A. Duie Pyle Inc. announced that it has selected Descartes Systems Group’s Area Planner and Route Planner, both part of Descartes’ Mobile Resource Management solution set, to seamlessly integrate planning, routing and dispatch needs for its less-than-truckload services. Pyle also recently announced that its warehouse facility in Westfield, Mass., was the recipient of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.’s “2010 Outstanding Warehouse Service Excellence Award.”
Pyle says it selected Descartes Area Planner and Descartes Route Planner following an extensive market scan and evaluation of available solutions. Over the past six months, Descartes experts worked with Pyle staff to facilitate a smooth integration, identifying and testing integration points and performing tests at one of Pyle’s terminals.
Descartes Area Planner – designed for LTL carriers, small package carriers and couriers – uses simulation, design and modeling exercises to help improve pickup-and-delivery operations. Descartes Route Planner uses the model from Area Planner for daily routing, dispatching and plan-versus-actual tracking of pickup-and-delivery operations. Combined, the two systems are designed to help LTL carriers improve truck utilization and reduce operating costs.
“This is a milestone project and a significant development in our continuous efforts of improving our operations and customer service,” says Steve O’Kane, president of A. Duie Pyle, based in West Chester, Pa. “Descartes has a strong track record in the LTL space and a sound understanding of our industry. We’ve selected Descartes as a partner because of their long-term strategy for the LTL industry and because their solution effectively addresses the unique complexity that LTL carriers face in managing high-density networks with a high degree of variability on a daily basis.”
Descartes says its Mobile Resource Management solutions leverage the company’s Global Logistics Network (GLN), which currently connects more than 35,000 global trading partners. Descartes’ GLN enables users to connect electronically with their business partners, allowing them to exchange information. The cloud-based services offered through Descartes’ GLN are designed to allow allow for quick and low-cost implementation, delivering fast time-to-value while maintaining the flexibility to expand the solution as business needs evolve.
“Pyle is a leader in providing consistent excellence in the transportation industry and an excellent example of what an LTL carrier can achieve in a highly competitive market,” says Art Mesher, Descartes CEO. “We’re pleased that, after a highly competitive evaluation of available options, A. Duie Pyle partnered with Descartes. We look forward to working with them in the future.”
The Scotts Miracle-Gro award for outstanding service performance, which was announced at the company’s annual logistics conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., was presented to Pyle’s Westfield Warehouse facility for its flexibility, innovation and collaboration. To qualify for the award, Pyle “Exceeded Expectations” in 11 of 15 performance metrics, in categories ranging from fulfillment accuracy and delivery to risk management and environmental practices. Pyle was one of 12 warehousing facilities eligible to receive the award.
“Our team is honored to receive this award,” says Peter Latta, owner and chairman of A. Duie Pyle. “The results represent the efforts of more than 100 employees who are some of the most dedicated Pyle People in our company.”
In addition, Pyle’s Mike Cortis, quality assurance coordinator for the Westfield facility, was recognized by Scotts for his willingness to go above and beyond Scotts’ service expectations. Cortis was the single recipient of the “2010 Individual Service Excellence Award,” which is presented to one individual within Scotts’ U.S. network of warehouse providers.
“A. Duie Pyle has been supporting Scotts in the Northeast with outstanding warehousing out of the Westfield, Massachusetts facility since 2001, and has been an important element of our supply chain success,” says Jim Iovino, vice president of global logistics for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. Scotts also operates out of A. Duie Pyle’s 570,000-square-foot warehousing facility in Parkesburg, Pa.
