How to automatically plan transport orders in 2026?

Planning transport orders is one of the most challenging tasks in logistics. In 2026, under immense pressure on margins and a shortage of staff, manually arranging routes becomes an insurmountable barrier. Find out why artificial intelligence in TMS systems is no longer an "add-on," but a foundation of a profitable transport company.

The Mathematical Maze: Why is Planning So Difficult?

Many transport company owners are unaware of the mathematical scale of the challenge that their dispatcher faces every day. With a fleet of only 20 vehicles and 40 orders weekly, the number of theoretical combinations for assigning routes, loads, and time windows runs into millions.

Manual planning is a process burdened with a huge margin of error. The planner must mentally (or in an Excel spreadsheet) connect hundreds of variables:

• Driver working hours: current breaks, weekly limits, and Mobility Package requirements.

• Technical parameters: type of trailer, payload capacity, vehicle certifications.

• Geopolitics: driving bans (holiday, vacation), cabotages, ecological corridors.

• Logistics: route, returning to the base, deadlines for services and inspections.

How Much Does Manual Planning Really Cost You?

Before we move on to technology, let's calculate the real costs. In the traditional model, the dispatcher spends almost the entire day on reactive actions.

Dispatcher Time Balance (monthly per person)

In this model, the dispatcher has no time for strategy. Instead of looking for better contracts, he