Utilizing Flexible Automated Systems to Manage Freight Costs

If you're a transportation of logistics manager right now, you’re probably looking like a hero in your own right.

For despite persistent driver shortages and the impacts of regulations like the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate and evolving hours of service (HOS) rules, freight rates have receded in 2019.

JP Wiggins, VP of logistics at 3Gtms:

“We’re very much in a buyer’s market right now, with rates falling significantly compared to 2018. While U.S. truckload rates have remained steady, dry van contract rates decreased by 8.3% in July (versus July 2018), and dry van spot rates are down about 20% year-over-year, JOC reports. That means that a large shipper who allocates 10% of its budget to covering its basic transportation requirements could be saving millions of dollars over last year’s costs. Transportation departments are way under budget, so their managers are looking like superstars.”

At least some of that celebrity status can be attributed to their transportation management systems (TMS), which have proven their return on investment (ROI) in the form of these lower transportation outlays.

In this white paper, we explore the key challenges that could surface when the pendulum swings, show how TMS serves as a trusted partner in helping companies through those fluctuations, and hear from one shipper that’s well braced for whatever the economic environment brings in 2020.