FREIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: LOGISTICS 1, VEHICLE AND DRIVER MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANACE MANAGEMENT, SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT, WAREHOUSING

Abstract

The freight industry continues to face challenges in optimizing logistics operations, including vehicle and driver management, timely maintenance, scheduling efficiency, and warehouse coordination. This capstone project, "Freight Management System: Logistics 1," offers a comprehensive digital solution aimed at improving operational performance, especially for small and emerging freight companies. The system targets critical areas such as inbound and outbound processing, load planning optimization, real-time vehicle tracking with automated alerts, and enhanced supply chain visibility. The Freight Management System was developed using the Agile Scrum methodology, enabling iterative progress through defined sprint cycles and fostering close collaboration among designated roles, including the Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers, and Researchers. A Microservices Architecture was strategically implemented to promote modular scalability, allowing independent deployment and maintenance of core services such as Vehicle Management, Receiving and Dispatching, and Load Planning. To streamline deployment and ensure rapid, reliable updates, a DevOps approach was integrated through Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines utilizing Git and GitHub.  Comprehensive requirements gathering was conducted through stakeholder interviews, direct workflow observation, and analysis of existing documentation, ensuring that the system aligned closely with real operational needs. The technology stack was selected for its efficiency and scalability: Node.js with Express.js powered the backend, React.js was used for a dynamic and responsive frontend, and MongoDB provided a flexible NoSQL database solution. Security was prioritized through JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and bcrypt, safeguarding user authentication and sensitive operational data. The project culminated in the development of a robust Freight Management System featuring integrated modules for vehicle and driver management, maintenance scheduling, dispatch coordination, and warehousing operations. Notable outcomes include the deployment of a scalable, modular system architecture supported by RESTful APIs for seamless integration with external services. The system ensures secure user authentication through JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and bcrypt encryption and is accompanied by comprehensive technical documentation. Key functionalities include real-time shipment tracking, automatic tracking number generation, and intelligent load planning to maximize cost-efficiency and capacity utilization. With its user-friendly interface and flexible design, the system is well-positioned to support future expansion and continuous improvement. This Freight Management System revolutionizes logistics operations for small to medium-sized freight companies by addressing challenges such as manual inefficiencies, limited real-time visibility, and inefficient resource utilization. Built using Agile Scrum methodology and a Microservices Architecture, the system offers a modular, scalable solution that streamlines scheduling, shipment tracking, and maintenance workflows. Through intelligent automation, it enhances operational efficiency, reduces overhead costs, improves service delivery, and empowers data-driven decision-making.