Patent ID: 7292989

Claim:
A method for transporting goods comprising: (a) determining that a first set of goods, located at a first supplier, and a second set of goods, located at a second supplier, are desired at a plant during a plant time range, (b) estimating a plant shipment time including receiving data indicative of a weather condition said plant shipment time comprising a minimum and maximum time of travel between a cross dock location and the plant, (c) estimating a first cross dock shipment time, said first cross dock shipment time comprising a minimum and maximum time of travel between said first supplier and said cross dock location, (d) estimating a second cross dock shipment time, said second cross dock shipment time comprising a minimum and maximum time of travel between said second supplier and said cross dock location, (e) determining a first scheduled pickup time range based on said plant time range, said estimation of said plant shipment time, and said estimation of said first cross dock shipment time, (f) determining a second scheduled pickup time range based on said plant time range, said estimation of said plant shipment time, and said estimation of said second cross dock shipment time, (g) picking up said first set of goods from said first supplier during said first scheduled pickup time range, (h) delivering said first set of goods to said cross dock location, (i) picking up said second set of goods from said second supplier during said second scheduled pickup time range, (j) delivering said second set of goods to said cross dock location, (k) combining said first set of goods and said second sets of goods into a combination of goods, and (l) delivering said combination of goods to said plant during said plant time range.