Published 20 Jul 2023
What is Logistics?
Logistics is the process of acquiring, storing, and transporting goods. In supply chains, logistics acts as the bridge between manufacturers and customers. The end goal of logistics is to ensure that customers receive orders on time and without any defects. To achieve this goal, supply chain managers use logistics audit checklists to inspect materials handling, storage systems, and order processing. These checklists help ensure that logistics audits are as accurate and comprehensive as possible.
In this article
- Importance of Logistics Audits
- Scope of Logistics Audits
- What is a Transport Audit?
- Importance of Transport Audits
- Why Use SafetyCulture for Transport and Logistics?
- Featured Transport and Logistics Templates
Importance of Logistics Audits
The main purpose of logistics audits in organizations is to assess the organization’s operational efficiency. Logistics audits are great opportunities for organizations to spot and correct weak points in the supply chain. They empower everyone in the organization because they provide knowledge and insight into the organization’s performance. By analyzing information collected from these audits, members gain a better understanding of how a team or a department is contributing to or hindering the organization’s success.
Scope of Logistics Audits
The scope of a logistics audit depends on the supply chain’s structure and complexity. While it may differ for each organization, it will most likely include a fleet inspection and a warehouse inspection. Since mobility is a key component of a logistics business, fleet inspections are critical in reducing vehicle downtime. Warehouse inspections are also important because improper storage can result in damaged goods.
What is a Transport Audit?
While a transport audit can be part of a logistics audit, a transport audit focuses more on the individual vehicles within a fleet. A logistics audit is aimed at the organization’s overall management of goods, while a transport audit is aimed specifically at the organization’s fleet management. As such, a transport audit is primarily focused on vehicle inspections. A transport audit helps in:
- capturing vehicle defects and damage before service;
- early detection of issues to reduce repair costs; and
- ensuring deliveries are quick and accident-free.
Importance of Transport Audits
Transport audits help build a roadworthy and efficient fleet by encouraging drivers to take responsibility for their vehicles. Conducting transport audits frequently trains drivers to immediately identify issues and take steps to resolve them. Transport audits also help fleet managers enforce compliance with safety standards and improve operational efficiency by uncovering common weaknesses.
To get drivers on board with audits, fleet managers can use transport audit templates that will help simplify the inspection process. These templates are pre-made lists of common vehicle issues. They can be easily shared with vehicle operators who can then customize the template to fit specific vehicle inspection requirements. By using transport audit templates, fleet managers are empowering drivers and officers to identify mechanical problems before commencing their journey.
Why Use SafetyCulture for Transport and Logistics?
SafetyCulture helps ensure the safety of your operations, improve efficiency, mitigate risks, and prevent the loss of life and property with customizable checklists. With SafetyCulture, you can do the following:
- Conduct detailed fleet and warehouse inspections
- Schedule and monitor vehicle inspections and maintenance
- Capture and annotate photo evidence of damage to communicate repair and maintenance needs
- Flag urgent issues and instantly assign corrective tasks to team members with collaborative actions
- Set priority levels and due dates to easily triage concerns
- Generate reports with a single tap and share them with anyone in your organization
- Keep reports safe and secure in one place with unlimited cloud storage
Get a logistics audit checklist PDF and a transport audit report for free with SafetyCulture. Conduct daily pre-trip vehicle inspections, create accident reports, and check the safety of warehouses with our featured templates.
Featured Transport and Logistics Templates
Vehicle Inspection Checklist
You can use this customizable vehicle inspection template for pre trip inspections or for identifying vehicle defects and mechanical issues. Inspect the brake system, coupling devices, engine operation, exhaust system, and other critical vehicle components. Provide your observations and recommendations and rate the vehicle’s overall condition with “Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, or High Risk.” With SafetyCulture, you can assign tasks for immediate action and take photo evidence of any issues found.
Vehicle Accident Report Checklist
Use this Vehicle Accident Report to gather all important information surrounding a vehicular accident. Take photos and enter other details including date of the accident, date and time of investigation, and geo tag the exact location of the accident. Enter details about the people involved or injured in the accident and record witness statements. Draw diagrams in case of collisions for added detail. Capture photo evidence of injuries and record the exact location of the accident being reported. Monitor trends with Analytics and analyze data collected to mitigate risks of accidents.
Driver Assessment Form
Conduct your driver assessments with this template to help recognize best practice behaviors and identify bad driving practices. Enter basic information about the driver and observe if pre-start checks are done correctly. Rate the driver’s engine management, driving technique, and professionalism. Complete the assessment with your final rating of the driver. SafetyCulture can work offline and generate reports anytime anywhere using a tablet, iPad, or mobile device.
Driver Log Sheet Template
A driver log sheet template is a tool used by heavy vehicle or truck drivers to provide accurate information for their fleet manager's proper recordkeeping. This template is built according to the guidelines of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT).
Use this driver log template to input basic details such as the name of the carrier, main office address, home terminal address, your name, employee number, and date. Next, log your off duty, sleeper berth, driving and on duty (not driving) start time, end time, where changes occurred, and total hours. Finally, send the driver log sheet with these key information, including photos of the truck’s license plate, total mileage, receipts, tickets, and your signature.
Drug and Alcohol Test Consent Form Checklist
You can use this template when conducting drug and alcohol testing for your drivers. Record the driver’s consent via electronic signature, select which drug/drug class is going to be tested, and document the alcohol and drug testing results. Set the permission settings of SafetyCulture to limit users who can generate and submit reports. Take advantage of unlimited cloud storage when you upgrade to a premium subscription.
Warehouse Safety Checklist
This Warehouse Safety Checklist can help identify possible risks present during warehouse operations. Evaluate the warehouse’s location, exterior and interior dock areas, equipment, and sanitation. This template also covers training programs and the implementation of emergency and safety procedures. Inspectors can provide recommendations and assign actions to mitigate risks in the warehouse premises.
Logistics Audit Checklist
This logistics audit checklist is converted by Schneider Electric using SafetyCulture. Schneider Electric is a multinational corporation specializing in electrical equipment. This logistics template has been created to assess the control points based on observation. It is used to identify if employees are following logistics best practices.
FL Flight Paperwork Checklist
You can use this Aircraft Ground Handling Checklist to help with assessing the operations and control systems of ground handling services. SafetyCulture templates can be used on mobile devices and are customizable according to your needs.
Aircraft Ground Handling Checklist
Fleet Vehicle Condition Inspection Checklist
You can use this checklist to inspect the condition of each vehicle in your fleet or company vehicles. Enter the vehicle’s and driver’s details and record observations on the exterior, engine compartment, and interior area of the vehicle. You can take photos with this template and generate your reports anytime anywhere.
Injury, Accident, Incident Report Checklist
You can use this template to report injuries, accidents, or incidents. Take photos as evidences and include all important details surrounding the event. Include your analysis of the incident and cite possible contributing factors that may have led to the incident. Lastly, rate the possibility of recurrence. Monitor trends with Analytics and help mitigate recurrence of accidents.
Audit Checklist for the Transportation Industry
The transportation industry can use this pre-existing template to perform preventative maintenance on their vehicles. Aside from the primary information per audit, this checklist reviews vehicle parts and their status including lights, tires, steering, and vehicle fluid such as antifreeze, coolant, and oil. It also helps ensure that the battery, air filters, wipers, and spark plugs are in good working condition.
