Happy Carriers
AI-Powered Automation Helps Both The Shipper & Carrier Win! If your business relies heavily on shipping to keep customers happy, there’s another group you have to keep happy, too. Carriers are the lifeblood of any shipping business, and maintaining strong carrier relationships helps to keep goods moving as planned– and most importantly arriving on time. Unfortunately, small to medium-sized carriers are often overlooked, which is a big mystery knowing they represent the lion’s share of compliant, asset-based capacity on the roads today, and yield nothing short of industry-best service levels. This is precisely why FreightTech startups, like Sleek Technologies, have entered the space and worked hard to build strong meaningful relationships with small to medium-sized carriers across the US. And to help gauge carrier sentiment in relation to the competitors, Sleek Technologies most recent Carrier NPS [which determines the likelihood of a carrier to recommend the company to others] was 5X higher (57) than the industry average (10). So what makes Sleek Technology so special? Sleek Technologies has advanced the decades-old way to procure freight by using AI and proprietary algorithms to dynamically source the perfect carrier, at the right time, place, and price for every load. So instead of relying on a small percentage [in some cases less than 1% through contracted carriers] of today’s available truckload capacity, large shippers can now automate carrier sourcing by tapping into a self-regulated freight marketplace. Shippers pre-configure load attributes, and AI dynamically matches out-of-network carriers who are checked daily for compliance. Without the middleman stealing economic value, both the shipper and the carrier win! With no hidden margins, the shipper reduces truckload...
Using AI to Battle Rising Diesel Costs
There’s not much shippers and carriers can do when decisions or events on the other side of the globe impact the price of fuel. But just because fuel gets more expensive doesn’t mean business stops. According to the American Trucking Association, trucks moved around 72.5% of freight in the United States by weight in 2020. Since the majority of those trucks run on diesel fuel, seeing a major increase in the price of a gallon of diesel - like the one the U.S. is in the midst of right now – can have an immediate impact on profits. The average price for a gallon of diesel jumped up to $5.623 on May 9, according to the Department of Energy, marking a 46.3-cent leap over the last two weeks. As recently as Valentine’s Day, diesel was only $4.019 per gallon. A year ago, it was $3.186 – marking a rise of almost $2.50 per gallon over the last 12 months. Trucking companies generally apply a fuel surcharge to cover those inflated fuel prices, but those increases often get passed on to the customer. It’s hard to predict when the rise will stop – or even slow down – so it’s up to shippers to find other avenues to reduce costs. As diesel prices continue to rise, shippers are faced with the dilemma of charging their customers more or operating at reduced margins – unless they can find other ways to cut costs. Innovative shippers have embraced AI-driven tools for automation that have helped offset rising fuel costs. By using these tools, it can lower the overall cost of shipments, ensure that goods are...
AI in Freight Procurement Refresh
Technology is one of the hottest topics of conversation today in the freight procurement and logistics space, with AI, in particular, being one of the foremost areas of focus. Given how unstable and chaotic freight procurement has been over the last 24 months, shippers are desperately trying to adopt tools that turn static procedures dynamic and provide real-time insights and visibility to drive better performance, savings, and overall success. And AI-powered freight procurement automation software is proving to be a pivotal tool in helping to achieve these goals. Here are a few ways that AI is helping shippers break new ground in their freight procurement operations. Capacity Oversight Navigating capacity fluctuations has been one of the most challenging aspects of freight procurement over the last two years with the space experiencing a historic period of unpredictability. Shippers simply can no longer rely on outdated tools and the scant data provided by brokers to navigate an incredibly fluid capacity landscape. In turn, shippers have turned to AI as a way to gain a real-time look into the ebbs and flows of the capacity market instead of relying on partial or outdated data they were receiving from their legacy tools and partners. Price Management For years, brokers have been a thorn in the side of shippers for numerous reasons. However, arguably nothing has made this relationship more strained than issues of overpricing. The broker market is renowned for its heightened and opaque pricing structure. And with budgets tightening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shippers have grown tired of this price gouging and thus have turned to AI as a way to dynamically...
Before Investing Millions in A Private Fleet, Give Freight Procurement Automation A Test Run. You’ll Be Glad You Did.
There seems to be a new costly trend amongst large shippers to deploy their own private fleets to help ease transportation bottlenecks. Sherman Williams just announced it would be using a private fleet of trucks and railcars to aid suppliers’ raw materials deliveries to boost production and inventory levels. But with a new fleet comes additional costs, added risk, and sometimes inefficiencies. Sherman Williams CEO, John Morikis, said “It’s a little less efficient than what we would like. We want to optimize our supply chain to its fullest. But when it comes down to it, we are going to choose serving our customers.” Walmart has continued to strengthen its own private fleets to not only support store delivery but inbound shipments from its suppliers. Last month, Walmart announced that it would increase pay for its 12,000 truck drivers between $95,000 to $110,000. They also launched a dedicated training program for distribution center employees to become certified Walmart drivers. As the largest retailer shipper, Walmart spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on intermodal freight services using its own containers and chassis, along with a private fleet of drivers for pickup and delivery. That said, not all large shippers are in the same position as Walmart, therefore don’t have the same level of resources to launch such efforts. So instead of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on adding a private fleet, what else can a shipper do to avoid transportation bottlenecks? Innovative shippers have embraced AI-powered software to dynamically source compliant, asset-based capacity to always deliver goods on-time, and at a fair market cost. And the software seamlessly integrates with a shipper’s TMS for a...
How Has AI Automated Freight Procurement To Make Shippers Agile?
No doubt, digitalization is the future of supply chains across the world. It’s no secret that transportation and logistics are slow to advance, and mired in manual processes. And the pandemic certainly put a glowing spotlight on the need to revisit digital transformation within the supply chain. A recent survey by Bain & Company with the World Economic Forum stated that supply chain resilience and sustainability have become priorities for many large businesses. To proactively manage future supply chain disruption, shippers need to be agile and resilient. In other words, they need to be capable of pivoting– to follow what the market demands– on a second’s notice. Do you remember Sears, or what about Blockbuster Video? Both brands failed to adapt to market changes, and either missed or were slow to embrace innovative thinking. It’s unfortunate to think there are many large shippers who are still using archaic procedures within their supply chain. This is precisely why many shippers have struggled over the last 24 months to deliver goods on time, and at fair market price. Static, linear freight procurement procedures were never set up to effectively manage freight market fluctuation. The physical movement of goods is riddled with unknowns, such as natural disasters or shifts in consumer demand, and therefore requires smart tools to support resilience. AI-powered technology has helped many shippers turn static freight procurement processes into dynamic ones. Once the software is configured with the shipper’s unique load attributes and rules, the software goes to work by dynamically sourcing compliant, asset-based capacity whenever and wherever the shipper needs it. With no middlemen, carriers bid directly on loads, so shippers know...
Sleek Technologies Announces Michael Paul as VP of Sales
Pioneer in AI-driven freight procurement automation announces the addition of Schneider, RGL Logistics and Ascent veteran to its rapidly growing executive ranks CHICAGO, April 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sleek Technologies, a technology data company, and leader in AI-driven freight procurement automation, today announced the hiring of Michael Paul as the Vice President of Sales. With over 30 years experience in supply chain sales and operations, Paul will lead the overall sales strategy which will support the growth of new SaaS customers, and expansion of the existing base. "We're extremely delighted to welcome Michael Paul to our executive leadership team," said Mike Nervick, CEO and Co-Founder of Sleek Technologies. "As a transportation insider, he brings extensive knowledge and experience working with shippers to understand their transportation challenges and needs. And with that, he will help us continue to disrupt the logistics space as shippers look to gain more control over their freight procurement operations." Paul’s hiring signals another important step in the expansion of the Sleek Technologies executive team and represents the fifth senior executive hire in the last two years. Prior to joining Sleek Technologies, Paul held pricing yield management, sales and account development positions – including stints at Schneider, RGL Logistics and Ascent. “Sleek Technologies is quickly becoming one of the most talked about freight procurement disruptors in the space today,” said Paul. “I’m incredibly enthused about joining a very talented team of innovators, and educating shippers across the country on how AI-powered technology, along with 100% data transparency, has automated one of the most critical supply chain processes - freight procurement.” About Sleek Technologies Sleek Technologies is the...
Game-Changing Tech Helps Shippers Manage Freight Market Fluctuation
In order to effectively manage transportation efforts, especially as the freight market bounces up and down, shippers need insights to understand and accurately predict demand for truckload carriers. No doubt, 1st-party data is "king" because it is specific to the user's activities. But when 1st-party data is not available, shippers turn to 3rd-party data. ISM Manufacturing PMI One of the 3rd-party data sources we like to reference is The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which is one of the most reliable economic health indicators available. Month-over-month, PMI measures changes in production levels, new orders, supplier deliveries, inventory, and employment. A PMI above 50 suggests growth or expansion in manufacturing, while a PMI below 50 represents a decline. If PMI is 50, there is an equal balance between manufacturing reports of expansion and decline. The March 2022 index was 57.1, which confirms manufacturing continues to expand. However, that’s a decrease month-over-month (Feb 58.6%). The 12-month average is 59.7, with May 2021 posting the highest month (61.6). Looking longer-term, PMI is expected to be 54 by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models, and closer to 52 in 2023. Truckload Demand & Pricing As manufacturing activity levels out, so should the truck-to-load ratio and truckload pricing. Dry van load post volumes are getting close to 2018 levels, decreasing 13% week-over-week. While equipment posts increased by almost the same amount. Dry van load-to-truck ratio dropped 20% week-over-week from 4.3 to 3.41 (4% below 2018 LTR levels). These offer a solid indication that the load-to-truck ratio will continue to contract as we head into Summer. There...
Is The Reefer Supply Chain Starting To Balance Out?
2022 has already proven to be one of the most chaotic years yet for freight procurement and the refrigerated season was set to be the same way. However, while many believe that capacity access will once again be an issue, the reality is that there is currently a confluence of factors that may actually free up capacity in certain sectors. In fact, in the last 3 weeks, the reefer load-to-truck ratio has decreased from 12:1 to 8:1 year-over-year. And based on the USDA forecast the reefer supply chain will see improved balance in 2022, and that will impact rates in the spot market. With that in mind, below are several key forecast updates from the USDA that are likely set to drastically change the way that the reefer market looks in 2022. Citrus Forecast The most recent USDA Citrus April Forecast reduced all Florida grown oranges forecast by 3 million boxes – and comes on the heels of concerning news on bacteria spread among orange growers. At ~38 million boxes, this is a 28% decrease from 2021 and a whopping 43% decrease from 2020. To illustrate the gravity, this would be the lowest citrus production in over 50 years! Pork Forecast The most recent USDA 2022 Pork Production Forecast reduced pork production by 65 million pounds. Exports are now expected to fall somewhere around 6.73 billion pounds, that’s a 4.3% decrease year-over-year. Higher carcass weight and increased disease risk contributed to lower slaughter numbers. Cattle & Beef Outlook In contrast to the negative news coming out of pork and citrus, the most recent USDA Cattle & Beef outlook increased beef production by 195 million pounds to 27.570 billion...