Technology

Inside this edition: Prospecting gets creative; size matters in final mile delivery; and C.H. Robinson makes executive changes.

Not all that long ago, real-time, end-to-end visibility was considered a perk. Over the past few years, however, on-demand visibility has become a consistent expectation.

“Now, stone yards across the country can get on our site, find a load of stone, get the shipping cost and book a truck in a matter of minutes,” said StoneLoads CEO Patrick Wells.

Sapphire Ventures executive Demi Obayomi explains what trends the venture capital firm is seeing in the supply chain — and where technology can help.

Carriers are grappling with unfavorable market shifts across the board. With prowess and the right partners, however, carriers can remain profitable — and even competitive — in a loosening market.

Supply chain and logistics companies got time in the limelight on Time magazine’s list of the 200 Best Inventions of 2022.

Now that awareness has increased and investments are being made, it’s time for forwarders to shift their focus toward seeking exceptional end-to-end digital shipping experiences that allow them to combine relationships and expertise with great tech.

If you’re not investing smartly in people and tech, you’re asking to be left behind. 

CEOs Dave Clark of Flexport and Hamid Moghadam of Prologis shared the stage — and their insights — about the supply chain on Tuesday at the 2022 Groundbreakers forum in New York.

TMS will be at the heart of this new tech-based transformation, offering robust tools to shippers reimagining operations — and, most importantly, to those that historically haven’t enjoyed access to the technology.

Scandit and Samsung’s collaboration brings new smart data capture to increase workflow efficiency on its new smartphone.

HyperTrack’s new Playground feature simulates a delivery environment for customers to test out last-mile strategies.

From transportation capacity and labor constraints to changing order profiles and more frequent disruptive events, maintaining predictable and cost-effective material flows has never been more complex or challenging. 

FMCSA recruits truck drivers

The Learnship Sprint program is designed to teach employees industry-specific language to increase workplace productivity.

Woodlawn Partners leads the debt and equity co-investment with Monroe Capital.

Cleo Integration Cloud is a blend of both internal and external integration systems types, providing users with a self-service platform to connect their internal ecosystem of back office and cloud-based enterprise processes with trading partners through its any-to-any transformation engine.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell and Leaf Logistics CEO and co-founder Anshu Prasad sit down to talk about carrier compliance and the role technology plays.

Driver turnover is expensive, and trucking operators cannot afford to keep turning over virtually their entire workforces on a yearly basis if they hope to bolster their bottom lines.

“There is a lot of innovation coming out of these new therapies, and our customers were afraid they had created the best medicine in the world but could not deliver it,” said Tive’s Alex Guillen.

“Using the TruckCoinSwap mobile and web apps — and TCS Token — transportation companies can now receive free invoice settlement and get paid sooner. TCS is helping to write a new chapter in blockchain and Web3,” says CTO Jake Centner.

Modern freight railroads

“Not only do we collect more data than other freight providers, we go one step further by distilling that data into interactive dashboards that surface anomalies shippers can act on to save time and money,” says Convoy’s Dorothy Li.

For many carriers, the rapid adoption of technology has sparked skepticism and reticence.

Many retailers and delivery providers choose to develop their own routing and fleet management software, but that can limit their flexibility and add unnecessary cost.

StratusGrid’s expertise and ability to provide supply chain and logistics companies with software solutions on the world’s most widely adopted cloud platform is underscored with Amazon Web Services recognition.

By consolidating storage and utilizing 3D robotics, Attabotics’ bin-carrying robot makes its commercial debut as part of the world’s first 3D robotics supply chain system.

Logistics fintech platform Axle Payments announced Thursday a rebranding to Denim after disclosing it has finished its $126 million Series B funding round.

Cameron Eastman, a software-as-a-service veteran, has joined supply chain digital ecosystem Transflo as its new CFO to lead its next stage of product development.

“This new funding will help us accelerate development of our platform and add even more data sets to enrich our expert industry analyses to further drive transparency in the market,” says Xeneta co-founder and CEO Patrik Berglund.

Peak season is becoming more of a black box every year, and the U.S. Postal Service is buckling up.

In a Q&A with FreightWaves, Shifl CEO Shabsie Levy says of current general rate increase global shipping practices: “It essentially incentivizes chaos and disruption but yet doesn’t play in anyone’s favor.”

“Inflation has spiked aggressively, you have rising fuel costs as well and we recognize that sometimes two days or longer may still be too long to wait,” says Convoy co-founder Grant Goodale.

In the pursuit of a clean-energy freight industry, Lightning eMotors is working to make carbon-neutral operations possible.

Daimler Truck North America is working toward a carbon-neutral industry by advancing the technology of medium- and heavy-duty truck charging.

The holiday peak season could provide carriers with the perfect opportunity to strengthen their relationships with shippers going into the new year, securing more consistent and higher-value freight as the market continues to loosen.

Immediate Focus on Optimizing Routes For Autonomy Before Deploying Automated Trucks

While freight demand is still present, the industry is seeing a softening.

Inflation, a pandemic and changing consumer behavior have culminated in dramatically different Q2 results across the e-commerce industry.

In order to be proactive in both the planning stage and throughout the year, shippers need access to accurate, digestible and up-to-date data.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell and JP Wiggins from 3G dive into market corrections, the benefits of a good TMS and being a resource to customers.

Inside this edition: Preventing daily fires … the pessimistic outlook on carrier retention … The newest fixer-upper.

HyperTrack has raised $25 million as it looks to build an API-first approach to routing the final mile.

With fuel costs rising and a potential recession looming, providers need to be find a better way to optimize delivery instead of just passing along costs.

According to an email sent by FourKites founder and CEO Mathew Elenjickal and acquired by FreightWaves, the board of the Chicago-based company has requested a full “product portfolio review to align with market realities.”

Cloud supply chain logistics firm Stord is adding drayage, reverse logistics and temperature-controlled fulfillment to its software.

Supply chain technology provider Trimble reported transportation revenue of $150 million for the second quarter.

Even in a loose market, technological solutions aimed at optimizing freight movements remain useful.

The transportation and logistics industry is still dealing with the residual effects of the pandemic, including accelerated technological advances, a tough labor market and an inconsistent supply chain.

Solutions like route optimization and real-time visibility are beneficial regardless of what is happening in the market, but these money-saving tools can prove crucial during times of tighter margins.

Automation is changing the American workforce, and companies need to start investing in the workers of tomorrow by offering the training necessary to compete, Walsh says.

Lucas Systems survey finds that 75% want technology to assist them

Using a combination of technology and proactive management, shippers can turn failed deliveries into happy customers.

ShipBob has released a stand-alone warehouse management system for omnichannel brands with their own warehouses.

When pandemic-fueled headwinds pushed historic amounts of freight into the spot market, many shippers found themselves running an unmanageable amount of seasonal bids to compensate for annual contract failures.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell and TraxGroup’s Chris Cassidy sit down to talk about sustainability and the future of freight audit and payment.

Nominate freight industry disruptors for FreightWaves’ annual 2023 FreightTech awards before Saturday, Aug. 27.

The company marked its progress by submitting its Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment to the U.S. Department of Transportation for public disclosure on how Locomation is addressing safety and its readiness for public road testing.

With changes accelerating and investment pouring in, freight forwarders need to start digitizing now to remain competitive and thrive in the imminent digitized logistics environment. 

Digital twins are all the rage in business because they provide a proactive look at the supply chain.

Many companies are leveraging technology to improve driver recruiting and retention.

Omnichannel fulfillment company ShipBob has integrated with Klaviyo’s technology, offering new insights and the ability to proactively communicate with customers.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell sits down with Bill Thayer and Rob Caucci, co-founders of Fillogic, to talk about issues with final mile and how to make it less of a headache.

By Finch Fulton Locomation’s Vice President of Policy and Strategy Note: The following is excerpted from our recently posted Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment. From the beginning, our leaders have developed Locomation’s Autonomous Relay […]

StoreBound saw demand for its kitchen and furniture products explode during the pandemic, but its outdated technology was holding it back.

Locus has turned its routing solution into an end-to-end delivery management platform for companies of all sizes.

The supply chain challenges we are all hearing about today likely bear little resemblance to those we envisioned at the beginning of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos across every […]

Merging technology and talent

The transportation and logistics industry is full of revolutionaries, innovating on everything from load matching to driver wellness. Tenstreet has made a name for itself in the recruiting and retention space.

UPS has acquired Delivery Solutions, an omnichannel delivery technology company, as it dives deeper into e-commerce last-mile delivery.

Proposed network would be world’s largest commercial drone deployment

Motive raised $150 million to invest in products aimed at the “safety, productivity and profitability” of businesses.

Reusable Boox boxes are often lighter and less expensive than cardboard, CEO says

Sustainability database provider HowGood announced it closed a $12.5 million funding round to expand its capabilities and clients.

Agility is more important than ever, as pandemic-related headwinds continue to play out and new technologies strengthen competing companies by offering increased flexibility.

Like many companies across all industries, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the overall priorities of Varstar.

Transportation lawyer Cassandra Gaines describes the process of combining legal lessons into carrier monitoring FreightTech.

Supply chain technology provider Trimble reported record revenue for the first quarter of 2022.

As part of FreightWaves’ The Future of Supply Chain event, Redwood Logistics will demonstrate efficient and reliable ways to build data pipelines.

Locomation expects to be the first company to deploy autonomous trucking technology safely, legally and routinely in commercial operations at scale across the United States, starting next year.

The Great Resignation has touched nearly every business, but if warehouse businesses want to weather the storm, they need to prove their commitment to growing, changing and doing better for employees.

Over the last few years, and as economies continue to evolve, many companies across many industries are switching to technology as a new way to streamline their operations.

Reasons why you should care about idling

Parcel data is incredibly complex. Shippers often don’t know how to begin working with this data because it cannot be properly visualized via traditional methods like Excel spreadsheets.

Building the most effective RFPs possible requires self-awareness, attention to detail, industry insights and a willingness to adopt new technologies.

As part of FreightWaves’ The Future of Supply Chain event, Full Circle TMS will show how it can change omnichannel commerce fulfillment.

Piles of paperwork plague every mode of transportation, and recent shifts in consumer shopping behavior — namely the ongoing e-commerce surge — have only made the problem worse.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell and FreightVana’s Shannon Breen sit down to cover the hottest collaboration of the year.

As part of FreightWaves’ The Future of Supply Chain event, Lean Tech will show how it can help match talented software developers with those looking to streamline their technology.

As part of FreightWaves’ The Future of Supply Chain event, QuickLoadz will demonstrate the way it can change how we move shipping containers.

While many trucking companies still use paper checks, automated clearing houses (ACH) and invoicing, some companies are moving to a more cost-effective and convenient way to give truckers their money.

“We have a huge opportunity to let the world know that a tracking solution like this exists. We are going to take this funding and make sure that happens,” said Tive founder and CEO Krenar Komoni.

Banyan Technology has introduced a new first/final mile software offering for fleets, helping shippers and 3PLs connect with providers.

Optimal Dynamics aims to alleviate the uncertainty about freight movement today and in the future.

Tenstreet’s goal is to make processes easier for drivers and carriers alike. In 2022, that means making a driver’s smartphone a one-stop shop for as many tasks as possible.

As shippers move to digitize their documents and automate their processes, they should focus on making sure both efficiency and accuracy benchmarks are met. One document processing error can sideline an entire shipment, undermining profitability and customer satisfaction.

The Environmental Protection Agency maintains a listing of “off-cycle” vehicle technologies that reduce emissions but are not sufficiently accounted for in city and highway test cycles.

While innovation in the autonomous space is moving at breakneck speed, Locomation has devised a way to help trucking companies re-engineer their operating models to begin seeing major efficiency gains even before they deploy autonomous trucks.

As the industry continues to move away from clunky legacy solutions, more companies are choosing solutions based on user interface. While an intuitive interface is important, this can sometimes come at the expense of a strong back-end product.

Cloud-based solutions – think Uber and Airbnb – have quickly overtaken their more traditional competitors in other industries. In time, a similar trend will likely be observed in transportation and logistics.