Creating freight order line clusters

After you select the freight order lines that you want to cluster and start up the clustering process in the Generate Freight Order Clusters (fmfoc3200m000) session, LN takes the following steps to cluster the freight order lines:

Step 1. Group freight order lines

To create freight order clusters for the batch of freight order lines that you selected for subcontracting, LN first groups freight order lines with matching properties into clusters. The grouping process is carried out as follows:

  1. Each freight order line, for which the SingleShipment check box is selected is grouped into a single freight order cluster.
  2. Freight order lines that belong to a freight order header for which the SingleShipment check box is selected are grouped into a cluster.
  3. LN checks whether freight order lines in the current batch match the properties of clusters created previously that have the Clustered status. If so, the freight order lines are added to the previously created clusters.

  4. LN creates clusters for the remaining freight order lines. The number of clusters that LN can create from a batch of freight order lines depends on the properties of the freight order lines of the batch. Freight order lines are grouped into a cluster if the following properties match:

    • Ship-from and ship-to addresses

    • Ship-from and ship-to companies, sites, codes, and types. Note: These clustering criteria are not used if the Cluster by Address check box is selected in the Generate Freight Order Clusters (fmfoc3200m000) session. See Clustering by address.

    • Time windows, which do not require an exact match, but must at least overlap.

All freight order lines that you selected for subcontracting belong to the same shipping office and planning group, for Planning Group and Shipping Office are mandatory criteria in the Generate Freight Order Clusters (fmfoc3200m000) session.

The following properties are not always defined for freight order lines, but if the properties are defined, these properties must also match:

  • Carrier
  • Transport means group
  • Transport type
  • Service level
  • Terms of Delivery
  • Additional rate unit
Step 2. Select carrier and transport means group for clusters created in Step 1

After the freight order lines are grouped into clusters, LN selects a carrier and a transport means group for each of the generated clusters according to the selected carrier selection criterion in the Generate Freight Order Clusters (fmfoc3200m000) session. For further information on the carrier selection criterion, see Generate Freight Order Clusters (fmfoc3200m000).

Based on the carrier selection criterion, carriers are selected from the carriers defined for the shipping office and planning group of the freight orders that are clustered and the carriers defined for the transport means group selected for the freight orders.

Carriers are linked to shipping offices and planning groups in the Carriers/LSP by Shipping Office and Planning Group (fmfrc0160m000) session.

If a carrier and/or a transport means group were manually entered for the freight order lines of a particular cluster, LN does not replace this carrier and/or transport means group. However, if required, you can change the carrier and/or transport means group after the clustering process is finished. For further information, see To change freight order clusters.

When LN selects a carrier and transport means group, the calendar of the carrier is not checked, nor is the loading capacity of the transport means group or the available number of vehicles for the carrier. The reason is that these are planning considerations, and planning-related matters are left to the carrier to whom the freight orders are subcontracted.

If LN cannot find a suitable carrier, the cluster is created without a carrier and transport means group. In these types of cases, you can manually enter a carrier and transport means group for the cluster.

Step 3. Calculate freight costs for clusters created in Step 1

The last step of the clustering process is calculating the freight costs for the clusters. If you selected the Calculate Additional Costs check box, additional costs are calculated if additional costs apply to any of the freight order lines of the clusters. For further information, see Calculation of estimated freight costs and To allocate additional costs

Summary of the clustering process
  • In Step 1, freight order lines are grouped into clusters.
  • The clusters created in Step 1 are provided with a carrier and transport means group in Step 2.
  • In Step 3, the freight costs, and, if applicable, the additional costs are calculated for the clusters. The new clusters receive the Clustered status. For further information on cluster statuses, see Cluster and cluster line status overview.
Note

Before you set a cluster to Actual, you must rerun the clustering process to include any new freight order lines in the subcontracting order. Changes in the originating orders and order lines can result in new freight orders and/or freight order lines being created. New freight order lines are not clustered. If you want to include the most recent freight order lines in the subcontracting order, you must rerun the clustering process. For further information, see How freight order and originating order changes affect clusters