price of the goods being delivered. Add in customer expectations of free or low-cost delivery, and these costs are often absorbed by the retailer and logistics partners.
This means that companies like Last Mile Logistics are increasingly crucial to the success of modern eCommerce and omnichannel retailers. By guaranteeing efficient last mile deliveries, shippers are able to get their products to end consumers in fast and cost-effective ways.
How transportation requirements have changed
Before the rise in eCommerce, the retail sector centred around businesses with premises based in inner-city, urban areas. This allowed for goods to be delivered to one single location, meaning producers could ship large quantities via various wholesalers and distribution centres. With products purchased in-store by consumers, the “last mile” in the traditional sense would most often be undertaken by the customer.
In this case, deliveries were predominantly B2B, with efficient routes, designated contacts and robust structures in place. High quantities of orders combined with single-point locations meant that transportation costs - including driver labour, packaging, equipment, and fuel – were low.
Today, online retail has irreversibly shifted this traditional landscape, dramatically increasing the need for private deliveries of smaller quantities, to a multitude of final destinations. The convenience of shopping online – with a wider choice and often lower prices than shopping in store - was further emphasised during the global pandemic, as traditional bricks-and-mortar shops closed and work-from-home restrictions applied.
However, the larger selection offered to consumers online increases the pressure on delivery: with long waits and poor delivery experiences no longer accepted by customers. Delivery is now a lynchpin of brand loyalty, and with eCommerce thriving on satisfied customers and positive reviews; negative feedback can result in adverse reputational effects on businesses.
As consumers increasingly turn to eCommerce for their shopping needs, speedy fulfilment and distribution is no longer deemed a welcome bonus. It's quite simply the standard expectation of every online shopping experience. Which means that it has become a key differentiator for retailers fighting for market share, with consumers prepared to shop around online until they get the exceptional and prompt delivery service expected.
It's why retail outlets need to prioritise their last mile processes by partnering with experienced logistics companies capable of delivering on today's expectations.
Tackling the last mile challenge
Tackling these tricky last mile challenges can be done by combining expertise and experience with a forward-thinking and modern approach. Anticipating seasonal fluctuations – such as high volumes for Christmas, Black Friday, or during Covid-19 lockdowns, and low volumes during the summer holiday season – can optimise planning and ensure delivery functions smoothly all year around.
Embracing new technologies and driving process improvements also helps to strengthen supply chain models, increase parcel volume, and expediate deliveries, ensuring a satisfying customer experience and return custom for the retailer.
The future of last mile delivery
Last mile delivery is becoming more important than ever due to the surge of online orders. In 2020, over two billion people purchased goods or services online, with global eCommerce sales surpassing $4.2 trillion.
The pandemic pushed supply chains to the max, testing the capacity, strategies, risk-related dimensions, scale, and human resources required to make last mile delivery models work. It accelerated digitisation and increased the value of data, while consolidating the wider logistics industry.
Global consumer behaviour is forecast to grow demand for last-mile delivery by some 78% by 2030. With Covid-19 as a catalyst, an estimated 17.2 million consumers in the UK - nearly a quarter of the entire population - is forecast to permanently change the way they shop, with eCommerce in the UK expected to rise from 19.2% of total retail to 33.8 % by 2024, and 53% by 2028.
It is therefore imperative that retailers and businesses partner with an experienced and certified logistics company they can trust, who operate with integrity, transparency and a forward-looking approach.
For all of your last mile delivery needs, contact us today for a discussion about how we can help