Free checklist · Logistics
The logistics automation checklist.
Your margins are thin enough — stop burning them on tasks a workflow can handle in seconds.
35%
cost reduction — industry average
42
Hrs/week at stake
$76,440
Annual waste, total
The checklist · 13 tasks
Tick every task your team still does by hand.
Hours and costs assume one person
at typical logistics wage rates.
/ 01 — Automate first — highest payback
Invoice reconciliation against manifests manually
FixUse AI in n8n to match carrier invoices to shipping manifests, flag discrepancies, and route exceptions for review.
5 hrs/wk · $9,100/yr
Shipment status updates emailed manually
FixUse n8n to auto-email clients at every tracking milestone by connecting to carrier APIs for real-time status data.
4 hrs/wk · $7,280/yr
Driver dispatch via phone call
FixBuild an n8n dispatch workflow that auto-assigns loads based on driver location and availability, sending instructions via app notification.
4 hrs/wk · $7,280/yr
Customs documentation from scratch
FixBuild an n8n workflow that auto-generates customs documents by pulling shipment details, HS codes, and compliance data.
4 hrs/wk · $7,280/yr
Client billing done weekly by finance
FixConnect your TMS to accounting via Make.com to auto-generate and send client invoices as shipments are completed.
4 hrs/wk · $7,280/yr
Carrier rate shopping one site at a time
FixBuild a Make.com workflow that queries multiple carrier APIs simultaneously and presents the best rate options instantly.
3 hrs/wk · $5,460/yr
Delivery exception notifications manually
FixUse Zapier to monitor carrier tracking feeds and auto-notify customers and operations when delivery exceptions occur.
3 hrs/wk · $5,460/yr
/ 02 — Automate next — steady gains
Damage claim filing via email chains
FixCreate a structured claim form with Make.com that routes claims to the carrier, tracks status, and notifies stakeholders.
3 hrs/wk · $5,460/yr
New driver onboarding paperwork by hand
FixUse n8n to automate driver onboarding with digital document collection, compliance verification, and training assignment.
3 hrs/wk · $5,460/yr
Warehouse receiving logged on paper
FixReplace paper logs with a mobile scanning app connected via Zapier to update inventory and notify relevant teams in real time.
3 hrs/wk · $5,460/yr
Proof of delivery filing by hand
FixUse Zapier to auto-file proof of delivery documents to the correct shipment record and notify the client on receipt.
2 hrs/wk · $3,640/yr
Fuel surcharge calculations in spreadsheets
FixBuild a Make.com workflow that pulls current fuel indices and auto-calculates surcharges applied to invoices.
2 hrs/wk · $3,640/yr
Route optimization by gut feel
FixIntegrate route optimization APIs via n8n to auto-generate optimal routes based on stops, traffic, and delivery windows.
2 hrs/wk · $3,640/yr
/ Total estimated waste
42 hrs/wk · $76,440/yr
3 quick wins
Build these first.
24 hrs/week recovered
across the set.
8 hrs/wk
Shipment Status Automation
Auto-email clients at every tracking milestone.
Ask us to build this →10 hrs/wk
Invoice Reconciliation Bot
Match carrier invoices to manifests, flag exceptions.
Ask us to build this →Keep exploring
/ Recommended services for logistics
/ Other industry checklists
Where we go from here
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