HOS-aware trip plans
Drive, break and reset windows planned before the load is accepted.
Route Planning
Truck route planning and deadhead reduction
Every trip is planned around hours of service, fuel network, weight limits and the load that follows it.
- Deadhead miles
- Net revenue per working day
- HOS conflicts caught before dispatch
The short answer
What is route planning, and what do you actually get?
Route planning decides profit before the truck moves: which lane, which reload market, and how many empty miles it takes to get there. MSM Transit plans the next load before the current one delivers, scores destination markets on reload density, and measures deadhead percentage on every load.
What this fixes
If any of this sounds like your operation, this service is for you.
These are the four problems carriers describe most often on the first call about route planning.
- Round trips planned one leg at a time
- Routes that ignore fuel network pricing
- HOS violations caused by unrealistic appointment times
- Permits and restrictions discovered on the road
What we measure
The numbers you see every Monday for route planning
A service you cannot measure is a service you cannot judge. These are on the written weekly scorecard from week one.
- Deadhead miles — per trip and per week
- Net revenue per working day — the number that actually matters
- HOS conflicts caught before dispatch — so they never become violations
The systems these numbers come out of — load intelligence, rate benchmarking, ELD and TMS integration — are set out on our technology page.
What is included
Exactly what you get with Route Planning
No vague promises. This is the scope of work, item by item.
Fuel-optimized routing
Routing built around your fuel network discounts, not just the shortest line.
Round-trip construction
Outbound and backhaul planned as one economic decision.
Restriction screening
Weight, height, hazmat and metro restrictions checked for every lane.
Weather & closure watch
Active reroutes when conditions change mid-trip.
Lane profitability
Recurring lanes ranked by net revenue per working day.
What route planning fixes first
The cheapest mile is the one you never drive empty.
Every trip is planned around hours of service, fuel network, weight limits and the load that follows it.
Below is what changes in the first weeks, drawn from the same scope of work set out above — not a generic onboarding script.
- HOS-aware trip plans. Drive, break and reset windows planned before the load is accepted.
- Fuel-optimized routing. Routing built around your fuel network discounts, not just the shortest line.
- Round-trip construction. Outbound and backhaul planned as one economic decision.
- Restriction screening. Weight, height, hazmat and metro restrictions checked for every lane.
This matters most if you run dry van, hotshot or box truck, where the difference between a good week and a bad one is usually decided before the load is ever accepted.
Most carriers who take this on also hand us truck dispatch, broker negotiation and fleet management within the first month — it is the same operation, and splitting it across vendors is where things get dropped.
If you would rather read before you call: Deadhead math: why a $3.10 load can pay less than a $2.60 load, and The owner operator profit guide: what your cost per mile is really telling you.
Get a quote
Ask us about route planning
A dispatcher replies within one business hour — usually much faster.
Questions
Route Planning — straight answers
Do you plan for oversize and permitted loads?
Yes — permit-required routing is planned with the state permit offices and escort requirements built into the trip and the rate.
Works well with
Carriers usually pair this with
Truck Dispatch
Dedicated dispatchers who keep your trucks loaded with high-paying freight — not whatever is left on the board.
Learn moreBroker Negotiation
Professional negotiators with live market data who raise the rate before the load is ever booked.
Learn moreFleet Management
One operations layer for 3 to 300 trucks: utilization, maintenance, driver assignment and profitability per unit.
Learn moreGo deeper
Equipment where route planning changes the numbers most
The same service, applied to the trailer type you actually run.
Dry Van dispatch
The backbone of freight. Consistent volume, tight margins — which is exactly why negotiation and deadhead control decide profitability.
Read onHotshot dispatch
Expedited and urgent freight on Class 3–5 trucks. Margins live or die on deadhead and response speed.
Read onBox Truck dispatch
Regional and final-mile freight. Volume of loads matters more than size of loads — and that means constant board work.
Read onFree dispatch audit
Ready to hand off route planning?
Book a free 20-minute audit. We will tell you honestly whether this service will move your numbers — and what it would cost.
- Reply within 1 business hour
- First load usually booked in 24 hours
- Cancel with 15 days notice, any time