Resource Center/Article • 02/22/2022
Working Smarter: Carriers Target Efficiency Opportunities
Parcel and LTL carriers remain focused on the next frontier of shipping and continue to invest in process automation and improvement.
PARCEL CARRIER NEWS
FedEx
- ???? Speaking of these all-electrical FedEx vehicles, the carrier used one to deliver the Vince Lombardi Trophy for Super Bowl LVI, with SenseAware® monitoring technology. The carrier’s “all-electric, zero-tailpipe emissions” delivery vehicle became part of Super Bowl history this week – delivering the Vince Lombardi Trophy (notable for being handcrafted by Tiffany & Co.) across the country from New York City, NY, to Los Angeles, CA. FedEx spared no caution, utilizing their SenseAware® technology for real-time container condition reporting, such as temperature, light detection, humidity, and more.
- A FedEx staff shortage caused by COVID-19 variant, omicron, interrupted Domestic FedEx Express Freight services during peak season. Interrupted services included Two-Day and Three-Day Freight. The carrier’s International Economy Freight had previously been impacted by similar staff shortages from the variant.
- ???? The carrier announced a new partnership with Microsoft to offer “Logistics-as-a-Service” product for “retailers, merchants, and brands”. The concept is to utilize a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and customer Big Data, to help retail customers self-identify faster or more efficient delivery options. Of course, the partners anticipate increasing and long-term benefits for shippers – who will gain increased consumer data, while also being able to offer real-time shipment updates and more convenient returns (including printerless returns) to their customers.
- And while we’re discussing FedEx Big Data, the carrier has other plans to do more with its rich data mine. For example, what if the carrier could use its estimated 17M daily package scans to help better understand demand and predict the most efficient sort center to inject a shipment for the fastest on-time delivery?
UPS
GRI & SURCHARGES
LTL Carrier NEWS
- ???? During Q4 2021, TForce Freight saw a 60% YOY profits increase, bringing in $2.1B in revenue. What’s more, the company saw an all-time low operating ratio after its parent company, TFI International, acquired UPS Freight, setting TForce Freight on a path to seek out new efficiency and optimization opportunities to improve company outcomes. According to TForce Freight’s CEO of U.S. LTL Operations, Alain Bédard, one of those opportunities is for their drivers to drive less, and carry more freight. “Drivers, they like to drive. … Me, I like to pick up freight,” said Bédard, “So we have a disconnect. So what we want to do is have our P&D guys drive less miles and pick up more freight.”
- ???? After six days of interruption, the busiest U.S.-Canada trade bridge is reopened. The bridge carries important economic ties for both countries, with an estimated “$360M a day in two-way cargoes – 25% of the value of all U.S.-Canada goods trade.” The auto industry in particular has been hit hard by the blockade, with an estimated loss up to $850M and forced Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., and Toyota Motor Corp. to halt production during the interruption.
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