Consolidate multiple shipments into a load

Article
11/29/2021

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2

Note

This topic applies to features in the Transportation management module. It does not apply to features in the Inventory management module.

This topic describes how to consolidate multiple shipments into one load. You can consolidate multiple shipments for sales orders, purchase orders, or transfer orders based on one of the following scenarios:

Shipments to different destinations in the same route that use the same hub or hubs.
Shipments that originate from the same warehouse and use the same route.
Shipments to the same destination.

Note

If you are running Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Cumulative Update 8, you can use the Load building workbench to create proposed loads based on load building strategies. Load building strategies contain logic that will find sales order lines that match the criteria that you specify in the strategy, and propose loads according to the criteria. You can then examine the contents of the loads and make adjustments, and then build loads based on the proposed loads. Additionally, you can schedule a batch job to automate the process of building loads based on load building strategies. For more information, see Automate the process of building loads.

This task is part of a bigger process

The following illustration shows how to consolidate shipments into a load while planning an outbound load for shipping.

For an overview of the process, see Business process: Planning and processing outbound loads for shipping.

Business process flow for outbound loads

Prerequisites

The following table shows the prerequisites that must be in place before you start.

Category	Prerequisites
Preconditions	Set up one or more warehouses in Microsoft Dynamics AX. For more information, see Create warehouses. Set up a hub. For more information, see “Set up a hub master” in Set up accessorial charges for a shipping carrier. In the Transportation management parameters form, on the In transit planning FastTab, select the In transit planning check box to enable consolidation of shipments. Create or modify an outbound load for shipment. For more information, see Create or modify an outbound load.

Preconditions

Set up one or more warehouses in Microsoft Dynamics AX. For more information, see Create warehouses.
Set up a hub. For more information, see “Set up a hub master” in Set up accessorial charges for a shipping carrier.
In the Transportation management parameters form, on the In transit planning FastTab, select the In transit planning check box to enable consolidation of shipments.
Create or modify an outbound load for shipment. For more information, see Create or modify an outbound load.

Consolidate shipments to different destinations on the same route

Use the Load planning workbench form to consolidate multiple shipments that are being shipped to different destinations on the same route. For example, two shipments that are created for two different sales orders must ship the items to two different destinations in the same route. Both shipments are sent to a common hub, which is an intermediary location between the outbound dock and the final destinations. When the shipments are at the hub, the transport coordinator consolidates the two shipments into one load to ensure the optimal route for both the shipments.

To consolidate shipments that are being shipped to different destinations, follow these steps:

Click Transportation management > Inquiries > Load planning workbench.

–or–

Click Warehouse management > Common > Load planning workbench.
On the Loads FastTab, select a load line.
On the Transportation menu, click Hub consolidation.
In the Override location form, select an override location type, and select a hub or warehouse location to specify an intermediary location for the shipment.
Click OK to create a new transportation request line with the selected location as the source location.
Optional: Repeat steps 2 through 5 to specify other intermediate locations for the shipment.
On the Supply and demand FastTab, on the Transportation request lines tab, select the lines that share a common hub or warehouse location, to consolidate them.
Click To new load to add the selected lines to a new load with a new load template or click To existing load to add the selected lines to an existing load.

Consolidate shipments to the same destination

To consolidate shipments that are being shipped to the same destination, follow these steps:

Click Transportation management > Common > Shipments > All shipments.
Select a shipment line for consolidation.
On the Shipments tab, in the Shipments action group, click Consolidate shipments to open the Shipment consolidation form.
Select the shipment line that you want to consolidate with the shipment line in the All shipments form, and then click OK. You can view the consolidated shipment details for the selected shipment line in the lower grid of the All shipments form.
Repeat step 4 to consolidate additional shipment lines with the shipment line that is selected in the All shipments form.

Next step

Plan appointments for a load

Assign a rate and route to a load

Technical information for system administrators

If you don't have access to the pages that are used to complete this task, contact your system administrator and provide the information that is shown in the following table.

Category	Prerequisite
Configuration keys	Click System administration > Setup > Licensing > License configuration. Expand the Trade license key, and then select the Warehouse and Transportation management configuration key.