A transport system. The transport system comprises a first interbay
component, a second interbay component, a plurality of intrabay
components, and a route controller. The first and second interbay
components transport the vehicles between the tool bays. Each of the
intrabay components, linked with the second interbay component,
transports the vehicles within one of the tool bays. Additionally, the
intrabay component does not link with the first interbay component
directly. The route controller estimates a transport cost for
transporting the vehicle via the second interbay device, and determines
whether the vehicle is to be transported via the first or second interbay
component according to the estimated transport cost.