--- title: "Back to the Good Old Days of Doorstep Milk Delivery Services" id: "3796" type: "post" slug: "back-to-the-good-old-days-of-doorstep-milk-delivery" published_at: "2020-08-12T15:08:35+00:00" modified_at: "2025-08-05T15:16:52+00:00" url: "https://locus.sh/blogs/back-to-the-good-old-days-of-doorstep-milk-delivery/" markdown_url: "https://locus.sh/blogs/back-to-the-good-old-days-of-doorstep-milk-delivery.md" excerpt: "By 2027, the United States will manufacture 12 million metric tonnes of milk (26 pounds). This will be greater than what the US domestic market will consume. – McKinsey & Company report, 2019 Key Takeaways Since the start of the..." taxonomy_category: - "Delivery Experience" - "Last Mile Delivery Optimization" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Cold Chain Logistics" - "Home Delivery" - "Last-mile Delivery Challenges" - "Last-mile Delivery Optimization" - "Logistics Automation" - "Logistics Optimization" - "Logistics Planning" - "Refrigerated Logistics" --- #### [Delivery Experience](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/delivery-experience/) , [Last Mile Delivery Optimization](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/last-mile-delivery-optimization/) # Back to the Good Old Days of Doorstep Milk Delivery Services [Lakshmi D](/author/lakshmilocussh/) Aug 12, 2020 5 mins read *By 2027, the United States will manufacture 12 million metric tonnes of milk (26 pounds). This will be greater than what the US domestic market will consume. – McKinsey & Company report, 2019* ## Key Takeaways - The COVID-19 pandemic has revived interest in doorstep milk delivery services, with cities like Philadelphia experiencing significant growth in hyperlocal milk deliveries since June 2020. - Time-sensitive dairy logistics face multiple challenges including strict delivery windows, temperature control requirements, and increasing transportation costs across collection, testing, and processing stages. - Milk production per cow has increased by 32% over twenty years, reaching 23,396 pounds in 2019, creating greater pressure on efficient distribution systems. - Locus’s route optimization and real-time tracking software helps milk delivery companies reduce transportation costs while maintaining product quality through efficient route planning and delivery monitoring. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, chaos has ensued in the milk supply chain. But the pandemic has also created a renewed interest in doorstep milk delivery services. ## Redefining Hyperlocal Milk Deliveries Milk deliveries started during the 1700s in the United States. Back then, there were no refrigeration facilities. A fresh milk bottle was delivered at the doorstep every morning. World War II changed the face of milk home delivery. Refrigeration and pasteurization technologies increased the shelf life of milk products. This change resulted in the growth of supermarkets and the increasing use of plastic for storing milk, thereby making milk buying simple. Similarly, the Coronavirus pandemic has thrown the spotlight back on milk deliveries. With stores battling milk shortage, there is a rising demand for doorstep milk deliveries. Philadelphia, for example, has experienced a boom in hyperlocal milk deliveries since June 2020. https://locus.sh/blogs/how-to-build-business-around-a-hyperlocal-ondemand-delivery-model ## What is dairy logistics / milk run logistics? Dairy logistics involves moving dairy products like milk, cheese, and so on to destinations without degrading its quality. The ultimate goal of milk products logistics is to come up with a process that can deliver these limited shelf life products seamlessly. ## Challenges in the Milk Delivery Sector Milk delivery companies face numerous challenges in their logistics. These challenges extend across all stages of the product journey. ### Time: Time is the most crucial factor for successful milk deliveries.. Milk goes through different stages—collection, testing, and processing— before it reaches customers. Delays in delivery can cripple the supply chain and affect customer experience. ### Distance: Distance is also a crucial component of milk deliveries. Milk must be delivered over a fixed distance within the desired time frame. The inability to cover the distance within a prescribed time can increase costs and result in spoilage. ### Vehicle Capacity Vehicle capacity is another critical challenge for milk deliveries. Delivery vehicles for milk should have the necessary equipment to keep it safe and fresh for consumption. Milk is highly sensitive to temperature. Hence firms should leverage [cold-chain logistics](https://locus.sh/blogs/refrigerated-logistics-becomes-a-mainstay-in-grocery-deliveries/) all the way from collection points to selling at retail stores. ### Dynamic On-ground Conditions Milk is sourced from dairy farms, tested for various properties, processed, and finally sent for delivery. Even a small change across the logistics chain could lead to delay and in turn, a negative customer experience and loss of revenue. ### Increasing Transportation Costs *Milk produced per cow in pounds increased from about 17,763 in 1999 to 23,396 in 2019. – US Department of Agriculture.* The rise in demand and increased production of milk has also increased transportation costs. The increased transportation costs result from: - Storage costs - High driver costs - Fuel used - Hours spent in deliveries - Distance traveled Cutting the transportation cost is the ultimate aim for all companies in this space. ## How can technology facilitate efficient farm fresh milk home delivery services? ### Route Optimization: From milk collection to milk retailing Milk collection is the first step where logistics is involved in milk delivery. Route optimization software helps milk delivery companies create an efficient allocation schedule for forecasted and ad-hoc orders. It enables them to plan efficient routes and [vehicle fleet mix](https://locus.sh/products/trackiq/) for collection of orders based on demand. Also, it automates vehicle allocation based on its capacity and driver skill sets. [Route planning software](https://locus.sh/route-optimization/route-optimization-software/) also comes in handy when milk is delivered to retail outlets. There may be a sudden increase in demand for milk in some outlets, and some outlets will demand less milk. A dynamic route planning software quickly accommodates even last-minute changes. It reduces the time taken for deliveries and also the distance traveled thereby minimizing cost and delivery workload for drivers. ### On-ground notifications and alerts Real-time tracking is necessary for milk delivery not only from a delivery perspective but also to minimize damage. Real-time tracking software helps milk run logistics companies obtain real-time feedback on loading, unloading time, waiting time, etc, that can help them manage and optimize their logistics. #### Conclusion Whether it is milk deliveries to doorstep or milk deliveries to retail outlets, SaaS-based logistics technology is the need of the hour. Efficiency and visibility are critical to ensure seamless deliveries. Route planning software from ***Locus****enables****Milk Delivery Services***companies attain higher efficiency by reducing the distance traveled, improving flexibility, and providing visibility. Locus’ [real-time tracking software](https://locus.sh/products/trackiq/) tracks the routes traveled, driver performance, delivery delays, waiting time, etc. Its on-ground insights help milk run logistics companies rectify errors and maximize efficiency. **References** 1. [Philadelphia.cbslocal.com](https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/06/17/doorstep-dairy-milkman-comeback-coronavirus-pandemic/) 2. [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/194935/quantity-of-milk-produced-per-cow-in-the-us-since-1999/) 3. [Mckinsey](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/a-winning-growth-formula-for-dairy#:~:text=In%20dairy%2C%20small%20and%20medium,%2C%20respectively%20(Exhibit%204)) MEET THE AUTHOR Lakshmi D Lakshmi Narashimman is one of the senior writers at Locus. He is a voracious reader and a passionate writer who loves making complex aspects sound simple. ### Related Tags: [Cold Chain Logistics](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/cold-chain-logistics/) [Home Delivery](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/home-delivery/) [Last-mile Delivery Challenges](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/last-mile-delivery-challenges/) [Last-mile Delivery Optimization](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/last-mile-delivery-optimization/) [Logistics Automation](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/logistics-automation/) [Logistics Optimization](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/logistics-optimization/) [Logistics Planning](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/logistics/) [Refrigerated Logistics](https://locus.sh/blogs/tagged/refrigerated-logistics/) [https://locus.sh/blogs/india-back-on-the-ecommerce-sales-bandwagon/](https://locus.sh/blogs/india-back-on-the-ecommerce-sales-bandwagon/) #### [News](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/news-en/) ## [India Back on the E-commerce Sales Bandwagon](https://locus.sh/blogs/india-back-on-the-ecommerce-sales-bandwagon/) [Team Locus](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/team-locus/) Aug 7, 2020 The mega E-commerce sales events will help sellers push their locked inventory and help brands in non-essential categories get back on track. [Read more](https://locus.sh/blogs/india-back-on-the-ecommerce-sales-bandwagon/) [https://locus.sh/blogs/towards-unified-indian-logistics-with-data-science-and-ai/](https://locus.sh/blogs/towards-unified-indian-logistics-with-data-science-and-ai/) #### [Supply Chain Optimization](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/supply-chain-optimization/) ## [Towards Unified Indian Logistics with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence](https://locus.sh/blogs/towards-unified-indian-logistics-with-data-science-and-ai/) [Shweta Sarma](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/shwetasarma/) Aug 13, 2020 Key Takeaways In a panel discussion on ‘Data in Coronavirus Times’ hosted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant stated that the government should actively share important information to help researchers, medical representatives, and the country’s public to successfully fight the pandemic. “The government needs to actively […] [Read more](https://locus.sh/blogs/towards-unified-indian-logistics-with-data-science-and-ai/) ## Back to the Good Old Days of Doorstep Milk Delivery Services - Share - [Print](javascript:window.print()) - [Download](#) - [Schedule a Demo](https://locus.sh/schedule-demo/) ### Is your team spending more time on fixing logistics plan than running the operation? - Agentic transportation management from order intake to freight settlement - Route optimization built on 250+ real-world constraints - AI-driven dispatch with automatic execution handling 20%Cost Reduction 66%Faster Planning Cycles [Schedule a demo](/schedule-demo/) Insights Worth Your Time #### [General](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/general/) ## [Locus 2026 US Consumer Survey: Generative AI isn’t Just Changing How Consumers Shop, it’s Breaking the Demand Patterns US Retail Was Built On](https://locus.sh/blogs/generative-ai-shopping-effect-retail-fulfillment-operations-locus-q2-2026-consumer-survey/) [Ishan Bhattacharya](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/ishan_locus/) May 29, 2026 #### [General](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/general/) ## [Embedded vs Bolted-On AI: The Architecture Question European Logistics Buyers Are Asking](https://locus.sh/blogs/embedded-vs-bolted-on-ai-european-logistics-platform-architecture-business-benefits/) [Aseem Sinha](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/aseem_locus/) May 21, 2026 #### [General](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/general/) ## [Hybrid Fleet Management: How Owned, 3PL, Gig, ICE, and EV Capacity Actually Operate at Most Enterprises](https://locus.sh/blogs/three-workforce-fleet-reality-owned-3pl-gig-drivers/) [Aseem Sinha](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/aseem_locus/) May 7, 2026 #### [General](https://locus.sh/blogs/category/general/) ## [US Returns Hit $850 Billion in 2025: Why US Retailers Are Restructuring Reverse Logistics in 2026](https://locus.sh/blogs/850-billion-us-returns-ai-routing-reverse-logistics-2026/) [Ishan Bhattacharya](https://locus.sh/blogs/author/ishan_locus/) May 7, 2026