An apparatus for increasing throughput in an independent cart system, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of movers; a track along which the plurality of movers travel, the track including: a plurality of track segments, wherein each of the plurality of track segments includes a segment controller operative to control operation of each of the plurality of movers present on the corresponding track segment; and a station position (400; 400A; 400B) located along a length of one of the plurality of track segments configured to have the plurality of movers stop for interaction with a device (410; 415; 420) external to the track; and a process controller in communication with the segment controller on each of the plurality of track segments, characterized in that: a first segment controller located on one of the plurality of track segments is operative to determine a time to destination for a first mover, selected from the plurality of movers; the time to destination corresponds to a time for the first mover to arrive at the station position from a current position of the first mover; the first segment controller is further operative to transmit the time to destination to the process controller before the first mover arrives at the station position; and the process controller is operative to initiate execution of at least one preparation task for the device at the station position responsive to receiving the time to destination from the first segment controller and before the first mover arrives at the station position. a plurality of movers; a track along which the plurality of movers travel, the track including: a plurality of track segments, wherein each of the plurality of track segments includes a segment controller operative to control operation of each of the plurality of movers present on the corresponding track segment; and a station position (400; 400A; 400B) located along a length of one of the plurality of track segments configured to have the plurality of movers stop for interaction with a device (410; 415; 420) external to the track; and a plurality of track segments, wherein each of the plurality of track segments includes a segment controller operative to control operation of each of the plurality of movers present on the corresponding track segment; and a station position (400; 400A; 400B) located along a length of one of the plurality of track segments configured to have the plurality of movers stop for interaction with a device (410; 415; 420) external to the track; and a process controller in communication with the segment controller on each of the plurality of track segments, characterized in that: a first segment controller located on one of the plurality of track segments is operative to determine a time to destination for a first mover, selected from the plurality of movers; the time to destination corresponds to a time for the first mover to arrive at the station position from a current position of the first mover; the first segment controller is further operative to transmit the time to destination to the process controller before the first mover arrives at the station position; and the process controller is operative to initiate execution of at least one preparation task for the device at the station position responsive to receiving the time to destination from the first segment controller and before the first mover arrives at the station position. a first segment controller located on one of the plurality of track segments is operative to determine a time to destination for a first mover, selected from the plurality of movers; the time to destination corresponds to a time for the first mover to arrive at the station position from a current position of the first mover; the first segment controller is further operative to transmit the time to destination to the process controller before the first mover arrives at the station position; and the process controller is operative to initiate execution of at least one preparation task for the device at the station position responsive to receiving the time to destination from the first segment controller and before the first mover arrives at the station position.