The Hub and Spoke Model | Sheer Logistics (2024)

The hub and spoke model is a transportation system that resembles a bicycle wheel. Goods are shipped to a central location (the hub) and distributed outwards to multiple destinations (the spokes). By using this model, companies can maximize the efficiency of their supply chain by consolidating shipments in one central location before sending them out to their final destination. This reduces the amount of time and resources needed for transportation.

A carrier hub is typically used for these operations, as it allows multiple carriers to access the same distribution point. This makes it easier for shippers to manage their shipments and quickly get goods from one place to another. The hub and spoke model can also be used in combination with other transportation techniques, such as direct deliveries or drop shipping.

• Air:

• • Commercial airlines such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines. Commercial airlines utilize hubs, or major airports where flights are consolidated from origin points across their network and passengers and cargo are transferred to other flights heading toward their final destinations. In contrast, Southwest Airlines utilizes a point-to-point network.

• • Cargo airlines such as UPS and FedEx

• Railroads, such as Union Pacific Railroad, CSX Transportation and BNSF Railway

• Trucking and Logistics Providers:

• • Parcel companies such as FedEx Ground and UPS

• • Asset-based logistics providers (both truckload and LTL)

• Maritime lines such as Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd use a hub and spoke system that is similar to the approach utilized by airlines. Major ports serve as hubs where ships from smaller ports converge, consolidate, sort and redistribute shipments.

Another key benefit of the hub and spoke model is that it provides numerous opportunities for cost savings. It primarily does this by reducing labor costs associated with shipping and delivery. By consolidating shipments in a centralized location, fewer workers are required to manage inventory and process shipments. This reduces the need for additional personnel and eliminates the overhead costs associated with managing multiple warehouses or distribution centers.

A hub and spoke network also reduces transportation costs by reducing the need for point-to-point delivery. Instead of shipping goods directly from one location to another, carriers can use hubs as the primary locations for processing and sorting orders. This allows carriers to reduce the number of trips needed to deliver shipments, resulting in fewer fuel costs, less time spent on the road, and, ultimately, improved delivery times.

The hub and spoke model offers businesses improved efficiency and productivity. By consolidating all of their shipments at one location, companies can reduce the number of warehouses or distribution centers they need to manage by centralizing inventory management. This streamlines the order processing and shipping process, allowing businesses to process more orders in less time. Additionally, carriers can create multiple hubs throughout their network, allowing them to sort and route orders to their final destinations quickly.

The hub and spoke model also allows for greater flexibility when it comes to managing customer orders. Companies can easily adjust their delivery schedules based on customer demand and seasonality since the centralized hub allows easy access to a wide variety of inventory. This enables companies to respond quickly to changing customer needs while also saving money on unnecessary transportation costs.

While the LTL hub and spoke model has its advantages, there are also challenges and limitations that shippers should be aware of.

• Increased transit times (as compared to direct route shipping methods) can result as shipments pass through multiple hubs. In addition, delays or congestion at hubs can further lengthen the overall transit times of your shipments.

• Lost or damaged shipments loss is a risk inherent to the hub and spoke model. Because each shipment has multiple “touches,” the risk of damage or loss increases compared to direct shipping. Also, because the shipment essentially travels along multiple “legs” to its final destination, there is increased risk that shipment is misdirected or misrouted.

• Lack of visibility to shipments is a common challenge with the hub and spoke approach. This is due to the multiple touchpoints for each shipment, delays in entering tracking information into the TMS, lack of integration between disparate systems, and other causes. This lack of visibility can be frustrating not only to the shipper but also to end-customers who may lack timely updates on the status of their shipment.

• Single point of failure: Disruptions at a central hub due to operational failures, strikes, or natural disasters, can impact the entire network.

Transportation management software (TMS) is an essential tool for businesses that use a hub and spoke distribution model. A TMS provides your company with the crucial data and insight you need to run your operations effectively. In fact, it has a similar structure to the hub and spoke model—data, such as estimated delivery times, weather forecasts, predicted customer demand, and more, are pulled from various sources and aggregated in one central dashboard.

By providing such increased visibility, your TMS allows you to adjust your hub and spoke model to maximize its effectiveness.