Live · as of 2026-08-23
30d $7.16M60d $17.28M90d $30.35M
Module 05 · Margin Surveillance

Cost & Margin Leakage

Every dollar of cost is posted to a leakage category with a preventable share, so avoidable spend is separated from structural cost. Lane margin is tracked against its own prior period to expose erosion that network averages hide.

Module question

Where is margin leaking, how much of it is avoidable, and which lanes are eroding fastest?

Data scope

1 of 1 source tables selected — the metrics, slippages and exposure below are built only from these. Changes are PIN-protected.

Locked

Every figure on this page is traceable — module totals expand into their component slippages, and each component opens the raw source rows it was computed from.

90-day exposure
$5.72M
$1.65M inside 30 days
Open slippages
12
3 critical · 8 repeat episodes
Avoidable share
$3.43M
Exposure removable with intervention
Largest single risk
$1.13M
Fuel Inefficiency · Network wide

Slippage board

Every detected slippage with cause, exposure ramp, owner and action.

CriticalCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Fuel Inefficiency — Network

Fuel Inefficiency · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$1.13M
60% preventable
Current vs baseline
$245,457 vs $54,266
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+352.3%
Exposure ramp
30d $290K · 60d $666K · 90d $1.13M
Why it is happening
Fuel Efficiency — MPG has fallen below baseline across the fleet while idle hours climbed, so every mile is burning more fuel than the rate assumed.
Downstream impact
Cost per mile and lane margin across the whole network
Recommended action
Enforce idle shutdown on the worst 20 tractors and re-baseline fuel surcharge on affected lanes.
Accountable owner
Fleet Manager
Exposure today $191,191
CriticalCost & Margin Leakage

Excess Inventory Carrying Cost — Network

Excess Inventory Carrying Cost · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$1.04M
45% preventable
Current vs baseline
$288,131 vs $204,950
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+40.6%
Exposure ramp
30d $308K · 60d $654K · 90d $1.04M
Why it is happening
Order Backlog — Unshipped orders are holding inventory past its planned dwell, so carrying cost accrues on stock already sold.
Downstream impact
Working capital tied up and space lost for inbound receiving
Recommended action
Clear the aged backlog at the two worst DCs before accepting new inbound appointments.
Accountable owner
Distribution Manager
Exposure today $83,181
CriticalCost & Margin Leakage

Underutilized Fleet — Network

Underutilized Fleet · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$723K
60% preventable
Current vs baseline
$216,904 vs $190,688
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+13.7%
Exposure ramp
30d $225K · 60d $466K · 90d $723K
Why it is happening
Fleet Utilization — Tractors are sitting between loads, so fixed cost is spread across fewer revenue miles.
Downstream impact
Capacity available for peak and cost per load
Recommended action
Rebalance domiciles toward the two terminals holding surplus tractors and release the rest to spot coverage.
Accountable owner
Fleet Manager
Exposure today $26,216
HighCost & Margin Leakage

Expedited Freight — Network

Expedited Freight · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$608K
75% preventable
Current vs baseline
$181,120 vs $142,451
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+27.1%
Exposure ramp
30d $188K · 60d $391K · 90d $608K
Why it is happening
Order Cycle Time — Late order release is forcing premium-rate recovery moves that were not in the plan.
Downstream impact
Margin per load and carrier relationship on premium lanes
Recommended action
Restrict expedite authority to SLA-critical accounts and route the rest through the next scheduled departure.
Accountable owner
Transportation Manager
Exposure today $38,669
HighCost & Margin Leakage

Claims & Damage — Network

Claims & Damage · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$427K
70% preventable
Current vs baseline
$135,447 vs $118,914
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+13.9%
Exposure ramp
30d $138K · 60d $280K · 90d $427K
Why it is happening
Handling Quality — Damage claims are rising with dock congestion and overtime handling, when crews are working outside normal pace.
Downstream impact
Customer trust, credit notes and repeat claim exposure
Recommended action
Audit handling at the top three claim-generating docks and retrain night crews on load securement.
Accountable owner
Customer Service Manager
Exposure today $16,533
HighCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Low-Margin Lanes — Network

Low-Margin Lanes · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$406K
50% preventable
Current vs baseline
$106,113 vs $63,736
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+66.5%
Exposure ramp
30d $116K · 60d $251K · 90d $406K
Why it is happening
Lane Margin Erosion — Cost per mile on a subset of lanes has risen faster than contracted rate, pushing them under target margin.
Downstream impact
Blended network margin and renewal economics
Recommended action
Reprice or exit the bottom decile of lanes at the next rate review; hold volume only where backhaul pairs.
Accountable owner
Transportation Manager
Exposure today $42,377
HighCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Maintenance Overruns — Network

Maintenance Overruns · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$388K
60% preventable
Current vs baseline
$97,766 vs $53,601
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+82.4%
Exposure ramp
30d $109K · 60d $238K · 90d $388K
Why it is happening
PM Compliance — Missed preventive-maintenance intervals are converting into larger unplanned repairs at higher cost per work order.
Downstream impact
Unplanned downtime and breakdown cost
Recommended action
Recover the PM backlog inside two weeks, prioritising tractors over 30 days past interval.
Accountable owner
Maintenance Manager
Exposure today $44,165
HighCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Breakdown Cost — Network

Breakdown Cost · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$317K
70% preventable
Current vs baseline
$81,134 vs $50,335
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+61.2%
Exposure ramp
30d $89K · 60d $195K · 90d $317K
Why it is happening
PM Compliance — Unplanned failures track the PM backlog with a two-to-four week lag, and each event carries recovery plus downtime cost.
Downstream impact
Load coverage, driver hours and service reliability
Recommended action
Ground the repeat-failure units for full inspection instead of returning them to service after each roadside repair.
Accountable owner
Maintenance Manager
Exposure today $30,799
HighCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Driver Overtime — Network

Driver Overtime · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$284K
55% preventable
Current vs baseline
$55,459 vs $1,402
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+3854.9%
Exposure ramp
30d $69K · 60d $163K · 90d $284K
Why it is happening
Detention Hours — Drivers are burning duty hours waiting at docks, pushing the tail of each shift into overtime.
Downstream impact
Driver retention, hours-of-service capacity and load coverage
Recommended action
Cap driver wait at 90 minutes with an automatic drop-and-hook fallback at congested sites.
Accountable owner
Transportation Manager
Exposure today $54,057
ModerateCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Warehouse Overtime — Network

Warehouse Overtime · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$277K
70% preventable
Current vs baseline
$75,137 vs $49,916
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+50.5%
Exposure ramp
30d $81K · 60d $173K · 90d $277K
Why it is happening
Labor Productivity — Units per labour hour has dropped, so the same volume is being cleared on premium hours.
Downstream impact
Cost per order and crew fatigue-driven error rate
Recommended action
Re-slot the fastest-moving SKUs and shift headcount to the pick wave that is running over plan.
Accountable owner
Warehouse Manager
Exposure today $25,221
ModerateCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

Returns & Redelivery — Network

Returns & Redelivery · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$84K
70% preventable
Current vs baseline
$18,289 vs $6,345
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+188.2%
Exposure ramp
30d $22K · 60d $49K · 90d $84K
Why it is happening
Delivery Failure — Failed first attempts are generating a second full move at no additional revenue.
Downstream impact
Cost per delivery and customer SLA position
Recommended action
Confirm receiving windows for the accounts generating repeat failures before dispatch.
Accountable owner
Customer Service Manager
Exposure today $11,944
WatchCost & Margin LeakageRepeat episode

SLA Penalties — Network

SLA Penalties · Network wide · detected 2026-08-23

90-day exposure
$41K
80% preventable
Current vs baseline
$10,595 vs $5,636
Trend (21d vs 60d)
+88.0%
Exposure ramp
30d $12K · 60d $25K · 90d $41K
Why it is happening
OTIF Breach — Contractual penalty accruals are tracking the OTIF decline on tier-one accounts.
Downstream impact
Net revenue and contract renewal terms
Recommended action
Prioritise at-risk accounts in load sequencing and notify account managers before the measurement period closes.
Accountable owner
Customer Service Manager
Exposure today $4,959

Cost leakage ledger

Monthly run-rate by category versus baseline, with projected exposure and avoidable share

CategoryOwnerMonthly nowvs baseline30d60d90dAvoidableTrendEvidence
Empty MilesDispatch Manager$831,956▼ 9.6%$803K$1.55M$2.24M$1.45M
Excess Inventory Carrying CostDistribution Manager$288,131▲ 40.6%$308K$654K$1.04M$467K
Fuel InefficiencyFleet Manager$245,457▲ 352.3%$290K$666K$1.13M$677K
Underutilized FleetFleet Manager$216,904▲ 13.7%$225K$466K$723K$434K
Accessorial ChargesTransportation Manager$182,883▼ 9.5%$176K$339K$489K$245K
Expedited FreightTransportation Manager$181,120▲ 27.1%$188K$391K$608K$456K
Claims & DamageCustomer Service Manager$135,447▲ 13.9%$138K$280K$427K$299K
Low-Margin LanesTransportation Manager$106,113▲ 66.5%$116K$251K$406K$203K
Maintenance OverrunsMaintenance Manager$97,766▲ 82.4%$109K$238K$388K$233K
Breakdown CostMaintenance Manager$81,134▲ 61.2%$89K$195K$317K$222K
Warehouse OvertimeWarehouse Manager$75,137▲ 50.5%$81K$173K$277K$194K
Driver OvertimeTransportation Manager$55,459▲ 3854.9%$69K$163K$284K$156K
Returns & RedeliveryCustomer Service Manager$18,289▲ 188.2%$22K$49K$84K$59K
DetentionDock Manager$17,552▪ 0.0%$22K$51K$88K$70K
SLA PenaltiesCustomer Service Manager$10,595▲ 88.0%$12K$25K$41K$33K

Lane margin erosion

Top 15 lanes by 90-day margin exposure

LaneModeDistanceLoads 30dRevenue 30dMargin %PriorΔ90d exposureEvidence
Memphis → Phoenix, AZDedicated1583 mi9$32K4.4%24.0%▼ 19.5%$19K
Fontana → Tulsa, OKTL836 mi23$39K-1.2%14.7%▼ 15.8%$19K
Fontana → Kansas City, MOTL716 mi20$34K5.8%22.3%▼ 16.6%$17K
Memphis → Denver, COTL1465 mi11$31K-4.0%13.8%▼ 17.8%$16K
Reno → Charlotte, NCTL1363 mi10$28K0.7%17.0%▼ 16.3%$14K
Columbus → Baltimore, MDTL1143 mi10$28K12.1%27.0%▼ 14.9%$13K
Fontana → Las Vegas, NVTL1004 mi12$27K14.7%29.4%▼ 14.7%$12K
Reno → Birmingham, ALDedicated1329 mi8$27K15.5%30.5%▼ 15.1%$12K
Reno → Sacramento, CATL1421 mi7$21K1.3%17.6%▼ 16.3%$10K
Reno → Hartford, CTTL994 mi7$15K-3.1%18.7%▼ 21.8%$10K
Atlanta → Madison, WITL432 mi13$17K21.6%40.3%▼ 18.7%$10K
Fontana → Baltimore, MDDedicated357 mi21$19K12.3%28.9%▼ 16.7%$10K
Memphis → Birmingham, ALTL706 mi6$9K-6.0%27.2%▼ 33.2%$9K
Reno → Seattle, WADedicated1557 mi6$20K6.8%21.8%▼ 15.0%$9K
Memphis → Omaha, NEDedicated860 mi10$16K-6.6%12.0%▼ 18.7%$9K

Accountability

Who owns the exposure in this module.

OwnerSlippages90-day exposureTop issue
Fleet Manager2$1.85M
CriticalFuel Inefficiency — Network
Transportation Manager3$1.30M
HighExpedited Freight — Network
Distribution Manager1$1.04M
CriticalExcess Inventory Carrying Cost — Network
Maintenance Manager2$705K
HighMaintenance Overruns — Network
Customer Service Manager3$552K
HighClaims & Damage — Network
Warehouse Manager1$277K
ModerateWarehouse Overtime — Network