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WHAT SHIPPING METHOD IS BEST FOR CARGO AND FREIGHT?

Moving cargo and freight can be accomplished via a number of ways. Before choosing what is best for your freight and cargo shipping, consider several different factors.  Determine your freight dimensions or width and length, in addition to freight weight, storage needs, delivery requirements and fragility. Once you have identified these factors, you can better decide what shipping option and transport services in Utah are best for your load.

Spotlight

Versant Supply Chain, Inc.

VERSANT SUPPLY CHAIN, INC. provides supply chain services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It offers distribution and fulfillment services, such as supply chain management, de-consolidation, order fulfillment, shipment consolidation, consolidate and ship, sort and segment, load transfer, shipping, and reverse logistics management; warehousing services…

OTHER ARTICLES
Transportation

For our deep Sustainability commitment and world leading contributions

Article | April 26, 2023

We track our commitments and goals quarterly through the Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018 – 2020 (formerly called the Planet & Society barometer). The 2018 – 2020 Schneider Sustainability Impact ?shows our commitments by 2020, as well as our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by governments, companies, and civil society by 2030. For nearly 15 years we have been following a clear action plan with a dashboard called Schneider Sustainability Impact. It is based on our 2050 vision with tangible deliverables updated every three years. Our CEO and CFO announce our results on a quarterly basis, together with the company’s financial results.

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Warehousing and Distribution

Reducing Risk in Your Global Supply Chain

Article | July 11, 2023

The complex, hyper-connected nature of global supply chains makes them extremely vulnerable to a range of risk factors. In 2019, corporations experienced new levels of volatility in commodity and energy pricing, interest and exchange rates, and general international trading conditions. In 2020, things are likely to remain rocky. Research shows that many businesses, despite being forewarned about these risks, are still tending to be reactive rather than proactive in their approach.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Warehouse Management System – An Integral Part of the Supply Chain

Article | June 16, 2023

Warehouse Management System In Supply Chain, warehouse management acts as the bridge between the supplier and customer. The warehouse facility utilized to consolidate or accumulate products and reduce the transportation cost to achieve economy. Warehouse Management System (WMS) refers to the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. WMS is part of the Supply Chain Management and concerned with the receipt, shipping and picking of materials. To effectively monitor the flow of products, WMS utilizes technology devices such as Barcode scanners, Bio-Metrics, and RFID to name a few. A seamless link created between the warehouse facility, order processing and logistics management till shipment. Warehouse management just not limited to the warehouse; it can also a component of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and, when done well, provides a competitive advantage to the business or organization.Supply Chain Management is the management of flow of goods and services including raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished goods. The markets these days are transcending borders and managing the demand-supply quotient is increasingly getting complex. Production centers are setup at locations where the raw materials and labour are cheaper. Raw materials sourcing and finish goods distribution are done globally. Supply Chain Management Thus Supply Chain Management refers to all business processes and activities involved from the procurement of raw materials to the manufacturing and distribution of finished products. SCM in short is the art of providing the right product at the right time, place and cost. As inferred, SCM gets much wider in scope than WMS. However, WMS is perhaps the last mile in the Supply Chain Management system and any hitch in the efficacy of WMS system hampers SCM too. Conclusion The primary aim of Supply Chain Management is to match supply with demand. For this to work, the supply chain should be free from bottlenecks such as errant supplies, difficulty in sourcing etc. There seemed significant confusion about the phrases SCM and WMS until recently, and both frequently used interchangeably. However, it been generally accepted that warehouse management refers to the logistics of warehouse, storing, stocking, and also movement of goods. The term Supply Chain has a much broader focus involving suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.By providing customer centric operations in warehousing, companies gain competitive advantage. SCM tools help manage the supplies effectively keeping inventory at optimum levels. The efficiency of SCM relies to a large extent upon the efficiency of WMS. The SCM’s primary concern is to find out the best storage levels, which the WMS attempts to address. Therefore, it is seen that the SCM & WMS are only complementary in nature and not competing. Warehouse Management system also complements the Sales Management System by shortening the sales cycle through quick data access and delivery of quality service, every time.

Read More
Software and Technology, Supply Chain

Oracle’s Advice for Modern Supply Chain Chiefs

Article | July 18, 2022

Oracle, a leading provider of computer technology, published a paper analyzing how supply chain managers should use change as a catalyst in "inspiring and engaging employees." In the report, Oracle highlights how organizations across the world are going through radical shifts in the way they operate. Customers need quick, convenient, and customized solutions today. Employees also have higher expectations, looking for companies that are a match for their values, provide flexible working arrangements, and offer cutting-edge tools. Shareholders and investors also want more, which forces businesses to focus on making money in ways that are sustainable and diverse. See Change as an Opportunity The companies that are most successful, according to Oracle, are those who see change as just another opportunity to reinvent, and the company lists four ways supply chain leaders might find such an opportunity: Boost employee engagement Aim for sustainability and responsibility in management Be quick to respond to disruptions in the supply chain Exceed consumer expectations In the paper, Oracle reports that instead of adapting to the change, organizations must be able to stay on top of challenges and prepare well in advance. Align with an Employee-Centred Culture Leaders must be able to attract well-matched talent, with the skills to not just fulfil job roles but also drive innovation. Today, people value a work-life balance where they have time to pursue their non-work interests, spend time with their families, and create a diverse, and inclusive world. According to Oracle, this is a significant consideration, and organizations that meet the demands of this new workforce will have a competitive edge in hiring the top talent. Looking Forward The Great Resignation has been a hot topic in HR, but the truth is it affects all aspects of business, and importantly, the supply chain, and in the end, the ability to provide smooth customer experiences. HR, customer experience, and supply chain leaders must synergize to become an employer destination to reckon with in order to succeed.

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Transportation

Enhancing Supply Chain Optimization with Emerging Technologies

Article | April 26, 2023

We track our commitments and goals quarterly through the Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018 – 2020 (formerly called the Planet & Society barometer). The 2018 – 2020 Schneider Sustainability Impact ?shows our commitments by 2020, as well as our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by governments, companies, and civil society by 2030. For nearly 15 years we have been following a clear action plan with a dashboard called Schneider Sustainability Impact. It is based on our 2050 vision with tangible deliverables updated every three years. Our CEO and CFO announce our results on a quarterly basis, together with the company’s financial results.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Top 10 Warehouse Automation Tools to Optimize Supply Chain Performance

Article | July 11, 2023

The complex, hyper-connected nature of global supply chains makes them extremely vulnerable to a range of risk factors. In 2019, corporations experienced new levels of volatility in commodity and energy pricing, interest and exchange rates, and general international trading conditions. In 2020, things are likely to remain rocky. Research shows that many businesses, despite being forewarned about these risks, are still tending to be reactive rather than proactive in their approach.

Read More
Warehousing and Distribution

Drive Insights from Upcoming Warehousing Conferences and Events

Article | June 16, 2023

Warehouse Management System In Supply Chain, warehouse management acts as the bridge between the supplier and customer. The warehouse facility utilized to consolidate or accumulate products and reduce the transportation cost to achieve economy. Warehouse Management System (WMS) refers to the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse. WMS is part of the Supply Chain Management and concerned with the receipt, shipping and picking of materials. To effectively monitor the flow of products, WMS utilizes technology devices such as Barcode scanners, Bio-Metrics, and RFID to name a few. A seamless link created between the warehouse facility, order processing and logistics management till shipment. Warehouse management just not limited to the warehouse; it can also a component of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and, when done well, provides a competitive advantage to the business or organization.Supply Chain Management is the management of flow of goods and services including raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished goods. The markets these days are transcending borders and managing the demand-supply quotient is increasingly getting complex. Production centers are setup at locations where the raw materials and labour are cheaper. Raw materials sourcing and finish goods distribution are done globally. Supply Chain Management Thus Supply Chain Management refers to all business processes and activities involved from the procurement of raw materials to the manufacturing and distribution of finished products. SCM in short is the art of providing the right product at the right time, place and cost. As inferred, SCM gets much wider in scope than WMS. However, WMS is perhaps the last mile in the Supply Chain Management system and any hitch in the efficacy of WMS system hampers SCM too. Conclusion The primary aim of Supply Chain Management is to match supply with demand. For this to work, the supply chain should be free from bottlenecks such as errant supplies, difficulty in sourcing etc. There seemed significant confusion about the phrases SCM and WMS until recently, and both frequently used interchangeably. However, it been generally accepted that warehouse management refers to the logistics of warehouse, storing, stocking, and also movement of goods. The term Supply Chain has a much broader focus involving suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.By providing customer centric operations in warehousing, companies gain competitive advantage. SCM tools help manage the supplies effectively keeping inventory at optimum levels. The efficiency of SCM relies to a large extent upon the efficiency of WMS. The SCM’s primary concern is to find out the best storage levels, which the WMS attempts to address. Therefore, it is seen that the SCM & WMS are only complementary in nature and not competing. Warehouse Management system also complements the Sales Management System by shortening the sales cycle through quick data access and delivery of quality service, every time.

Read More
Software and Technology, Supply Chain

Oracle’s Advice for Modern Supply Chain Chiefs

Article | July 18, 2022

Oracle, a leading provider of computer technology, published a paper analyzing how supply chain managers should use change as a catalyst in "inspiring and engaging employees." In the report, Oracle highlights how organizations across the world are going through radical shifts in the way they operate. Customers need quick, convenient, and customized solutions today. Employees also have higher expectations, looking for companies that are a match for their values, provide flexible working arrangements, and offer cutting-edge tools. Shareholders and investors also want more, which forces businesses to focus on making money in ways that are sustainable and diverse. See Change as an Opportunity The companies that are most successful, according to Oracle, are those who see change as just another opportunity to reinvent, and the company lists four ways supply chain leaders might find such an opportunity: Boost employee engagement Aim for sustainability and responsibility in management Be quick to respond to disruptions in the supply chain Exceed consumer expectations In the paper, Oracle reports that instead of adapting to the change, organizations must be able to stay on top of challenges and prepare well in advance. Align with an Employee-Centred Culture Leaders must be able to attract well-matched talent, with the skills to not just fulfil job roles but also drive innovation. Today, people value a work-life balance where they have time to pursue their non-work interests, spend time with their families, and create a diverse, and inclusive world. According to Oracle, this is a significant consideration, and organizations that meet the demands of this new workforce will have a competitive edge in hiring the top talent. Looking Forward The Great Resignation has been a hot topic in HR, but the truth is it affects all aspects of business, and importantly, the supply chain, and in the end, the ability to provide smooth customer experiences. HR, customer experience, and supply chain leaders must synergize to become an employer destination to reckon with in order to succeed.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Versant Supply Chain, Inc.

VERSANT SUPPLY CHAIN, INC. provides supply chain services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It offers distribution and fulfillment services, such as supply chain management, de-consolidation, order fulfillment, shipment consolidation, consolidate and ship, sort and segment, load transfer, shipping, and reverse logistics management; warehousing services…

Related News

Supply Chain

Tive and Transporeon join forces to improve integrated global first-mile to final-mile visibility

Tive | October 18, 2021

Tive, a leading real-time in-transit visibility provider, has partnered with Transporeon, a leading digital freight platform that powers the largest global freight network of 1,200 shippers, 100 retailers and 120,000 logistic service providers and carriers with its real-time visibility solution Sixfold. By integrating data and insights beyond shipment location and condition, the new partnership will provide mutual customers with insights that deliver a better end-customer experience through a single source where appropriate. Logistics professionals are demanding next-generation actionable insights to manage their customers' growing expectations actively. This partnership enables shared efficiencies for all logistics partners in all supply chains and reduces time to visibility for customers across the globe. Transporeon's extensive data set and AI-driven platform allows all network users to optimize processes through each transportation cycle continually. With Sixfold, Transporeon already offers a powerful telematics-based real-time visibility solution which has been recognized by Gartner as a challenger in RTTVP solutions. Sixfold is prepared for collaboration via its Open Visibility API. "Increasing collaboration among supply chain solutions providers is pivotal for the future efficiency and sustainability of in-transit visibility," said Stephan Sieber, CEO, Transporeon. "We are excited about our partnership with Tive and are looking forward to joining other leading supply chain insights providers to propel innovation and vastly improve end-customer experiences." "Working in collaboration in supply chain visibility is what we strive for every day here at Tive," said Tive CEO and Founder Krenar Komoni. "Combining all aspects of real-time shipment data, customers everywhere get real-time information on what is happening with their shipments. We are excited for Transporeon to join this powerful partnership to help make global supply chains more efficient." About Tive Tive is a leading provider of real-time supply chain visibility insights that help logistics professionals actively manage their in-transit shipments' location and condition. With Tive, shippers and logistics service providers (LSP) eliminate preventable delays, damage, and shipment failures. Tive's solution provides data generated by its industry-leading trackers allowing clients to actively optimize their shipments, improve their customers' experience, and unlock supply chain insights in an actionable real-time manner. For more information, visit www.tive.com. About Transporeon Transporeon's goal is to bring transportation in sync with the world. Our cloud-based transportation sourcing and management platform powers the most experienced network of shippers, suppliers, retailers, goods recipients, and carriers globally. Founded in 2000, we help our 1,300+ active global shippers and our 120,000+ carriers transport goods more efficiently and sustainably than ever before. In addition to our core Transporeon Execution Solutions, procurement, and market intelligence solutions, we also offer Real-Time visibility with Sixfold and payment services with ControlPay. Combining this deep industry knowledge with technical expertise can provide a holistic approach to transport management.

Read More

Freight

Cowen Research and AFS Logistics Launch Index to Track and Predict Pricing Within the Air Freight & Surface Transportation Sector

Cowen Inc. | October 12, 2021

Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ:COWN) (“Cowen” or the “Company”), and AFS Logistics, LLC (“AFS”), today announced the launch of the Cowen/AFS Freight Index (“Freight Index”). The Freight Index will serve to provide Cowen’s institutional clients with predictive pricing tools for multiple sectors within the freight industry, on a quarterly basis. The Freight Index will provide a performance snapshot of less-than-truckload shipping (LTL), full truckload shipping (TL), and parcel shipping (both express and ground, separately). This data will be featured in Cowen’s market-leading air freight and surface transportation equity research. Jason Seidl, Cowen’s Senior Analyst for Airfreight & Surface Transportation, is leading the initiative. As one of the most experienced 3PLs and largest freight audit and payment companies in the industry, AFS holds unique access to freight data across transportation modes. Applying advanced analytics including machine learning algorithms, AFS and Cowen developed models that unveil the depth and richness of the data. In addition to the massive historical data, current macro- and micro-economic factors are carefully evaluated, selected, and built into predictive models, including the most recent General Rate Increase (GRI) announcement from a major parcel carrier. The resulting Cowen/AFS Freight Index offers a unique and comprehensive view of both past performance and the forecasted outlook for the immediate future quarter. “Freight is a rapidly changing industry and the ability to track its performance has become a critical component of the investment process for our clients. There is strong demand for tools to accurately monitor and predict sector trends. The Cowen/AFS Freight Index is designed to fill that void,” said Jason Seidl. “Using applied machine learning, data science and the annual transportation spend at AFS since 2018 to give a strong picture of the overall market, the Freight Index currently forecasts, among other things, that we should see the TL rate market reach a new high in the fourth quarter of 2021, with LTL rates expected to grow at an even larger clip.” “Our clients are leveraging data to improve efficiency in their logistics networks. Our intent with this groundbreaking Cowen/AFS Freight Index is to provide them with insights to make those data-driven networks even more effective,” said Tom Nightingale, Chief Executive Officer of AFS. “We’re bringing more than just raw, historical data to the market. We’re applying advanced, predictive analytics and unlocking the full information behind the data to deliver highly relevant insights that have real value for our clients.” Key Implications of the Cowen/AFS Freight Index from the Inaugural Report by Jason Seidl: TL: We expect TL rate per mile to continue growing through the end of 2021, reaching a high for our index of 24.2% in 4Q21 and up from 21.0% in 3Q21, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the Freight Index suggests an increase of ~15% in 4Q, a slight sequential moderation. We found a correlation between the sequential change in the baseline of the TL Freight Index and sequential change in revenue per truck. Revenue per truck also offers historical insights into (and correlates to) TL stock performance (TL stock performance generally leads revenue per truck metrics by about one quarter). Thus, we view this as a positive for the TL group. LTL: The Cowen/AFS LTL Freight Index suggests that LTL rate per pound should continue to grow sequentially in 4Q21 at 32.3%, up 2.1% sequentially, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggests ~16% growth, a sequential increase in 4Q (noting a sequential step down from November to December). We found a correlation between the sequential change in the LTL Freight Index baseline and sequential change in revenue per hundredweight. LTL stock performance also historically leads (and correlates with) the revenue per hundredweight metric LTL companies provide by roughly one quarter. Therefore, we view the positive sequential trends and new highs for the LTL Freight Index as a positive for the LTL group. Parcel/Express Parcel: The Cowen/AFS Parcel Freight Index suggests that ground parcel rates per package will increase 16.9% in 4Q21, up 2.1% sequentially, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggest ~9% growth. For parcel express, the Cowen/AFS Parcel Express Freight Index suggest that express rates per package will decline 10.9% in 4Q21, compared to -8.9% in 3Q, off the 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggest ~13% growth. We found a correlation between certain large parcel carrier KPIs and the Parcel Freight Index. Macro: We have found the year-over-year AFS data (and the TL Freight Index in particular) to correlate well with the year-over-year change in the Purchasing Managers’ Index. This may provide investors with perspective on potential movements of the PMI. The TL Freight Index, which tracks truckload rates per mile, indicates how much carriers are charging shippers to move TL freight. A strong demand environment (which is what we are seeing play out in the market now), leads to elevated rates (without considering the supply side), which implies a strong manufacturing index. Other Takeaways: Since March 2021, AFS has seen the average weight per shipment within LTL steadily decrease, likely due to the ongoing shift to e-commerce. Despite this, rates have still increased, with labor shortages and other capacity restraints contributing. Carriers have been able to implement steep rate increases on shippers and have been even more aggressive on surcharges to move undesirable freight. About Jason Seidl Jason Seidl joined Cowen in 2013 as part of the Company’s acquisition of Dahlman Rose and has been covering the air freight & surface transportation sector for over 20 years. He has been recognized for his stock picking and EPS accuracy in numerous third-party polls and surveys, most recently the 2020 TipRanks Analyst Awards. He is currently ranked 10th across all sectors for stock picking by TipRanks. Before his Wall Street career, Mr. Seidl spent four years working in the trucking/parcel transportation industry. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in transportation distribution management from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Rutgers University. He is a member of the executive advisory board for Syracuse University’s School of Supply Chain Management; past President of the board of directors for the North East Association of Rail Shippers; and a contributing editor for Railway Age. About Cowen Research Cowen’s research department has 58 senior analysts covering 930 securities across multiple sectors including industrials, consumer, energy, health care, technology, media & telecom, and cross-asset, as well as a deep Washington policy team. About Cowen Inc. Cowen Inc. (“Cowen” or the “Company”) is a diversified financial services firm that operates through two business segments: a broker dealer and an investment management division. The Company’s broker dealer division offers investment banking services, equity and credit research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services. Cowen’s investment management segment offers actively managed alternative investment products. Cowen Inc. focuses on delivering value-added capabilities to our clients in order to help them outperform. Founded in 1918, the firm is headquartered in New York and has offices worldwide. Learn more at Cowen.com. About AFS AFS Logistics helps more than 1,700 companies across more than 35 countries drive sustained savings, while turning their supply chains into competitive, customer-centric differentiators. The AFS portfolio of services features Audit, Parcel, LTL and Transportation Management, which includes Freight Brokerage and Freight Forwarding. Founded in 1982 and employing a team of more than 350 logistics teammates in seven major locations across the U.S., AFS is regularly part of the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies.

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Freight

EKA Solutions Debuts Real-Time Integration With KeepTruckin & Samsara

EKA Solutions, Inc. | September 28, 2021

EKA Solutions Inc, the industry leading provider of cloud-based integrated freight management ecosystem for carriers, brokers, and shippers, today announced real-time integration with KeepTruckin and Samsara, two of the global telematics platforms leaders. Designed to tech-up carriers, brokers, and shippers for the future of business, EKA Omni-TMS™ is a native cloud-based SaaS TMS that has become the company's signature solution product and has earned EKA the prestigious FreightTech 100 award. "EKA's fluid real-time integration provides the smallest trucking company with the same capabilities and benefits as large companies – optimize dispatch productivity, effectuate timely 2-way communication, deliver real time load movement visibility, improve carrier cashflow through electronic document capture and transmission and, enhance driver compliance with hours-of-service rules." says JJ Singh, Founder and CEO for EKA Solutions, Inc. "In addition, this seamless integration will help significantly improve broker productivity." "EKA's innovative and best-in-class solutions will help fleet managers to be digitally connected with their drivers during the lifecycle of a loaded or empty truck move" said Mark Walker, President and CDO. "Also, it enables a broker to automatically monitor the movement of the load from pick-up to delivery in a seamless productive manner." About EKA EKA Solutions, Inc., provides a transformational cloud-based SaaS digital freight ecosystem management platform, dFEMX™, to manage all the customer's freight businesses including freight exchange and third-party services. As part of the dFEMX™ Offering, EKA provides the Smart, Unified Platform EKA Omni-TMS™ for - Virtually – Everyone. EKA Omni-TMS™ is designed to transform the transportation and logistics industry. It empowers small, medium, and large size broker, carrier, and shipper businesses to operate from quote-to-cash with affordable and best-in-class digital tools, enabling the higher performance demanded in tomorrow's supply chain. With real-time information, EKA Omni-TMS™ enables brokers, carriers, and shippers to provide visibility and transparency as they fluidly trade across an expanding and verified network with key, trusted partners.

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Supply Chain

Tive and Transporeon join forces to improve integrated global first-mile to final-mile visibility

Tive | October 18, 2021

Tive, a leading real-time in-transit visibility provider, has partnered with Transporeon, a leading digital freight platform that powers the largest global freight network of 1,200 shippers, 100 retailers and 120,000 logistic service providers and carriers with its real-time visibility solution Sixfold. By integrating data and insights beyond shipment location and condition, the new partnership will provide mutual customers with insights that deliver a better end-customer experience through a single source where appropriate. Logistics professionals are demanding next-generation actionable insights to manage their customers' growing expectations actively. This partnership enables shared efficiencies for all logistics partners in all supply chains and reduces time to visibility for customers across the globe. Transporeon's extensive data set and AI-driven platform allows all network users to optimize processes through each transportation cycle continually. With Sixfold, Transporeon already offers a powerful telematics-based real-time visibility solution which has been recognized by Gartner as a challenger in RTTVP solutions. Sixfold is prepared for collaboration via its Open Visibility API. "Increasing collaboration among supply chain solutions providers is pivotal for the future efficiency and sustainability of in-transit visibility," said Stephan Sieber, CEO, Transporeon. "We are excited about our partnership with Tive and are looking forward to joining other leading supply chain insights providers to propel innovation and vastly improve end-customer experiences." "Working in collaboration in supply chain visibility is what we strive for every day here at Tive," said Tive CEO and Founder Krenar Komoni. "Combining all aspects of real-time shipment data, customers everywhere get real-time information on what is happening with their shipments. We are excited for Transporeon to join this powerful partnership to help make global supply chains more efficient." About Tive Tive is a leading provider of real-time supply chain visibility insights that help logistics professionals actively manage their in-transit shipments' location and condition. With Tive, shippers and logistics service providers (LSP) eliminate preventable delays, damage, and shipment failures. Tive's solution provides data generated by its industry-leading trackers allowing clients to actively optimize their shipments, improve their customers' experience, and unlock supply chain insights in an actionable real-time manner. For more information, visit www.tive.com. About Transporeon Transporeon's goal is to bring transportation in sync with the world. Our cloud-based transportation sourcing and management platform powers the most experienced network of shippers, suppliers, retailers, goods recipients, and carriers globally. Founded in 2000, we help our 1,300+ active global shippers and our 120,000+ carriers transport goods more efficiently and sustainably than ever before. In addition to our core Transporeon Execution Solutions, procurement, and market intelligence solutions, we also offer Real-Time visibility with Sixfold and payment services with ControlPay. Combining this deep industry knowledge with technical expertise can provide a holistic approach to transport management.

Read More

Freight

Cowen Research and AFS Logistics Launch Index to Track and Predict Pricing Within the Air Freight & Surface Transportation Sector

Cowen Inc. | October 12, 2021

Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ:COWN) (“Cowen” or the “Company”), and AFS Logistics, LLC (“AFS”), today announced the launch of the Cowen/AFS Freight Index (“Freight Index”). The Freight Index will serve to provide Cowen’s institutional clients with predictive pricing tools for multiple sectors within the freight industry, on a quarterly basis. The Freight Index will provide a performance snapshot of less-than-truckload shipping (LTL), full truckload shipping (TL), and parcel shipping (both express and ground, separately). This data will be featured in Cowen’s market-leading air freight and surface transportation equity research. Jason Seidl, Cowen’s Senior Analyst for Airfreight & Surface Transportation, is leading the initiative. As one of the most experienced 3PLs and largest freight audit and payment companies in the industry, AFS holds unique access to freight data across transportation modes. Applying advanced analytics including machine learning algorithms, AFS and Cowen developed models that unveil the depth and richness of the data. In addition to the massive historical data, current macro- and micro-economic factors are carefully evaluated, selected, and built into predictive models, including the most recent General Rate Increase (GRI) announcement from a major parcel carrier. The resulting Cowen/AFS Freight Index offers a unique and comprehensive view of both past performance and the forecasted outlook for the immediate future quarter. “Freight is a rapidly changing industry and the ability to track its performance has become a critical component of the investment process for our clients. There is strong demand for tools to accurately monitor and predict sector trends. The Cowen/AFS Freight Index is designed to fill that void,” said Jason Seidl. “Using applied machine learning, data science and the annual transportation spend at AFS since 2018 to give a strong picture of the overall market, the Freight Index currently forecasts, among other things, that we should see the TL rate market reach a new high in the fourth quarter of 2021, with LTL rates expected to grow at an even larger clip.” “Our clients are leveraging data to improve efficiency in their logistics networks. Our intent with this groundbreaking Cowen/AFS Freight Index is to provide them with insights to make those data-driven networks even more effective,” said Tom Nightingale, Chief Executive Officer of AFS. “We’re bringing more than just raw, historical data to the market. We’re applying advanced, predictive analytics and unlocking the full information behind the data to deliver highly relevant insights that have real value for our clients.” Key Implications of the Cowen/AFS Freight Index from the Inaugural Report by Jason Seidl: TL: We expect TL rate per mile to continue growing through the end of 2021, reaching a high for our index of 24.2% in 4Q21 and up from 21.0% in 3Q21, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the Freight Index suggests an increase of ~15% in 4Q, a slight sequential moderation. We found a correlation between the sequential change in the baseline of the TL Freight Index and sequential change in revenue per truck. Revenue per truck also offers historical insights into (and correlates to) TL stock performance (TL stock performance generally leads revenue per truck metrics by about one quarter). Thus, we view this as a positive for the TL group. LTL: The Cowen/AFS LTL Freight Index suggests that LTL rate per pound should continue to grow sequentially in 4Q21 at 32.3%, up 2.1% sequentially, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggests ~16% growth, a sequential increase in 4Q (noting a sequential step down from November to December). We found a correlation between the sequential change in the LTL Freight Index baseline and sequential change in revenue per hundredweight. LTL stock performance also historically leads (and correlates with) the revenue per hundredweight metric LTL companies provide by roughly one quarter. Therefore, we view the positive sequential trends and new highs for the LTL Freight Index as a positive for the LTL group. Parcel/Express Parcel: The Cowen/AFS Parcel Freight Index suggests that ground parcel rates per package will increase 16.9% in 4Q21, up 2.1% sequentially, off the January 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggest ~9% growth. For parcel express, the Cowen/AFS Parcel Express Freight Index suggest that express rates per package will decline 10.9% in 4Q21, compared to -8.9% in 3Q, off the 2018 AFS baseline. On a year-over-year basis, the data suggest ~13% growth. We found a correlation between certain large parcel carrier KPIs and the Parcel Freight Index. Macro: We have found the year-over-year AFS data (and the TL Freight Index in particular) to correlate well with the year-over-year change in the Purchasing Managers’ Index. This may provide investors with perspective on potential movements of the PMI. The TL Freight Index, which tracks truckload rates per mile, indicates how much carriers are charging shippers to move TL freight. A strong demand environment (which is what we are seeing play out in the market now), leads to elevated rates (without considering the supply side), which implies a strong manufacturing index. Other Takeaways: Since March 2021, AFS has seen the average weight per shipment within LTL steadily decrease, likely due to the ongoing shift to e-commerce. Despite this, rates have still increased, with labor shortages and other capacity restraints contributing. Carriers have been able to implement steep rate increases on shippers and have been even more aggressive on surcharges to move undesirable freight. About Jason Seidl Jason Seidl joined Cowen in 2013 as part of the Company’s acquisition of Dahlman Rose and has been covering the air freight & surface transportation sector for over 20 years. He has been recognized for his stock picking and EPS accuracy in numerous third-party polls and surveys, most recently the 2020 TipRanks Analyst Awards. He is currently ranked 10th across all sectors for stock picking by TipRanks. Before his Wall Street career, Mr. Seidl spent four years working in the trucking/parcel transportation industry. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in transportation distribution management from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Rutgers University. He is a member of the executive advisory board for Syracuse University’s School of Supply Chain Management; past President of the board of directors for the North East Association of Rail Shippers; and a contributing editor for Railway Age. About Cowen Research Cowen’s research department has 58 senior analysts covering 930 securities across multiple sectors including industrials, consumer, energy, health care, technology, media & telecom, and cross-asset, as well as a deep Washington policy team. About Cowen Inc. Cowen Inc. (“Cowen” or the “Company”) is a diversified financial services firm that operates through two business segments: a broker dealer and an investment management division. The Company’s broker dealer division offers investment banking services, equity and credit research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services. Cowen’s investment management segment offers actively managed alternative investment products. Cowen Inc. focuses on delivering value-added capabilities to our clients in order to help them outperform. Founded in 1918, the firm is headquartered in New York and has offices worldwide. Learn more at Cowen.com. About AFS AFS Logistics helps more than 1,700 companies across more than 35 countries drive sustained savings, while turning their supply chains into competitive, customer-centric differentiators. The AFS portfolio of services features Audit, Parcel, LTL and Transportation Management, which includes Freight Brokerage and Freight Forwarding. Founded in 1982 and employing a team of more than 350 logistics teammates in seven major locations across the U.S., AFS is regularly part of the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies.

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Freight

EKA Solutions Debuts Real-Time Integration With KeepTruckin & Samsara

EKA Solutions, Inc. | September 28, 2021

EKA Solutions Inc, the industry leading provider of cloud-based integrated freight management ecosystem for carriers, brokers, and shippers, today announced real-time integration with KeepTruckin and Samsara, two of the global telematics platforms leaders. Designed to tech-up carriers, brokers, and shippers for the future of business, EKA Omni-TMS™ is a native cloud-based SaaS TMS that has become the company's signature solution product and has earned EKA the prestigious FreightTech 100 award. "EKA's fluid real-time integration provides the smallest trucking company with the same capabilities and benefits as large companies – optimize dispatch productivity, effectuate timely 2-way communication, deliver real time load movement visibility, improve carrier cashflow through electronic document capture and transmission and, enhance driver compliance with hours-of-service rules." says JJ Singh, Founder and CEO for EKA Solutions, Inc. "In addition, this seamless integration will help significantly improve broker productivity." "EKA's innovative and best-in-class solutions will help fleet managers to be digitally connected with their drivers during the lifecycle of a loaded or empty truck move" said Mark Walker, President and CDO. "Also, it enables a broker to automatically monitor the movement of the load from pick-up to delivery in a seamless productive manner." About EKA EKA Solutions, Inc., provides a transformational cloud-based SaaS digital freight ecosystem management platform, dFEMX™, to manage all the customer's freight businesses including freight exchange and third-party services. As part of the dFEMX™ Offering, EKA provides the Smart, Unified Platform EKA Omni-TMS™ for - Virtually – Everyone. EKA Omni-TMS™ is designed to transform the transportation and logistics industry. It empowers small, medium, and large size broker, carrier, and shipper businesses to operate from quote-to-cash with affordable and best-in-class digital tools, enabling the higher performance demanded in tomorrow's supply chain. With real-time information, EKA Omni-TMS™ enables brokers, carriers, and shippers to provide visibility and transparency as they fluidly trade across an expanding and verified network with key, trusted partners.

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