Routing Methodology

In an industry where inefficiency costs trillions and spreadsheets still dominate logistics planning, Fluent Cargo is reimagining how the world ships goods. Built on the belief that global trade deserves modern software, Fluent Cargo is on a mission to create the most intelligent, comprehensive freight routing and data platform on the planet.

A Global Home for Freight Information

Fluent Cargo is more than just a routing engine—it’s a technology platform that unifies every piece of data critical to moving cargo from one corner of the world to another. Whether it’s air, ocean, rail, or road, Fluent brings together schedules, terminals, carrier reliability, congestion data, and pricing into one seamless, user-centric platform. For the first time, logistics professionals can discover, compare, and plan multi-modal freight shipments with the ease and intelligence of a modern search engine.

Engineering Intelligence: The Routing Engine

What makes Fluent Cargo truly groundbreaking is its industry-specific routing engine. Existing technologies—such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Citymapper—are built for passengers, not pallets. Fluent’s AI-powered routing engine considers the real-world complexities of global logistics, such as port congestion, customs delays, and transfer incompatibilities between modes. Using a specialised combination of the Dijkstra and A* algorithms, as well as proprietary data partitioning methods, Fluent delivers accurate, industry-vetted routes in seconds—not hours.

At the heart of Fluent Cargo's technology lies a sophisticated multi-layered routing system that builds upon established algorithmic principles while implementing several key innovations:

1. Adaptive Graph Structure: Unlike traditional routing systems that rely on static network representations, Fluent constructs dynamic and adaptive transportation graphs where nodes represent logistics hubs (ports, airports, terminals) and edges represent available connections. These connections dynamically adjust based on real-time conditions, schedules, vehicle and port constraints .

2. Modified Dijkstra Implementation: While Dijkstra's algorithm provides the foundation for finding optimal paths, Fluent employs a customised implementation that incorporates numerous logistics specific conditions and weights. This allows the system to account for variations in transit times based on schedules, seasonal factors, and historical performance data.

Whether avoiding port delays in Los Angeles or routing time-sensitive cargo via the fastest transatlantic ship, Fluent adapts dynamically to deliver the optimal path. Users can even prioritize cargo-only routes, filter by preferred ports, or avoid high-risk areas with a few clicks.

Data: Built for Freight, Not Commuters

At the core of Fluent Cargo is Portall, a powerful internal data platform modelled after advanced architectural systems typically used in advanced game development—an Entity Component System (ECS). This flexible architecture allows Fluent to store, manipulate and query complex data sets like carrier schedules, vehicle specifications, terminal capabilities, and pricing structures, without large memory and data-processing overheads.

Where legacy systems like OpenStreetMaps and GIS standards struggle with the nuances of freight data, Portall excels—supporting everything from hierarchical geographic relationships to custom attributes for specialised cargo. The result? A living, adaptable freight database built for an industry in constant motion.

Empowering a Fragmented Industry

Global trade accounts for up to 12% of the world’s GDP, yet it lacks a unified platform to plan and manage the movement of goods. Fluent Cargo bridges this gap by offering a tool that empowers freight forwarders, manufacturers, and supply chain managers to make better, faster, and more informed decisions.

Research from consulting industry leaders confirms the urgent demand for digitization in the cargo industry. Our own research indicates that it can take up to 100 hours to receive a quote through traditional means, especially in the route planning stage —a staggering inefficiency that Fluent aims to eliminate. By standardizing and democratizing global freight data, Fluent Cargo reduces operational intensity, increases transparency, and unlocks scalable efficiencies for businesses worldwide.

Real Results, Global Impact

From Melbourne to Shenzhen, Ottawa to London, Fluent Cargo’s routing engine has already demonstrated its power—delivering accurate, diverse, and efficient routes in real-world scenarios. And while no software can yet claim perfection, Fluent regularly returns over 95% of the fastest possible routes across key trade lanes, with continuous improvement underway.

Moreover, its intelligent biases—like favouring high-traffic ports—are constantly being refined to strike the right balance between speed, reliability, and real-world constraints.

The Path Forward

Fluent Cargo isn't just another logistics tool—it’s the infrastructure for the future of global trade. As the platform evolves, it will integrate with booking systems, overlay situational data like piracy or natural disasters, and empower the workforce with tools that reflect the modern supply chain’s complexity.

In a trillion-dollar industry still stuck in the past, Fluent Cargo is pioneering the way forward—standardizing chaos, surfacing insights, and delivering new knowledge to every corner of the global logistics workforce.

Welcome to the new era of freight. Welcome to Fluent Cargo.