Whether you’re an eCommerce retailer, a distributor, or a national enterprise, understanding how last mile carriers operate (and selecting the right one) can be the key to efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.

What’s a Last Mile Carrier?

The last mile carrier or final mile carrier is the one who handles the last stretch of a delivery getting your parcel from a warehouse or depot straight to the customer's door. It sounds simple but this part of the journey is usually the most complicated. It's time heavy and often the most expensive bit of the supply chain.

In Australia, where deliveries may span from major urban centres to remote regional communities, getting this part right takes a lot of coordination. Unlike big freight runs this is about weaving through suburbs hitting specific drop-off times and keeping up with customers who want updates by the minute and next-day shipping as standard.

Why the Last Mile Matters

Last mile delivery is quickly becoming one of the biggest challenges for businesses across Australia thanks to the boom in online shopping changing customer habits and rising expectations. Here’s why this final stage is critical:

• Customer experience lives and dies here: Even if your supply chain is flawless up to this point, a late or missed delivery can damage your reputation.
• It’s where inefficiencies hide: Traffic congestion, failed delivery attempts, and a lack of route optimisation can drive up costs.
• It’s increasingly tech-driven: Customers now expect real-time tracking, proactive notifications, and delivery options tailored to their schedules.

So this last part of the delivery is a moment where your brand really shows up and becomes visible.

Challenges for Australian Businesses

Australian businesses face unique hurdles when it comes to final mile carrier delivery:

• Geographic vastness: Covering both metro areas and regional towns efficiently requires a diverse carrier network.
• Labour and fuel costs: These impact profitability, especially in areas where economies of scale are hard to achieve.
• Customer expectations: Shoppers now expect visibility and flexibility, putting pressure on systems that lack the right technology or partnerships.

This is where having the right freight manager (also called a freight broker) in your corner can be a real game changer.

How Freight Managers Help Optimise the Last Mile

A good freight manager does more than just link you with a delivery service. They help build a delivery system that fits your business and your customers. At TIG Freight that’s exactly what we do.

Here’s how a freight manager can improve last mile performance:

• Access to a national multi-carrier network: You’re not stuck with just one carrier. We pull together the right mix so you get better coverage and better rates
• Technology-led visibility: Our OpenFreight platform lets you track in real time send out branded notifications and keep tabs on how everything’s performing
• Scalable delivery options: Whether you’re shipping bulk B2B orders or small parcels we find the right carrier setup for your size and destination needs

With TIG Freight you’re not guessing which last mile option works best. You’re choosing based on data performance and a bit of expert advice.

Why Choose TIG Freight?

TIG Freight is one of the top freight managers in the country. Here’s what you get when you work with us:

• A trusted carrier network with extensive last mile coverage across Australia
• A proprietary platform (OpenFreight) designed to integrate seamlessly into your ERP, WMS or TMS
• Transparent pricing, proactive support, and performance reporting that puts you in control

Whether you’re looking to improve delivery timeframes, reduce failed drop-offs, or simply gain visibility into your freight operations, TIG Freight can help you take control of the final mile.

Ready to master your last mile logistics?

Reach out to TIG Freight today and discover how we can build a smarter, faster, and more customer-friendly delivery experience – end to end.