In today’s highly competitive freight market, drayage companies are competing for both freight loads and the drivers needed to carry it. With freight volumes showing signs of increasing, drivers remain in short supply. Retention is also a concern, with over 60% of drivers leaving a company before the end of their second year and 30% of them departing before the end of their first. To win business, intermodal trucking carriers need to operate as lean and efficient as possible. They need to pick up and deliver loads on time with transparency to maintain customer relationships. To attract and retain drivers, operations should be as driver friendly as possible.

The constant communications between dispatchers and drivers are a steady source of frustration for both. As a result, many carriers are forced to maintain a high ratio of dispatchers to drivers that increases the effort and cost for each move, which raises operational costs. Poor communication between dispatch and drivers can lead to a wasted day when a driver is turned away because of a missed or incorrect appointment. In addition, a driver needing to bring in shipment paperwork to the office is a significant, often un-paid, time commitment. It can also delay invoicing which can mean a delay for both the driver and the carrier getting paid.

As drivers become more tech savvy, over 95% of truck drivers have a smart phone, more drayage companies are turning to mobile driver apps to streamline the dispatch to driver communications that are mission critical for scheduling and completing every freight move, as well as, meeting high customer expectations for timing and traceability. They are leveraging the technology to increase shipment efficiency, improve in-transit visibility, speed up documentation, and expedite invoicing.

Two real-world examples of drayage carriers that use a driver mobile app

Small intermodal carrier using Profit Tools TMS: Twenty owner-operator drivers on a mobile app and currently completing nearly 750 mostly intermodal moves per month. With the app, dispatchers were able to reduce the number of calls to and from drivers, and drivers no longer had to check in at the office for delivery instructions – they can just pick-up and go.

Mid-sized carrier using Compcare VI: Operating in multiple terminals with over 3/4 of their 80+ owner operators using a mobile driver app to complete more than 4,000 shuttle moves per month. They have reduced manual work, and daily server uploads that require additional sorting. Now they have greater visibility on order completion, documentation upload is easier, and time-to-invoice is 80% faster.

How intermodal carriers are bridging the gap between dispatchers and drivers

Key processes of the shipment are executed with simplified, guided workflows that prompt drivers for their input. These include scheduling, load status updates, POD generation, and document capture. The workflows standardize operations with consistent steps for every move and ensure the collection of required information at each stage. Much of this communication and coordination would have been performed with manual, printed documents, and back-and-forth phone conversations. Office visits for document drop off to complete a delivery are eliminated.

All driver communication and documentation are done in the same place. When integrated to the company drayage TMS, all information is “pushed” to a single source of truth for the shipment where it can be accessed by dispatch to determine load status, by operations to respond to customer service requests, and by business leadership to maintain a pulse on daily shipment performance.

Because these driver activities are all performed without manual typing and keying, phone calls, and paperwork gathering, they are less prone to human errors and more time efficient. Drivers spend more time moving goods and less time going back and forth with dispatch – alleviating a constant source of frustration for both.

Improve driver and dispatch job satisfaction and intermodal trucking operations

Our own internal surveying of users of our mobile driver app shows that around 2/3^rd of drivers say it helps them do their job more effectively. According to one of the drivers surveyed, “This is how the job wants me to conduct my duties. When the app is working great. I’m having a great day and so is the job.” Another driver added “I love the paperless approach. Helps me do my job more efficient(ly).” More effective and efficient drivers are happier drivers. Happier drivers are less likely to move to another trucking company. A positive driver experience also makes is easier to attract drivers.

In addition, more efficient and effective coordination between dispatch and driver means dispatchers can better manage more drivers and shipments, allowing intermodal carriers to reduce overhead or scale business without adding operational resources.

Finally, shipments are made on time with better visibility, improving customer satisfaction with faster invoicing and quicker payment processing. This means carriers can keep the customers they do win and maintain healthier margins, stronger cash flow, and better bottom lines.

Envase Mobile has several features that improve dispatcher to driver communications and shipment documentation. These include: 

• Standardized workflows for the most common processes of a shipment that use step-by-step actions and simple prompts for driver input.
• In-app messaging that eliminates the need to go outside of the app to handle exceptions and stores all communications with the shipment for better auditing. 
• Digital documentation management for black & white and color documents, with low bandwidth support.
• Geo-fencing can trigger pickup and departure milestones with only driver confirmation.
• Finally, it connects seamlessly with Compare VI, Profit Tools, and GTG TMS, with more on the way for integrating transportation management with driver management.

For a consultation on how Envase Mobile can work with your TMS, please email david.hashimoto@wisetechglobal.com. 

Smaller fleets often lack access to locations-based tracking for their assets. At companies where this is an option, many drivers don’t like to feel like Big Brother is watching over them.  

Late last week, the Envase team published our latest State of Dray segment on the Let’s Talk Supply Chain Network. In the piece, we discussed track and trace technology from the standpoint of why shippers appreciate location data. The gist was that shippers aren’t asking carriers to share their whereabouts because they want to be creepy. Instead, today’s most progressive shippers and receivers are looking to optimize their working hours; it’s possible to have warehouse teams ready to receive the moment a truck arrives. There are also some shippers whose legal teams are asking for location data to limit their liability in the event of an accident.   

But the value of track and trace isn’t limited to shipper requirements.

Why Track and Trace is Beneficial for Carriers

Trucking companies today can gain tremendous benefits from implementing track and trace location data into their operation, including:  

Improved utilization of your office staff

How much time is your team spending on check calls? How often does someone in your office need to stop something productive (like responding to an RFP to increase business) to find out where a driver is? Leveraging track and trace eliminates a huge portion of this issue, helping office staff focus on the most important activities to the business.   

Better understanding of your operating expenses

Even though fuel costs have dropped a bit over the last few months, they’re still quite high, meaning drivers should be trying their best to maximize their miles per gallon (you could easily argue this is always true, but it’s more important when rates are low and costs are high).

Carriers that utilize track and trace across their fleet gain a rapid understanding of which drivers are proceeding in ways that cut costs, and which drivers are consistently hammer-down. Knowing this allows fleet leaders to address the issue and put drivers in a position to help the company succeed financially. Additionally, the drivers increasing the company’s costs are more likely to earn a speeding ticket or other moving violations. There’s a little bit of a “big brother is watching” component to this point, but the reality is pretty simple: drivers are less likely to bend the rules if they believe they’re in a position to get caught. Track & trace technology allows for safer driving, extended MPG, and less chance of a moving violation.   

Lower insurance premiums

This may be outside the box, and it goes beyond the note above (we agree that fewer moving violations will generally mean less costly insurance). At the Harbor Trucking Association’s annual DrayTech event, many insurance companies exhibiting and in attendance acknowledged that a carrier’s ability to produce a digital log of their movements could be considered in the underwriting process. Generally speaking, these insurance folks said they’d prefer data from an ELD solution, but as you may know, ELD requirements can vary by carrier type and state. Track and trace logs can suffice for these carriers to show their drivers’ safety.   

Track and Trace Technology Benefits You and Your Customers

Track & trace technologies can be the difference between winning and losing a bid with a premium shipper. But the benefits can go even further for carriers that make the data these solutions provide actionable — improving efficiency, cutting costs, and maximizing the value of each dollar they spend.  

Our partners at Alpha Intellect are attending this year’s Envase Envisions conference as a premium sponsor. Their tech? SOPHIA! Learn more about the powerful AI tool here.

Have you ever planned your day in seconds? 

Imagine this: you wake up one day and have the power to plan your entire day in seconds. No more coffee-fueled all-nighters or playing Tetris with your drivers’ schedules. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s time to wake up and smell the roses (or the tacos if you’re in California), because SOPHIA is here to make it a reality. With its revolutionary technology, SOPHIA saves hours of time in a day, making businesses more efficient and profitable. This game-changing technology saves hours of time in a day, making businesses more efficient and profitable. There’s simply no other product out there that can compete with SOPHIA. We challenge you to try. It’s impossible to beat. It’s time to join the revolution and unlock the power of your day with SOPHIA. 

How SOPHIA works 

SOPHIA’s technology is beyond anything you’ve seen before. It’s a true game-changer! Imagine a platform that’s not only intuitive, but saves you hours of time in a day by customizing your dispatching based on your drivers’ preferences, weather conditions, and destination. SOPHIA’s dashboard view is sleek and easy-to-use, with real-time updating for ultimate efficiency. Press the “Schedule” button, and let SOPHIA work its magic as it plans your entire day in mere seconds. That’s right – seconds. There’s no other software out there that can do that. It’s like having a personal assistant that’s always one step ahead. 

What would YOU do with more hour in your day?  
You know what they say, time is money. And in the logistics industry, it’s more than just a saying, it’s the truth. Every minute counts, and every delay, no matter how small, can result in a ripple effect that has serious consequences for your business. Well, with SOPHIA, you’ll have way more than an hour. We’re talking a whole extra day’s worth of time. Just imagine the possibilities: you could take on more clients, expand your services, or even just have some much-needed downtime. You could revolutionize your business, expand your reach, and achieve your goals faster than you ever thought possible. The bottom line is that with SOPHIA, you’ll be ahead of the curve, saving time and resources while increasing productivity and profitability. 
 
 Let Sophia Plan Your Day

The Ultimate dispatching challenge 

Are you ready to take on the ultimate dispatching challenge? We’re putting $10,000 on the line for anyone who can beat SOPHIA. That’s right, we’re so confident in our revolutionary technology that we’re challenging you to try and beat it. Think you have what it takes? Then come visit our booth at the 2023 Envase Envisions event and try to beat SOPHIA on the spot. 

Not only will you have a chance to win big, but you’ll also get a firsthand look at how SOPHIA works and see the future of dispatching technology in action. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the revolution and take your business to the next level. See you at the event! 

 
Are you ready to unlock the power of your day and revolutionize the way you do dispatching? SOPHIA is the game-changing platform you’ve been waiting for! With its unbeatable technology, SOPHIA saves businesses hours of time, making them more efficient and profitable. Don’t fall behind the curve – join the revolution and try SOPHIA today. Book a demo on Alpha Intellect’s website and see for yourself why there’s no other product out there that can compete. Trust us, you won’t regret it . Visit the Alpha Intellect site today!

Charlotte, NC September 12, 2022 – Nascent Technology, a global leader in Automated Gate Systems (AGS) for the container supply chain and Buckeye Mountain, Inc., an innovator in intermodal IT solutions,  announce the formalization of their partnership and the release of a new joint product offering that optimizes inland container depots, warehouses, distribution centers and rail yards.

The RapidGate solution takes 26 years and over 1200 lanes of gate automation expertise from Nascent and integrates components and software from that solution into a wholly new Buckeye Mountain RapidDeploy power and communications device proven at hundreds of container facilities in North America. The new offering empowers facility operators to transition away from manually operated entry and exit checkpoints and into more automated, secure, and environmentally friendly gate operations. The fully integrated system is 100% self-contained in a solar powered 20’ shipping container that is fast and easy to deploy and requires no costly physical infrastructure or permits. The future of gates is green!

“Nascent, and our sister company Envase, which provides drayage TMS platforms for over 30% of the intermodal market in North America, is committed to optimizing the supply chain ecosystem,” said Larry Cuddy, CEO of Envase. “RapidGate is tailor made for small, typically leased container depots that historically have been unable to afford a traditional AGS due to all the  site preparation costs.”

RapidGate enables any facility to:

• Automatically identify and process 100% of gate traffic, enabling real-time billing and inventory accuracy
• Remove paper and people from the lanes
• Maintain high-security access control even during 24/7 operations
• Reduce congestion while lowering overhead costs
• Manage errors and exceptions remotely via software

RapidGate is installed quickly and without invasive trenching and underground conduit and without involving any local resources to provide AC power or remote internet connections needed for monitoring, support and exception handling. The net result is an entirely self-sustaining AGS outfitted with a solar powered battery array and redundant 5G remote internet communications that can be dropped onto any facility and be operational in a matter of days.  Best of all, this affordable, easy-to-install solution has flexible lease purchase options that eliminates upfront costs.

About Nascent

NASCENT Technology (www.nascent.com) is the worldwide leader and pioneer in the development, manufacture, installation, and service of fully integrated, scalable hardware and software for gates, kiosks, safety, and security monitoring equipment. As one of the pioneers of Automated Gate Systems (AGS) to the industry, NASCENT has consistently led the way in new technology-based solutions, providing several innovations and industry firsts. Backed by unrivaled engineering, assembly, software development, QA, and support organizations, NASCENT continues to draw on its vast industry experience and keen focus on supply chain operations to provide unparalleled solutions.

About Envase

Envase provides mission-critical, cloud-based transportation management systems (TMS) and mobile applications to the supply chain, with a core focus on the drayage trucking space. The software merges order entry, truck dispatch, container tracking, electronic data interchange document imaging, invoicing, and billing settlements, among other functions, into a single, streamlined system providing carrier efficiencies and container visibility over the supply chain. For more information, visit:  www.envasetechnologies.com.

About Buckeye Mountain

Buckeye Mountain (www.buckeyemountain.com) has delivered comprehensive technology solutions to the railroad and intermodal transportation industries for over 15 years. Buckeye Mountain services include wireless, rugged hardware deployment and support, asset tracking and specialized equipment maintenance software solutions, and highly specialized wireless networking design, implementation, and support. Through intelligent design, experienced hardware selection, and superior service, Buckeye Mountain maximizes the capabilities, efficiency, and up-time of technology in the field.

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Press Contact:

Chelsey Reynolds, VP Revenue

Envase

creynolds@envasetechnologies.com

508-245-9643