KPIs for Freight and Logistics Companies
These are the KPIs a freight or logistics operator tracks for delivery, cost and fleet use. They connect service levels to the cost of providing them.
The KPIs to track
On-time delivery rate is the percentage of deliveries that arrived on or before the promised date.
Formula and SQL query on the On-Time Delivery Rate page.
Cost per mile is the average transport cost for each mile driven, a core measure in fleet and freight operations.
Formula and SQL query on the Cost per Mile page.
Capacity utilisation is the percentage of available capacity that is actually used.
Formula and SQL query on the Capacity Utilisation page.
Freight cost per unit is the average shipping cost attached to each unit shipped.
Formula and SQL query on the Freight Cost per Unit page.
Order cycle time is the average time from a customer placing an order to receiving it.
Formula and SQL query on the Order Cycle Time page.
Perfect order rate is the share of orders that arrive on time, complete, undamaged and correctly invoiced.
Formula and SQL query on the Perfect Order Rate page.
Empty miles percentage
Miles driven without a load divided by total miles driven.
Claims ratio
The value of damage or loss claims divided by revenue or by the number of shipments.
Where the data usually lives
A transport management system, telematics, driver logs, fuel cards and the accounting system.
Measurement mistakes to avoid
- On-time needs an agreed time window; a late booking is not a late delivery.
- Cost per mile should include driver, fuel, maintenance and depreciation consistently.
- Partial periods for new vehicles distort utilisation; compare full periods.
Questions to ask your data
You can type these as plain questions. SchemaChat turns each one into SQL against your connected database or uploaded file, runs it, and shows the SQL and the figures it used so you can check the answer before you share it. Check that the result matches how your business defines each KPI.
- What share of deliveries were on time last month, by lane?
- What is our cost per mile by vehicle type?
- How much of our driving is empty?
- Which customers have the most delivery failures?