AI-driven container management that reduces costs and final-mile delivery solutions for LTL carriers

00:00 This week’s CCJ Tech Shorts features a new LTL solution for final-mile delivery operations, an AI-driven container management and visibility platform and more.

00:24 Roehl Transport recently released an updated version of its coaching tool that was originally created to address the rapidly increasing amount of third-party portals that the Wisconsin-based trucking company was required to navigate for safety-related data.

The tool, which started with basic functionality that consolidated API feeds from several safety vendors, now includes 24 possible coaching events that are triggered by OEM data from the trucks, third-party safety sensors, Roehl’s predictive analytics models and manually created events by Roehl’s safety team.

Roehl designed the system to automatically assign a priority and specific target time to coach; it records the audio conversation of the coaching event, tracks if there is reoccurrence and provides cumulative coaching effectiveness measures across the entire operations team of drivers and support staff.

The updated version enables much faster and impactful interactions and outcomes, allowing drivers to more frequently bypass scales, which improves their productivity and pay and increases on-time deliveries for customers.

01:31 Freight management software provider Carrier Logistics Inc. has launched a new solution that helps less-than-truckload fleets manage final-mile delivery operations more efficiently and effectively.

CLI’s residential delivery automation system, Appointment Automation, addresses the growing number of LTL deliveries that are now scheduled at residential locations.

CLI’s President (Ben Wiesen) said, “With our Appointment Automation, LTL carriers can eliminate the complications that come with making residential deliveries, where scheduling drop-off times has become a moving target, the size of the truck is sometimes restricted, and communication with the consignee is difficult.”

Appointment Automation provides:

• Automated Scheduling: CLI’s FACTS software automatically sends email and text messages to final-mile customers that prompt recipients to select their preferred delivery time via a user-friendly mobile interface.

• Appointment Confirmation: When customers confirm their delivery appointment, the system automatically creates the appointment in FACTS, schedules the delivery in the delivery optimizer, and provides visibility to the original shipper.

• Reminders: FACTS automatically sends reminders to confirm customers don’t forget about their scheduled delivery times.

• And Real-time Status Updates: Enrolled customers enjoy real-time updates on the status of their freight, from being out for delivery, to ETA updates, and finally delivered.

02:56 3PL ITS Logistics has rolled out its custom-built, AI-driven container management and visibility platform. ContainerAI, the backbone of ITS’s drayage and intermodal services in North America, gives shippers the foresight to reduce costs, avoid fees and optimize supply chains by offering comprehensive insights into the ocean voyage, trucking milestones, rail transport and port-related charges.

ContainerAI aggregates data from selective real-time sources and applies machine learning alongside historical context to produce accurate and reliable predictions.

Key highlights include:

• 100% container management visibility from origin to destination

• Data from multiple sources and machine learning to deliver the most accurate information for every milestone from ocean and port to rail, OTR and warehouse

• Granular-level, real-time and historical container data for unlimited reporting options and freight auditing for informed decision making

• Custom, In-house EDI/API integrations for seamless connectivity with any existing TMS or visibility platform

• And demurrage and detention management that provides financial forecasting through calculation of charges to dramatically reduce assessorial fees

Payment platform and toll management solutions provider Bestpass Inc. has integrated its Toll Genius data reporting system within the Geotab ecosystem to give its customers access to toll data and reporting tools via their Geotab account.

With this integration, fleets and owner operators gain new insight into toll activity to more effectively manage tolls and identify opportunities to reduce toll expenses.

04:11 Bestpass customers can leverage accurate vehicle data and GPS location through Geotab and match that information with toll charges received from their Bestpass account via the MyGeotab interface. If there’s a discrepancy between vehicle GPS location and the toll a vehicle received, it’s reported. This feature makes it easier for customers to identify and investigate the issue, dispute an inaccurate toll charge or violation, and reduces the risk of disputes over toll charges with drivers and customers. The integration also has a new toll activity reporting feature that shows a high-level heat map that allows fleets to identify hot spots for toll spend so they can optimize routes to avoid costly tolls.