Thank you for your hard work, continued partnership, and honest feedback as we celebrate 10-4 Day.

Improved trailer quality 

We heard from you that trailer maintenance while on the road can be a big hassle, so in June we launched an improved trailer inspection process in the Convoy app to give you access to a higher-quality fleet. By gathering more information at trailer pickup and delivery, we’re able to repair trailers faster, saving you time and reducing your chances of being blocked during your load. Learn more here. 

Faster bid responses

We’ve heard from many carriers, including AMA Transport, that you’d prefer to find out more quickly if you’ve won a load so you can better plan your schedule. This year we launched instant bid responses to make booking loads faster than ever. Bids are immediately accepted, countered, or rejected, helping you win loads faster at rates that work for you. 

Better work predictability with day rate contracts

Some carriers, like T F Trucking, asked us to make it easier for small carriers and owner-operators to have more income predictability through contract work. In response, we introduced day rate contracts so you can book full days or weeks of work in one click, without worrying about scheduling. Running a day rate contract gives you the ability to know you’ll get paid for a full day of work, and be able to return home every night. Interested in a day rate contract? Drop us a line with your preferred lanes and rates.

Easier access to Spanish phone support

In the past, our carrier phone service didn’t give you the option to hear the menu in Spanish, or be directly connected to someone who could speak Spanish. After hearing feedback about how frustrating this could be, we took action. Now, as soon as carriers call Convoy customer support, they will have the option to press “9” if Spanish is their preferred language, and they can be directly connected to one of our Spanish-speaking agents. 

More trailer flexibility

Did you know you can earn more and reduce empty miles when you haul power-only with Convoy and use our trailer for other work after your initial load? Based on feedback from carriers like ASBAT Transport, we increased the time you can use our trailers by up to two weeks! During that time you can use the trailer like it’s your own to haul loads—even those booked through other companies. Learn more here. 

More scorecard insights 

Many of you told us it would be helpful to better understand how your carrier scorecard is affected over time. In January, we launched the carrier scorecard on our web app to make it easier for you to find a detailed breakdown of quality scores, areas for improvement, and more. Also, you can now easily request a review of any shipment you want us to take another look at. 

Report trafficking in the Convoy app

You can make a huge difference in helping the efforts to stop human trafficking. This year we put a one-click feature in the Convoy app, allowing you to easily report suspicious activities related to human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline operated by Polaris. Learn more here. 

Tell us more

Have ideas for how we can make Convoy better? Let us know how we can improve your experience by selecting “Give Feedback” in the Services tab of the Convoy app.

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The Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC) today announced the achievement of a landmark milestone — the publication of its Technical Standard for developing scheduling application programming interface (API) for transportation management systems (TMS). Now accessible on the open source community, GitHub, the Technical Standard will bring more cohesion and resiliency to the movement of goods, making it easier to book and manage appointments, optimize processes for carriers, shippers and receivers, and drive operational efficiencies for the industry at large.

Scheduling system and interface fragmentation is a significant point of friction amongst carriers, brokers, and shippers. As the industry relies increasingly on an integrated network of providers and solutions to manage the end-to-end lifecycle of each shipment, it’s vital to define and share a consistent data architecture and API standard for the distribution of scheduling information. The SSC was formed in December 2022 to establish the industry’s first formal set of scheduling API standards.

Today, the Technical Standard is available for TMS developers on GitHub, encapsulating eight months of rigorous technical and strategic collaboration. The work ushers in an era where scheduling systems work seamlessly, transcending the barriers that have long hindered efficient data sharing among shippers, carriers, and brokers. The SSC’s API-based approach will allow companies to access the latest data and make smart decisions to increase efficiency, reduce empty miles and waste, lower costs, and improve service outcomes. As each company aligns with these standards, the industry can better orchestrate freight needs with data-informed systems.

“This moment is the culmination of everything the SSC has been working toward to date. Our objective was to develop a technical standard that would allow scheduling systems across the freight industry to consistently and efficiently communicate with one another, and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved,” according to the SSC’s integrated product leads from Uber Freight, J.B. Hunt and Convoy; Chris Chmielewski, Greg Granata and Brian Holley respectively. “The logistics industry is modernizing at an incredible rate, continually improving conditions for seamless digital communication between systems. Standardizing this communication now promises substantial future benefits. Our aspiration is for all stakeholders — brokers, carriers, shippers, and receivers —to recognize the value that these standards provide and embrace them so all parties can save time, money, and ultimately, deliver value for their customers.”

TMS Leaders Invest In Adoption and Integration Efforts

As industry leaders adopt these standards, a significant transformation is set in motion. Shippers stand to benefit from collaborating with these forward-thinking TMS providers, whose investments in integration translate to increased efficiency and cost savings in their operations. This harmonization signifies more than just technical progress; it underscores a dedication to innovative solutions that enhance the logistics ecosystem as a whole.

“At One Network, we’re not just embracing the publication of the SSC Technical Standard; we’re committing to implementing and utilizing these standards to enable greater efficiency across the logistics landscape in 2024,” said Greg Brady, Founder and Executive Chairman of One Network Enterprises. “Our dedication to these guidelines goes beyond rhetoric; it’s a strategic move that will empower shippers and carriers with streamlined operations and enhanced data sharing. As we weave these standards into our systems, we’re driving transformative efficiencies, and ultimately, fostering a more connected and agile logistics ecosystem.”

“At BlueYonder, the unveiling of the SSC Technical Standard marks a significant stride towards establishing more efficient supply chain systems,” said Chirag Modi, Corporate Vice President, Industry Strategy. “Embracing these standards is not just an affirmation; it’s a commitment to bring additional API capabilities to the industry’s landscape. We will weave these standards into the fabric of our operations to improve data sharing, foster operational fluidity, and unlock new dimensions of scheduling efficiency. As we march through the latter part of this year, our resolve to embrace and implement these standards echoes our dedication to delivering value to our customers and the entire logistics ecosystem.”

“We’re actively implementing these standards at Oracle and charting a course toward enhanced data sharing,” said Srini Rajagopal, Vice President of Logistics Product Strategy at Oracle. “We encourage shippers to engage with their software providers to urge progress on SSC Technical Standard integration. Together, we’re spearheading an era of innovation that will benefit the entire logistics community.” 

Further Industry Momentum Supports the SSC: New Collaborators Join the Ranks

Embracing the momentum, the SSC welcomes several additional distinguished collaborators, including:

• DHL Supply Chain, the Americas leader in contract logistics and part of DHL Group.
• Lineage Logistics, a global leader in the temperature-controlled logistics industry.
• Mastery Logistics Systems, a comprehensive cloud-based SaaS transportation management system designed to manage complex transportation needs for shippers, carriers and logistics service providers.
• Transportation Insight & Nolan Transportation Group, part of TI Holding Company, bring over two decades of multi-modal expertise and technology to the logistics industry and rank amongst North America’s top 10 largest logistics companies.
• Ryder System, Inc., the leader in supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions.
• Worldwide Express, a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering more than 115,000 customers access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions.

These organizations join existing players Convoy, J.B. Hunt, Uber Freight, Arrive Logistics, Blue Yonder, Coyote Logistics, E2open, Echo, One Network Enterprises, and Oracle.

The SSC continues to invite industry collaborators and advocates to support the Technical Standard across the industry. For more information or to learn how to get involved and contribute to the SSC, please visit www.FreightAPIs.org.

Introducing the SSC Badging System

In addition to this milestone, the SSC is excited to introduce its new badging system designed to recognize and differentiate industry participants actively contributing to the development and adoption of scheduling API standards.

Innovator Badge: This badge is awarded to companies that actively support or contribute to the creation of the scheduling API standards or the SSC itself. Innovators play a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry by sharing their expertise, insights, and resources.

Early Adopter Badge: TMS companies that verbally commit to integrating the SSC Standards into their products by the end of 2024 are eligible for the Early Adopter badge. These forward-thinking organizations demonstrate their dedication to driving industry-wide improvements and efficiencies.

The SSC’s badging program will provide clarity and transparency within the industry, helping businesses choose partners that are actively advancing scheduling standards. It will also promote collaboration and innovation among industry players, driving further progress in the development and implementation of API standards.

 To learn more about the SSC, visit www.FreightAPIs.org.

About the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC)
Founded in 2022 by Convoy, J.B. Hunt and Uber Freight, the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC) was established to create freight appointment scheduling standards that provide consistent visibility into the supply chain. Together with shippers, carriers and intermediaries, the SSC aims to simplify the integration of systems across the fragmented ecosystem and generate efficiency across the freight industry. To learn more, visit www.FreightAPIs.org.

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Improving the lives of truck drivers and carriers is at the core of what Convoy is all about. This week, we could not be more excited to celebrate the dedication of all the carriers we work with. Happy National Truck Driver Appreciation Week!

Drumroll please….announcing the 2023 Haul Stars Awards Winners

As part of our celebration, we are proud to announce the winners of our fifth annual Haul Stars Awards*. This year we are recognizing eleven carriers for their outstanding work and industry leading quality. Each winner will receive their own commemorative trading card along with a $250 Target gift card, and a Convoy swag box.

We have two new award categories this year. The Electric Ace award, going to the carrier who completed Convoy’s first fully electric shipment and is charging forward to power the future of freight. This year also marks the first year that our shipper customers have officially joined us in celebrating these outstanding carriers. Target, Unilever, and Ardagh are each recognizing a top carrier with a Team Captain award, these are awarded to the top-performing carriers in Convoy’s network who hauled their loads over the past year. These three shippers wanted to join us in the celebration because of their deep appreciation for the carriers who keep their business moving.  

To continue with tradition, we will be presenting the award for Most Valuable Carrier to a carrier with impeccable quality scores who has gone above and beyond to make our app better. We will also be recognizing Division Champs, awarded the carrier in each region with the top quality scores. Join us in celebrating the eleven 2023 Haul Stars Award winners. You can read more of their stories throughout the week on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Earn more with less hassle

Beyond recognizing these amazing Haul Stars Award winners, we’re celebrating all carriers with a special offer. This week, any carrier who hauls with Convoy is eligible to save $700 on a two-month trailer rental**. 

We’ve seen carriers increasingly looking for better access to trailers to grow their fleets as they expand their businesses. This year we’ve made access to Convoy trailers more flexible than ever. Our trailer return options on power-only loads have increased from 7 to 14 days and carriers can now rent trailers from Convoy for a month or longer. These are just a few of the ways Convoy is working to help carriers earn more with less hassle. 

Looking to rent a trailer? Claim the discount now.

TruckYeah, Convoy celebrates you

From all of us at Convoy, we want to thank each and every truck driver for keeping this country rolling. We appreciate your hard work, and look forward to seeing you on the road.  

*Haul Stars Awards terms and conditions apply.
**Trailer Rental Promotion terms apply.

Meet the winners

The post #TruckYeah, It’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week appeared first on Convoy.

Later, Dorothy and Emerj’s Head of Research, Daniel Faggella, discuss how Google, AWS, and Microsoft are lowering the barriers to entry for SMEs looking to start in AI and democratizing data science roles that were highly specialized just a few years ago.

Listen to the podcast:

The post Winning buy-in from leadership for AI projects, with CTO Dorothy Li appeared first on Convoy.

Convoy, the nation’s leading digital freight network, announced today a unique, in-app feature aimed at fighting human trafficking. The new feature enables the 80,000 carriers in Convoy’s nationwide network to immediately flag suspicious behavior and take action when they encounter potential cases of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation that affects individuals worldwide. According to the US Department of State, each year, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked, and this $150 billion industry is growing. Truck drivers traverse the vast expanse of the United States, venturing into truck stops and other less-frequented areas. This unique vantage point grants them enhanced opportunities to identify potential victims of human trafficking and promptly report any suspicious activity they encounter.

Convoy recognizes the critical role that technology and transportation professionals play in combating this crime. Building upon an existing partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), Convoy has integrated a one-click reporting feature within the Convoy app, allowing drivers to easily report suspicious activities related to human trafficking. This activity could be an individual not understanding where they are, an individual or individuals who were demonstrating an inability to speak freely or who’s communication was being monitored or controlled, a minor who is seemingly under an adult’s control for financial gain, and more. Through this new feature, drivers can now text, call, or submit a tip to the national human trafficking hotline operated by Polaris, facilitating a rapid and effective response to potential cases. By leveraging its network and actively involving carriers, Convoy aims to raise awareness, aid in the recovery of victims, and support law enforcement efforts to apprehend perpetrators.

“We commend Convoy for their ongoing commitment to combat human trafficking,” said Molly Griffiths, Corporate Engagement Manager at TAT. “By providing truckers with a simple and efficient way to report potential cases, Convoy is demonstrating their commitment to the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. We believe that this in-app resource will further mobilize the transportation industry in recognizing and reporting instances of human trafficking and sets a positive example for the industry on the role technology plays in making a tangible difference.”

TAT has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking within the transportation industry. Through their educational initiatives and mobilization of transportation professionals, TAT has significantly contributed to the recognition and reporting of human trafficking instances. Convoy partnered with the organization in 2021 to establish a certification program for drivers as part of Convoy’s Haul Stars program, a membership group representing the most elite carriers who operate the more than 400,000 trucks in its network. Training is crucial because it educates truckers — who are on the road all the time — but also because their calls and reports can help build a wealth of evidence and allow victims to seek justice.

“Convoy is proud to launch this new in-app feature that empowers carriers to take a stand against human trafficking,” said Amir Pelleg, Vice President, Carriers and Marketplace at Convoy. “By providing our carriers with a simple and efficient way to report suspicious activities, we are fostering a culture of vigilance and solidarity within the transportation industry. Together with Truckers Against Trafficking, we can make a real difference and contribute to rescuing victims.”

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The reservation program will use the hub-to-hub model. Convoy’s vast carrier network of small fleets and owner-operators will gain access to lucrative opportunities to deliver customer loads to the pick up hub in Texas, and then V.A.S.’ autonomous fleet will execute the long-haul to the next hub. A carrier in Convoy’s network would then deliver the load to its final destination. 

We are excited to add Convoy to our growing list of early reservation customers and work together to bring all the benefits of autonomous trucking technology to shippers on the Convoy network. This collaboration underlines the growing interest in autonomous technology as the industry looks for ways to increase freight capacity, improve efficiency and safety.”

Nils Jaeger, President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions.

Under the hub-to-hub model, autonomous trucks will operate on highways, providing continuous service between transfer hubs throughout the day and night. By improving the safety and efficiency of freight corridors, autonomous trucks will contribute to the growth of freight volume, increasing demand for truck drivers to deliver goods from the transfer hubs to their final destinations. This approach enhances the work-life balance of professional truck drivers by enabling local drivers to transition into short-haul jobs, granting them more time at home and improving their overall quality of life.

“We have great confidence in the transformative power of autonomous trucking technology to help tackle industry challenges,” stated Brooks McMahon, Chief Business Development Officer at Convoy. “By leveraging these trucks for highway segments and strategically scheduling loads during off-peak hours, we can minimize emissions, optimize fuel efficiency, and enhance the well-being of drivers. We’re particularly excited about how this model enhances the quality of life for small to midsize carriers who will support either leg of the transportation, but will be able to remain local more often and spend more time with their families. We are excited to partner with Volvo Autonomous Solutions in charting this new course and unlocking the full potential of autonomous trucks.”

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May 9, 2023 — Seattle, WA — Convoy, the leading digital freight network, announced today that it has been named to CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list for the fifth consecutive year. The annual list features private companies that have the potential to change industries and the world. This year’s list includes companies in sectors ranging from fintech and cybersecurity to transportation and healthcare.

Convoy has revolutionized the $800 billion trucking industry by providing a digital platform that connects shippers with carriers. With Convoy, shippers can instantly find and book trucking services at competitive rates, while carriers can easily find and accept job offers. One of the company’s most significant contributions to the freight industry has been its flexible drop-and-hook program, which streamlines the loading and unloading process by allowing drivers to pick up pre-loaded trailers and drop them off at designated locations.

Convoy’s drop-and-hook program uses predictive analytics and machine learning for the most efficient way of routing trailers to shippers across the nation. The program also decongests yards while improving driver productivity and throughput of volume at facilities. Convoy’s drop-and-hook program has been praised for its ability to reduce empty miles, which leads to lower emissions and fuel consumption.

We’re honored to be named a CNBC Disruptor 50 for the fifth year in a row. A huge thank you to our customers, investors and team members. We will continue to do everything we can to make trucking more efficient and sustainable for drivers and everyone involved.”

Dan Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Convoy

Since its founding in 2015, Convoy has raised more than $670 million in funding from investors such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and venture capital firms like Baillie Gifford, T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Generation Investment Management, Capital G, Greylock Partners and Y Combinator. The company’s platform uses data analytics and machine learning to optimize routes and reduce waste, helping to lower the carbon footprint of the trucking industry. Convoy has also implemented safety measures, such as requiring carriers to have proper insurance.

Learn more about Convoy and its drop-and-hook program.

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The SSC was established in late 2022 to address scheduling system and interface fragmentation in the freight industry. The consortium’s objective is to define an API standard for sharing scheduling information, implementing that standard to enable integrations in existing systems, and advocating for the standard across the industry. Ultimately, the standard will bring more cohesion and resiliency to the movement of goods, making it easier to book and manage appointments, optimize processes for drivers, shippers and receivers, and drive operational efficiencies for the industry at large.

New SSC collaborators include prominent industry transportation management system (TMS) and third-party logistics providers:

• • Arrive Logistics, a leading multimodal transportation and technology company delivering unparalleled service and custom strategic solutions.
  • Blue Yonder, the world leader in digital supply chain transformations and omni-channel commerce fulfillment. 
  • Coyote Logistics, a global third-party logistics leader that offers a diverse, centralized transportation marketplace to match more than 10,000 shipments every day.
  • E2open, the connected supply chain software platform that enables the world’s largest companies to transform the way they make, move, and sell goods and services.
  • Echo Global Logistics, a leading Fortune 1000 provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services. 
  • One Network Enterprises, the leader in supply chain control towers, real time appointment scheduling, and provider of the Digital Supply Chain Network. 
  • Oracle, a leader in transportation management systems, Oracle Transportation Management (OTM) enables customers to run logistics operations more efficiently, reduce freight costs and optimize service levels.

With the addition of these organizations, the SSC shows significant momentum in securing broader industry participation to develop standardized scheduling processes and more efficient supply chain systems. The SSC has been obtaining feedback from participants to review user stories and in-depth technical details to improve the design of the API standards. The current primary focus of the consortium is TMS appointment scheduling. In a future phase, projected initiatives include supporting additional scheduling software vendors.

The SSC’s initial documentation and System Interaction Model are underway and will be shared publicly in Q2 2023, and the technical standard and API design will be completed and implemented in at least one TMS by the end of 2023. 

The SSC aims to sign on additional brokers or third-party logistics service providers, transportation management system and warehouse management system vendors, and others in the coming months. For more information or to learn how to get involved and contribute to the SSC, please visit www.FreightAPIs.org.

About the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC)
Initiated in 2022 by early members Convoy, J.B. Hunt and Uber Freight, the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC) will create freight appointment scheduling standards that provide consistent visibility into the supply chain. Together with shippers, carriers and transportation platforms and intermediaries, the SSC aims to simplify the integration of freight scheduling systems across the fragmented ecosystem and generate efficiency across the freight industry. To learn more, visit www.FreightAPIs.org.

The post The Scheduling Standards Consortium Adds Collaborators and Reveals 2023 Milestones appeared first on Convoy.

Convoy’s CEO & Co-founder Dan Lewis recently joined Charles Trevail on the Outside In podcast to share how Convoy is addressing those industry challenges head-on, while also reducing waste, enhancing the quality of life for truck drivers, and lowering costs for shippers.

Listen to the podcast episode to learn:

• The challenges and opportunities as the industry goes digital and the lines between brokers and asset carriers blur
• How, with persistent effort and research, Dan was able to find the key value proposition for the early adoption of Convoy’s mobile app among truck drivers
• Why cutting “empty miles” is the most effective route to sustainability in the freight industry
• The potential of trucking’s semi-autonomous future, where humans and robots will join forces in “team driving” 
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on surrounding yourself with supportive, long-term-minded people

The post Convoy’s CEO Dan Lewis on the digital transformation that’s happening in trucking appeared first on Convoy.

Today we’re excited to introduce instant bid responses, a new feature in the Convoy app that helps carriers save time planning their schedules, maximize their earning potential, and get peace of mind in knowing that they have a load booked. This new capability is rolling out throughout January to the 97% of carriers and drivers in our digital freight network who use our app to find, bid on, and book loads.

Traditional freight brokering has typically been a time-intensive process. It requires carriers to first build relationships with brokers to gain access to shipments. And for every shipment, there’s back-and-forth negotiation over the phone, which can take hours or sometimes days. Apps like Convoy have eliminated much of this hassle by helping carriers find and book loads they otherwise wouldn’t have access to, while eliminating many of the pitfalls associated with phone negotiations, including haggling, language barriers, and gender and cultural biases. However, many apps still require carriers to wait several hours to learn if they won or lost a load, which leads to uncertainty and delays in finalizing their schedules.

Instant bid responses address these challenges by providing carriers with immediate feedback and reduce the response time on bids submitted from hours to seconds. Through this upgrade, approximately 98% of bids on Convoy-sourced loads will be immediately accepted, countered, or rejected, providing carriers real-time flexibility to quickly book a load or adjust their rates and submit new bids. 

The addition of in-app counteroffers provide real-time, actionable feedback on bids, reducing the risk of a carrier losing a load. To date, engagement with counteroffers has been extremely positive, with many bids receiving counteroffers that are subsequently accepted.

Instant bid responses use Convoy’s dynamic pricing models to quickly evaluate carrier bids and changing market conditions to determine which bids to accept, reject, or counter.

“Instant bid responses are an exciting evolution to the Convoy app experience for carriers,” said Grant Goodale, Carrier Experience Officer of Convoy. “Providing real-time responses to bids was one of the most requested upgrades from the Convoy carrier network, and we’re pleased to now be able to provide a better way for carriers to quickly and more effectively secure loads. At Convoy, it’s our mission to help carriers earn more with less hassle, and instant bid response is an important step forward in fulfilling that promise.”

Instant bid responses are rolling out now to all carriers in the Convoy digital freight network. 

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Together, they discuss the topic of predicting freight shipments with artificial intelligence. Dorothy explores a logistics use case for AI capabilities in predictive inventory and the impact it is having on manufacturing writ large. Still, there are many challenges, among them that truckers and freight carriers don’t have the equipment (mobile apps, GPS) that other last mile and delivery workers have. They also examine where AI can be applied to help schedule deliveries to avoid unplanned downtime.

Give the podcast episode a listen.

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The 2022 SEAL Business Sustainability Award winners have been announced and, for the second year in a row, Convoy has received the Sustainable Service Award, recognizing innovative services that set a new standard for sustainability. 

SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership) Awards is an environmental advocacy organization that honors leadership through business sustainability awards & environmental journalism awards, while funding research and pursuing environmental impact campaigns.

The organization’s Business Sustainability Award honors companies committed to driving true progress towards a lasting, healthy planet. Convoy was recognized for helping shippers and carriers reduce empty miles and unnecessary carbon emissions from polluting the planet.

“Companies have a unique opportunity and responsibility to drive environmental progress where politics cannot. Our corporate sustainability awards celebrate organizations that embrace the responsibility to effect positive change,” commented Matt Harney, SEAL Awards’ Founder. “Most business sustainability initiatives are unglamorous and invisible to the general public despite having significant positive impacts – we hope our awards bring some much-needed recognition to both the activities and the leaders behind them.”

According to Dan Lewis, Convoy’s CEO and co-founder, reducing the number of empty miles driven with each job simultaneously reduces carbon emissions, the cost of shipping, and the driver’s time on the road and away from their family. Waste reduction for people and the planet is critical to sustainability and is at the core of everything we do at Convoy.

Additional 2022 SEAL Sustainability Award honorees included global brands and high-growth startups, including Disneyland, General Electric, GM, Microsoft, Oracle, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, AiDash, Flock Freight, Optoro and PATH.

Learn more about Convoy’s sustainability efforts and mission.

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Convoy, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., and Uber Freight today announced the formation of the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC) which aims to solve transportation scheduling challenges by establishing the freight industry’s first formal set of appointment scheduling application programming interface (API) standards.​​ Complex, pervasive, industry-wide challenges such as this require collaborative, industry-wide solutions; the makeup of the SSC’s founding members underscores the need to standardize how information is exchanged around scheduling shipments. 

Today, scheduling system and interface fragmentation is a point of friction amongst carriers, brokers, and shippers. As the industry turns increasingly to an integrated network of providers and solutions to manage the end-to-end lifecycle of each shipment, it has become increasingly important to define and share a consistent data architecture and API standard for the distribution of scheduling information. 

The SSC’s objectives are to define an API standard for sharing scheduling information, implement those standardized interfaces to enable integrations in existing systems, and advocate for the standard across the industry. The standard will bring more cohesion and resiliency to the movement of goods, making it easier to book and manage appointments, optimize processes for drivers, shippers and receivers, and drive operational efficiencies for the industry at large. 

Adoption is critical for the effort to succeed. The SSC aims to sign on other brokers or third-party logistics service providers, transportation management system and warehouse management system vendors, and others to help shape the future of supply chain efficiency. Initial SSC standards and documentation, starting with full truckload freight, will be available as early as Q1 2023. 

On the formation of the SSC, executives for the founding members said:

“One of the most complicated and consequential things about being efficient in freight is setting up pickup and drop-off appointments. Every year the industry sets approximately 1.5 billion appointments, and scheduling inefficiencies slow everything down and create a lot of waste. Freight runs 24/7, and, for most situations, every hour counts,” says Dan Lewis, Convoy’s CEO and co-founder. “Scheduling is a tech problem at the end of the day. When all the trucks are plugged into a digital network, the industry can better orchestrate freight needs with data-informed systems. A Standard API-based approach allows companies to access the latest data and make smart decisions to increase efficiency, reduce empty miles and waste, lower costs, and improve service outcomes. This is the future of freight.” 

“Technology has ushered in a new era for transportation – new players, new apps, new platforms, new services. Yet, our industry remains extremely fragmented,” said Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of sales and marketing at J.B. Hunt. “We want to change that, starting today with the three of us and hopefully many more providers in the coming months. We want to create an open exchange of data so that the numerous TMS and digital freight platforms can communicate at a level where we can help one another when needed. The voice of our customers is clear – collaboration will drive progress. Our challenge is to make the systems they use daily work together to generate greater value and efficiency for their supply chains.”

“Logistics is rapidly evolving to be more realtime and intelligent at every point of execution. The implementation of APIs to simplify execution of manual tasks like scheduling is revolutionizing how shippers and carriers plan, manage, and execute shipments,” said Bill Driegert, co-founder and head of operations at Uber Freight. “We are at a critical inflection point of adoption, and if we don’t align on standards, we will create more work for everyone in the coming years. Everyone wins if we can align on common ways of interfacing. In doing so, we minimize operation friction and fragmentation and unlock a more fluid and optimized market for shippers and carriers to move goods.”

For more information or to learn how to get involved and contribute to the SSC, please visit www.FreightAPIs.org. 

About Convoy

Convoy is the nation’s leading digital freight network. We move thousands of truckloads around the country each day through our optimized, connected network of carriers, saving money for shippers, increasing earnings for drivers, and eliminating carbon waste for our planet. We use technology and data to solve problems of waste and inefficiency in the $800B trucking industry, which generates over 87 million metric tons of wasted CO2 emissions from empty trucks. Fortune 500 shippers like Anheuser-Busch, P&G, Niagara, and Unilever trust Convoy to lower costs, increase logistics efficiency, and achieve environmental sustainability targets. For more, visit: convoy.com.

About J.B. Hunt

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, provides innovative supply chain solutions for a variety of customers throughout North America. Utilizing an integrated, multimodal approach, the company applies technology-driven methods to create the best solution for each customer, adding efficiency, flexibility, and value to their operations. J.B. Hunt services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, last mile, and more. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT and is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.

About Uber Freight

Uber Freight is a logistics platform and partner that is reshaping global logistics for shippers and carriers of all sizes. Backed by a suite of logistics solutions and services grounded in innovative marketplace technology, Uber Freight transforms entrenched practices around pricing and booking freight and brings reliability, flexibility and transparency to the movement of goods. With over $17 billion FUM, Uber Freight has built one of the world’s most comprehensive logistics networks consisting of over 130,000 digitally-enabled carriers and thousands of shippers, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, including AB Inbev, Nestle, LG, Land O’Lakes and many more. For more, visit www.uberfreight.com.

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The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry, promoting their accomplishments, and minimizing obstacles faced by women working in the industry. The 2022 award marks the fifth year of this prestigious recognition program which garnered a record 22,000 votes, with winners representing a diverse range of business sectors in the commercial freight transportation marketplace, including motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, and original equipment manufacturers.

According to Ellen Voie, President and CEO of WIT, the award was created in 2018 to promote the accomplishments of companies that are focused on the employment of women in the trucking industry, an important element of the organization’s mission.

Characteristics represented by winning companies include corporate cultures that support gender diversity, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible hours and work requirements, professional development opportunities, and career advancement opportunities.

Convoy believes strongly in fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. One of the ways this comes to life is through its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), employee-led communities that represent diverse identities and experiences including gender, race, military service, and the LGBTQIA community.

ERGs play a critical role in our inclusion journey at Convoy. By focusing on learning, empowerment, networking, and career development within our ERG communities, we’re co-creating a culture where people see the potential for all to grow and thrive.”

Kristen Weber, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Convoy

Thank you to all of the women at Convoy for your hard work, commitment, and passion for helping Convoy achieve its mission of transporting the world with endless capacity and zero waste, and for supporting women throughout the trucking industry.

To learn more about life at Convoy, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and check out our careers page.

The post Convoy Recognized as “Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation” for Second Consecutive Year appeared first on Convoy.

“The potential for technology to improve trucking and reduce wasted money, time, fuel, and effort is limitless, but needs strong partnerships to succeed. When you ask any business to try something new, they have to really trust you and believe in your intentions. We build deep relationships with our customers, partners, and often even competitors. We’re thankful to be recognized by the judges and included in this year’s FreightTech 25.” 

Dan Lewis, CEO and Co-founder of Convoy

In support of its mission to transport the world with endless capacity and zero waste, Convoy collaborates closely with shippers to build new adaptive solutions to age-old problems. Recent innovations include: 

• The launch of Hi-Fi Visibility, a new approach that provides detailed, real-time updates across trailer pools and shipments hauled by Convoy-connected carriers as well as robust analytics to improve supply chain health.
• Enhancements to QuickPay, which allows eligible carriers to get payments delivered directly to their bank account within eight hours of load completion.  
• Accreditation of Convoy’s carbon emissions reporting from the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) in conformance with the Global Logistics Emission Council framework, known as GLEC. Convoy is the 4th in-house logistics provider globally to receive accreditation for the use of the GLEC methodology.

The FreightTech awards were formed in 2018.  This year’s FreightTech 100 list was selected from a group of 1,500 nominations for 423 companies, and evaluated by a hand-picked peer group of CEOs, industry leaders and investors actively investing in freight. The FreightTech 25 winners were among the FreightTech 100 companies previously determined by a panel chosen by FreightWaves.

The post Convoy Makes FreightWaves’ 2023 FreightTech 25 List for Fifth Consecutive Year appeared first on Convoy.

Convoy is honored to be named the 2022 National and South Atlantic Carrier of the Year by Niagara Bottling. This marks the fourth National Carrier win for Convoy in the last five years, an award that in 2022 was based on Convoy’s ability to collaborate and provide solution-oriented approaches across various levels of Niagara Bottling’s organization and facilities. The South Atlantic Carrier of the Year award recognizes exceptional coverage and flexibility to service varying production shifts and dynamic sourcing in Niagara’s most challenging region. 

“This is an extremely competitive space as we only hire the best carriers,” said Paul Estrada, Sr. Manager of Carrier Relations at Niagara Bottling. “There were many factors we considered when deciding the National Carrier winner, and what stood out for Convoy is their strong partnership and willingness to collaborate at all levels. Convoy continues to demonstrate that whether it be good times or challenging times, they always deliver.”

Since Convoy started working with Niagara Bottling in 2016, the goal has been to provide reliable service with elastic capacity to their logistics team. Through a collaborative partnership, Convoy and Niagara Bottling have been able to meet demand regardless of market conditions or production shifts. 

“Winning two carrier awards from a forward-thinking supply chain leader like Niagara Bottling is a humbling achievement, particularly as we continue to navigate through the soft market,” said Andrew Hammes, Niagara Account Director at Convoy. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without our cross-functional teams including customer experience and account management, along with strong collaboration from Niagara. We are excited to continue providing unmatched flexibility with uncompromising quality within their supply chain ecosystem.”

The post Convoy awarded 2022 National and South Atlantic Carrier of the Year by Niagara Bottling appeared first on Convoy.

The advantages of hauling reefer loads are not without costs. Before entering the market, you’ll need to invest in specialized equipment, get additional insurance to protect yourself against spoilage, and train your staff to ensure dispatchers are making smart booking decisions and drivers have the skills needed to haul this specialized freight. 

We sat down with Shain Ferriss of Greenmiles, a transportation company founded in 2013 and based in Willard, Missouri. While Greenmiles does power-only loads and has a dry van trailer, 80-85% of their volume is reefer. Shain shared his insights on the market and tips on how carriers can get ahead with reefer freight. 

Why should carriers get into the reefer market? 

Reefer demand is more reliable and there is less competition. The products that move in reefer vans need to get moved no matter what’s happening in the economy. You know, nobody’s gonna stop eating chicken anytime soon, even if we were in a recession. So with reefer, a soft market might cause us to pull back a bit, but we know we’ve got a much better chance of survival than a carrier that does dry van loads.

What type of trailers and reefer units do you run at Greenmiles? 

We’re in the process of upgrading our entire fleet and at this point we’re mostly running 2022 and 2023 Wabash 53’ trailers with Carrier reefer units. The Wabash trailers have great build quality and we spec them out so they’re very efficient. For example, we have lift axles on the front so that we get better fuel efficiency when we’re running light.We also increased the insulation by about 50% to reduce the load on the reefer unit and give us more time in case of a breakdown. As far as the reefer unit, the carriers’ units are really fuel efficient and do a great job cooling. Some people say they’re a little loud, but it’s not something that’s going to affect my buying decision. We’ll probably use this set of trailers for 10 years.They’ll last a lot longer, but over time the insulation deteriorates and the cost of maintenance increases, so that cycle makes sense for our business.

Should carriers specialize on any specific type of reefer freight?

We don’t focus on any particular commodity at Greenmiles. With our equipment, we can do frozen, refrigerated, or heated. So as long as it’s not hazmat, we’ll haul it. Most of our fleet is running in the Midwest and South East, but really we go anywhere. I like to say we’ll deliver to the Statue of Liberty if you want us to. We have a few guys who like to chase produce, so they’ll go to California, Florida, or wherever the market’s hot. We get most of our loads on the spot market, probably close to 97%. We keep a few direct customers, mainly plant nurseries where we’ll dedicate a truck for a few days here and there, but by and large, we’re focused on finding loads on our favorite lanes that pay what we need them to pay.  

Besides the rate, what should carriers consider when looking at a specific load? 

Without question, facilities and their service levels. People think facilities will prioritize reefer trucks, but the reality is they prioritize whatever they need. Utilization is always important in trucking, but the cost of a reefer set up makes it even more important. Think about it. You’re looking at about 300 grand in equipment and it’s not making you any money when your driver is sitting at a facility. How much would you charge me if I wanted to borrow $300,000 for 24 hours? I tell my drivers and dispatchers to look at Convoy’s facility reviews, talk with other drivers, and use that information when they negotiate the rate. For example, we work with a grocery receiver here in Springfield on a regular basis, and I advise my drivers to add somewhere between $500 to $1,000 to whatever rate they come up with because I know they’re going to spend the whole day there.

What advice would you give a carrier that’s considering getting into the reefer market? 

Above all else, go to work for someone else who hauls reefer or hire someone who can teach you. Do not jump into the reefer business and try to wing it until you figure it out. This isn’t a niche business, but it is a very specialized part of trucking and even little mistakes can cost you dearly. With a dry van, you just need to make sure your load is blocked and braced properly. But with reefer, you need to understand the commodity you’re hauling. Let’s say you book a lettuce load from a freight broker. More than likely the freight broker probably got the lettuce from a produce broker. By the time you see that lettuce load on the board, you’re a few steps removed from the farmer and in a game of telephone with the requirements. So you may see they’re asking you to run that lettuce at 45 degrees, but you know that’s not going to work for lettuce. To succeed in reefer, you need to be able to spot inaccurate information and work across the shipper and receiver to get it fixed. Otherwise, you’ll be losing money and customers.

Why do you like to haul reefer loads with Convoy?

Convoy’s a great source for reefer loads, but what really sets them apart is the people. We don’t have issues often, but when we do, I know it’s going to be rectified and the time to resolve will be considered in the resolution. I’m spoiled when it comes to Convoy.

If you’d like to learn more about Greenmiles you can visit them on Facebook.

Hauling loads with Convoy

Want to learn more about the carrier experience? Tap here.

Not a Convoy carrier? Sign up today and find your next reefer load on our free load board!

The post How carriers can find success in any market with reefer freight appeared first on Convoy.

Improving your experience

Get paid even faster

Suggestion from Jordann Transportation Inc

Getting paid fast is incredibly important. Thanks to a suggestion from Jordann Transportation Inc, now you have two ways to get paid fast. With Convoy QuickPay^TM, get your cash for free in two days, straight into your bank account. If you need your money faster, you can get paid within eight hours for a low 1.5% fee. No new contracts, credit cards, or bank accounts required. 

Enjoy more flexible trailer returns

Suggestion from TWCO Freight LLC

We know carriers hauling power only loads like using Convoy trailers for backhauls to reduce empty miles. Thanks to carriers like TWCO Freight LLC who asked for longer rentals, we increased the flexibility. Now you can extend the return time by 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours and can haul with whoever you want during that time. TruckYeah! 

Expand your fleet with trailer rentals

Suggestion from Genn W Spagnola

It’s been difficult to find trailers over the past couple of years. We heard from carriers like Genn W Spagnola that they need access to trailers for extended periods of time. We are excited to offer you the opportunity to rent our high-quality dry van trailers. This is an easy way for you to temporarily expand your fleet or get access to a trailer when you need it. Convoy trailers can be rented in increments of 30 days and can be used on any loads you haul.

Get access to more freight

Suggestion from G.R. Express, LLC

Partner loads give you even more loads on the lanes you love, keeping your trucks full and reducing empty miles. You can book partner loads and get Convoy benefits like Convoy QuickPay, hassle-free detention and single-tap lumper code requests. Thank you G.R. Express for reminding us that having access to more loads is always a top priority. 10-4. 

Better understand your payments

Suggestion from Darwin Eduardo Gonzalez

We know how important getting paid is to your business and we’re always looking for ways to get better. When carriers told us that our payment display was confusing, we took a closer look. We reorganized the load payment tab to clearly show what’s been paid and what remains to be paid. Thank you for the great feedback.

Save on legal services

We hope you never need it, but just in case we’ve added Off The Record legal services to our TruckYeah Savings program. This benefit gives you access to high-quality legal services at excellent rates. Get 15% off services with the code TRUCKYEAH.

Music to your ears

Suggestion from Climatic Carriers

Have you noticed our new on-hold music? This year at the Mid-America Trucking Show, several of you, including Climatic Carriers, told us that our on-hold music was….well, horrible. Roger that! We always try to answer the phone quickly, but if you do find yourself on hold, we hope you like the new music.

Update your email address quickly

Suggestion from Burgos Express Corp

If you’ve ever tried to change the email address on your Convoy profile, you know that it used to require a phone call or email to Convoy…until now! Thanks to Burgos Express Corp’s suggestion, you can make an email address update directly in the app. This means you’ll start receiving rate cons and notifications to your new email address sooner so you can keep truckin’ along. 

Tell us more

Have ideas for how we can make Convoy better? Let us know how we can improve your experience by going to the “Give Feedback” tab in the Convoy app to submit feedback. 

The post Happy 10-4 Day! appeared first on Convoy.

Navigating market volatility with technology-driven solutions

Unlike previous cycles, technology has taken on a more prominent role. “In the last three years, there has been an influx of new technology for transportation and procurement and an influx for adoption,” said Hennigar. “We’re seeing more of our shipper customers increasing their willingness to try dynamic pricing solutions like Guaranteed Primary that we have here at Convoy.” A desire for technology-driven programs derives, in part, from the need to stay resilient in the face of volatile market conditions.

As Hennigar discussed, the industry tends to think about the ebb and flow of market cycles in terms of win-loss scenarios. When the market is tight, trucks are hard to come by and when the market is soft, shippers may think that they’re overpaying for freight. In 2020, Convoy launched Guaranteed Primary as an industry-first freight procurement solution that addresses those win-loss scenarios and helps shippers navigate market volatility.

In a tight market, Guaranteed Primary offers 100% tender acceptance. In a softening market, Guaranteed Primary customers realize cost savings without the need to renegotiate contracts due to Convoy rates automatically adjusting as the market shifts. “We collaborate with our shippers and introduce automation to lower some of their costs to serve, accessorials, and incidental costs on a shipment by shipment basis. Those savings are passed on immediately and it’s all automated,” Hennigar added.

When enrolling customers’ lanes in Guaranteed Primary, Convoy stresses flexibility. “We meet our customers technologically where they want to be met, whether that’s through a TMS or directly into their operating system,” said Hennigar. The resulting benefits are huge. Convoy customers enrolled in Guaranteed Primary save an average of 11% on their freight and receive 17% higher tender acceptance.

Staying ahead of the market

To stay ahead in the market, Hennigar recommended three key steps:

1. Diversify your freight procurement profile: It’s not enough to diversify the assets and non-asset providers, shippers need to diversify the freight procurement mechanisms within their network. Having dynamic pricing mechanisms like Guaranteed Primary can help mitigate costs and service disruptions.
2. Raise the expectations for operational visibility: Shippers should have detailed insights into their freight performance, which is why trust and transparency are built into Guaranteed Primary. With monthly performance reports down to the lane level, our customers see their estimated savings and key shipment metrics to improve their operations.
3. Introduce resilience into your network: The more flexibility and elasticity that shippers can introduce into their supply chain, the better. “Whether that’s through a diversification of partners or pricing mechanisms, if you have the right resilience in your supply chain, you’ll be able to forge the future that much more effectively,” said Hennigar.

Getting started with Guaranteed Primary

New to Convoy? Let’s talk about shipping with Convoy and saving more with Guaranteed Primary.

Already ship with Convoy? Get in touch with your account manager.

More resources on how dynamic pricing helps shippers:

• In our webinar, Adapting to Freight Market Softening, learn how industry-leading shippers are driving innovation with dynamic pricing programs while avoiding the inefficient, cumbersome process of renegotiating freight contracts.
• Unlock more savings through Guaranteed Primary: See how a Fortune 50 Retailer’s pilot led to an estimated $1.6 million in savings.

The post Saving big and securing coverage in every market cycle with Guaranteed Primary appeared first on Convoy.

The things we do when we don’t have visibility. Like driving a golf cart through the rain to see how many empty trailers are in the yard. Or losing 40 minutes on the phone chasing a carrier’s location. Or paying $18k in detention a month without knowing why. Or stumbling through a “he said, she said” with your 3PL because of poor facility performance. 

Now, imagine a world where you have real-time visibility into your shipments and yards and detailed analytics on your facility performance. In this world, a dashboard surfaces how many trailers are in the yard. A map shows where the truck is in real time, with notifications that tell you what it’s doing. A carrier’s review reveals that the $18k in detention is because there’s a broken robot in bay 5. In this world, data helps steer conversations and drive outcomes. And it’s right at your fingertips. 

This is Hi-Fi Visibility. A new class of visibility and transparency that our customers tell us they have never seen before — not from any other transportation provider in their routing guide.

Introducing Hi-Fi Visibility, an unparalleled level of depth and insights into your freight

Hi-Fi Visibility provides detailed, real-time updates across drop trailer pools and shipments hauled by tech-connected carriers in Convoy’s network. And it provides robust analytics that improve your supply chain health. 

Hi-Fi Visibility is made possible by three core capabilities. It starts with real-time data collection, which we’ve achieved through industry-leading carrier app use — an unrivaled 97% — across our network. 

Next, machine-learning models enhance the data, layering in real-time data from like shipments to predict delays and disruptions related to the driver, facility, trailer loading, and trailer matching. This way you don’t just know where a shipment is but also what it’s doing throughout the shipment lifecycle. Is the truck dwelling at a facility for so long that it’s putting a later shipment at risk? And the data refreshes every five minutes, improving the accuracy and visibility of ETAs, shipment statuses, and shipment delays as they occur. The result? Transportation teams get an accurate, granular source of truth.

And finally, we’re building tools like our online shipper platform that give customers on-demand access to their shipment statuses and insights in real time. Customers can also access this information within the tools they use every day, through APIs and TMS integrations.

Convoy’s Hi-Fi Visibility capabilities include:

• High-fidelity shipment tracking: Track your freight in real time, with the truck’s GPS location updating every minute. See predictive ETAs and status updates that cover more than 30 detailed reason codes. We’ll let you know if a driver has run into issues at the facility or with the equipment, the shipment, paperwork, and more. Shareable tracking links keep your customers, partners, and leadership up to date when it matters most. 
• Advanced insights and benchmarking tools: Save costs and improve operations with an interactive and on-demand insights dashboard that visualizes trends for more than 40 metrics per shipment, including spend, on-time performance, dwell time, carrier retention, and facility performance. Get ratings and written reviews directly from carriers on the ground. Benchmarking data shows how your facility performance stacks up to nearby facilities.
• A facility dashboard: Track the precise GPS location and status of your Convoy Go drop trailers in real time. See each trailer’s current status — whether it’s empty, loaded, or out of service — along with the trailer’s condition, speed, ETA, actual arrival, time in yard, and theft alerts, as well as future availability so you can plan ahead.
• Out-of-the-box TMS integrations and APIs: Get Hi-Fi Visibility in your everyday tools through integrations like live tracking on the Flexport platform, with more on the way.

Convoy customers can access high-fidelity shipment tracking and advanced insights today via connect.convoy.com. Benchmarking and the new facility dashboard will be available later this fall. Learn more by visiting convoy.com/supply-chain-visibility.

How Hi-Fi Visibility drives results

Reducing email volume, mitigating shipment delays, and improving efficiency

The problem: The tracking and accounts receivable teams at a consumer goods company were sending dozens of emails a day about critical shipments delivering into one of their major retailer-customers. Where’s the truck? What is it doing? Can you send me the bill of lading? 

The process: Instead of chasing information from inboxes and call-downs, the team ran a test. Would Convoy’s high-fidelity shipment tracking and digital bill of lading (BOL) features help reduce its email volume?

The outcome: In two weeks, the tracking team reduced its pre-pickup emails by 34% because Convoy’s high-fidelity shipment tracking starts tracking two hours prior to pickup. Tracking team members also received predictive to-the-minute ETAs and status updates with detailed reason codes, so they knew if a driver ran into issues at the facility or with their equipment, the shipment, paperwork, and more and worked to mitigate shipment delays.

The two teams reduced their overall email volume by 14%. The accounts receivable team printed BOLs directly from the shipper platform. Convoy provides a BOL on every load — the carrier’s payment depends on it. These results compelled the consumer goods company to expand Convoy’s tracking and digital BOL features to the rest of its teams.

Lowering dwell times, reducing detention costs, and improving access to capacity

The problem: At one of its biggest facilities, a manufacturer was experiencing high detention costs because of longer-than-usual dwell times. Also, carriers weren’t placing as many bids on loads for this particular facility in the Convoy app.

The process: Convoy compared drivers’ actual transit times to the facility’s appointment times, which were set by the manufacturer’s 3PL, and made a stunning realization. Drivers were so early for their appointment times that they waited hours.

In one scenario, a driver picked up a load at 9 a.m. and arrived at the facility for a 12:30 p.m. delivery — but the appointment time wasn’t until 6 p.m. He held onto this trailer for close to six hours longer than planned. He didn’t get the most out of his full 11 hours of service that day, which reduced his earnings.

The outcome: Convoy provided lane-by-lane transit recommendations that are now executed by the manufacturer’s 3PL. The manufacturer also lengthened the facility’s hours. These changes reduced excess transit by 53%, pickup dwell time by 60%, truck costs by 18%, and detention costs by 70% — monthly accessorial spend went from $16.3k per month to $4.9k per month, for $11.4k in savings month over month.

Like this case study? Then catch the on-demand webinar, with more details and insights.
Watch Unblocking facility bottlenecks using on-demand insights

TIP: Shippers that respect carriers’ time earn higher facility reviews, according to our Annual Freight Insights Report. And our research has found that 84% of carriers often or always read facility reviews before deciding whether to bid on a load (read: positive reviews improve access to capacity). Later this fall, Convoy’s on-demand facility insights dashboard will reveal how facilities stack up to other competing facilities nearby, with benchmarks extending to on-time performance, facility rating, and others, so shippers can continue to work toward the shipper-of-choice title.

Saving time, reducing email volume, and delivering confidence in capacity

The problem: In cases of unexpected demand surges, the transportation team for a large retailer sent emails and made calls to track down available capacity, costing the team its most precious resource: time. Time that its asset-based carriers used to physically check their yards for available trailers. By the time the team heard back, it had to run the loads as live, using unfamiliar spot carriers at a higher cost. 

The process: Another demand surge brewed a familiar scenario — the need for 10 drop trailers. But this time, the team was leveraging Convoy Go for nationwide drop capacity across primary, backup, and spot. Convoy’s drop trailers have GPS and cargo sensors that provide automated updates on trailer location, loaded status, condition, speed, ETA, actual arrival, time in yard, and theft alerts. This eliminates the need for people to manage trailers on the ground. 

The team looked at its facility dashboard to see four trailers already on site and six inbound trailers on the way within the next 24 hours. With confidence in capacity, the team uploaded a spreadsheet with shipment details for the 10 drop loads, then booked and assigned trailers in minutes — for spot drop coverage without the inflated spot costs. The team tracked 100% of these drop loads in real time on a map, with the truck’s location updating every five minutes.

The outcome: The ability to see current trailer status and upcoming trailer availability will be available to all Convoy shippers through the facility dashboard this fall. This means for upcoming drop shipments, customers can see future trailer availability and make a booking decision in minutes, through the Convoy shipper platform or through their TMS. 

Get Hi-Fi Visibility across your network

New to Convoy? Get a demo and learn more about shipping with us. Let’s talk. 

Already ship with Convoy? Log in to view high-fidelity shipment tracking and insights, or request access to your account today.

The post Radical transparency into shipment status and supply chain health. Introducing Hi-Fi Visibility appeared first on Convoy.