Abstract: Transportation handoffs for increased network density are described herein. In an example, a computer system generates first data indicating a first candidate network path associated with transporting a first load of items between an origin and a destination within a network. The first candidate network path directly connects the origin and the destination. The computer system generates second data indicating a second candidate network path indirectly connecting the origin and the destination. The computer system generates a first input including the first data and the second data to an optimization model and a second input about a second load of items to the optimization model. The computer system determines an output of the optimization model indicating, for the first load, a selected network path a resource assignment per segment of the selected network path. The computer system causes, based on the output of the optimization model, utilization of transportation resources.