Abstract: A method includes receiving an order for materials, analyzing the order to obtain selected order characteristics, executing a query in a database containing a history of orders to find previous orders having similar characteristics, and determining an estimated transit time for the order as function of the previous orders having similar characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a data storage device which stores at least one route graph, the at least one route graph describing a plurality of route paths between a plurality of locations, wherein at least one route path in the at least one route graph comprises at least two consecutive direct routes connected by a cross-docking location, the at least one route path connecting a first location with a second location, the cross-docking location in combination with the connected at least two direct routes building up a cross-docking route; the route graph comprising at least one cross-docking route; wherein the apparatus determines at least one transportation route from a source location to a destination location using at least one cross-docking route, a source location and a destination location, the at least one cross-docking route describing at least one of a local graph of direct routes and a global graph of direct routes.

Abstract: A method of splitting a line item, includes storing a first criteria, for splitting the line item into a plurality of deliveries, and a second criteria. The method also includes generating the plurality of deliveries according to the first criteria. The method can also include determining if the line item satisfies the second criteria. The method can further include generating the plurality of deliveries when the line item satisfies the second criteria.