visibility technology

Failing in the last mile? The problem may be in the middle mile

The last mile of delivery has become such an important part of an e-commerce customer’s journey that many shippers and retailers forget about a key part of that journey: the middle mile.

Visibility – of shipments and assets – in the middle mile provides the connectivity that makes tracking in the final mile possible and ensures a happy customer.

“When one player hands off to another, there is often a lack of visibility there … so it isn’t only the consumer sitting at home waiting for a box of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/failing-in-the-last-mile-the-problem-may-be-in-the-middle-mile

Industry leaders chart future of supply chain visibility

At FourKites Visibility 2021, supply chain leaders gather to chart the future of visibility

Shopping has never been easier for the consumer. They can have products delivered within a few hours, the same day, the next day or in two days. They can shop in person, online and through marketplaces. They can pick up products in-store or have them delivered to their doorsteps.

All of this is fantastic for consumers, but it puts huge pressure on supply chains to meet those flexible expectations. Not only are supply chain professionals contending with the tall task of personalizing the delivery...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/industry-leaders-chart-future-of-supply-chain-visibility

Carrier scorecards represent next generation of visibility

Transportation industry suffers from too much of a good thing

Visibility is becoming more and more important in the logistics industry. Shippers naturally want to keep a close eye on their freight, and this instinct has only grown stronger in the face of pandemic-related uncertainty.

“Everybody wants to know where their freight is because there are such short lead times. Product availability is scarce due to the lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic, making every load a hot load,” said Mike Riccio, Leonard’s Express chief marketing officer. “If a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carrier-scorecards-represent-next-generation-of-visibility

More than a TMS, Alvys spares carriers from needing multiple software solutions

Logistics providers have one goal in mind: Ensure shipments arrive on time and in one piece. But it’s easier said than done, as growth can often be a double-edged sword. 

When demand surpasses the capabilities of a business, growing pains make it difficult to scale operations. This is the case for many carriers as well as shippers and 3PLs with growth in mind.

The juggling act of sourcing, fulfillment and management often distracts logistics providers from the business at hand, as each department...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/more-than-a-tms-alvys-spares-carriers-from-needing-multiple-software-solutions

Project44’s Preferred Telematics Program offers European carriers instant integration

To create a resilient supply chain, companies need visibility into every link of the chain, specifically the vehicles that provide transportation, whether operated by raw material suppliers, last-mile services or anything in between.  

Real-time visibility provider project44 announced on Thursday it has taken steps in Europe to provide a direct connection to the location of these vehicles by launching its Preferred Telematics Program.

“Project44 continues to lay the groundwork for the most...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/project44s-preferred-telematics-program-offers-european-carriers-instant-integration

Shared truckload transportation for high-volume LTL shippers

Transportation industry suffers from too much of a good thing

Consolidating freight moving in the same geographical direction is a long-standing operational challenge.  As e-commerce drives shipment sizes smaller, lead-times shorter and LTL prices inexorably higher, that challenge has become increasingly difficult and expensive for shippers with smaller shipment sizes. 

On Tuesday, legacy asset-light brokerage Smith Transportation announced that it has rebranded to iShared Transportation as it focuses on its tech-enabled signature service —  Shared...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shared-truckload-transportation-for-high-volume-ltl-shippers

40 years of carrier staying power in a boom and bust industry

The trucking industry is known for its labor challenges and rapid boom and bust cycles. When times are good and capacity is tight ⁠— like in today’s market ⁠— barriers are low for new entrants, which leads to a glut of capacity entering the market and an ultimate economic bust. 

During the month of June alone, 11,000 new trucking companies entered the industry. Often, those new entrants don’t have the business acumen to navigate the cyclical drop in rates and the financial pressures that come...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/40-years-of-carrier-staying-power-in-a-boom-and-bust-industry

Global shipping congestion calls for greater visibility

Capacity has just about reached its limit on the global stage as shippers and importers continue to brave exorbitant rates and ever-increasing tightness.

Third-party logistics services provider GEODIS echoed one U.K.-based forwarder’s sentiment that the “perfect storm” troubling ocean freight waters following the unprecedented Suez Canal blockage has only worsened. Rates continue to approach unsustainable levels on Asia-Europe lanes, which is hurting the freight’s movers and end consumers.

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/global-shipping-congestion-calls-for-greater-visibility

Loadsmith taps Parade to scale capacity management, deepen carrier relationships

Loadsmith ⁠— a fast-growing midmarket brokerage in Denver ⁠— has selected San Francisco-based Parade as a core technology partner to accelerate its capacity management and digital brokerage platform. 

To maintain its authentic customer and driver experience in the transition, Loadsmith has also selected Los Angeles-based branding agency La Visual to collaborate with the Parade architecture and create a cohesive Loadsmith-branded experience not just for carriers but for the internal carrier sales...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loadsmith-taps-parade-to-scale-capacity-management-deepen-carrier-relationships

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