IN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-June 2021

Technology

• Trucker Tools Book It Now automated load-booking is now live within MercuryGate‘s transportation management software platform. Shippers who work within the MercuryGate application can select and populate available shipments in the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver app. The shipments are then visible to approved and available truckers as a Book It Now load on their smartphone.
• Manhattan Associates unveiled its new Manhattan Active Transportation Management solution, which aims to reduce the time involved in optimizing transportation networks. The cloud-native solution lets transportation planners visualize their entire network and process large volumes of data to create optimal logistics plans.
• Non-profit organization MassRobotics released the MassRobotics Interoperability Standard, which lets autonomous mobile robots from multiple vendors integrate and work together to support safe and efficient operations in warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers, and factories.

• Shippers can gain pre-transit predictive insights as well as real-time in-transit visibility with the partnership between project44 and Everstream Analytics. Combining project44’s end-to-end real-time location visibility and Everstream’s predictive risk analytics, the partnership aims to increase supply chain agility.
• Tech start-up Haidrun launched an enterprise blockchain platform targeted at the manufacturing supply chain. The private blockchain—a digital ledger that records supply chain transactions between two parties—is scalable and supports simple interoperability with third-party systems, aiming to remove the complexity of public blockchains and provide a platform for supply chain collaboration.
• 3G, a provider of cloud-based transportation management software, made the Pacejet Transportation Planning for NetSuite available to shippers using the NetSuite cloud-based ERP. The order fulfillment solution for NetSuite users utilizes 3G’s transportation optimization engine to evaluate consolidation opportunities and select the most efficient combination of modes and carriers.
• InMotion Global and uShip, a logistics technology platform for large and bulky goods, teamed up to provide real-time LTL rates, booking, tracking, and billing services to customers of InMotion Global’s AscendTMS. AscendTMS users, which include small and mid-sized shippers, can now access both FTL and LTL capabilities.
• Consultancy Drewry and Freightender teamed up to offer a single-source ocean freight procurement e-solution to mid-sized shippers. The solution combines Drewry’s ocean freight cost benchmarking and procurement support services with Freightender’s cloud-based procurement technology platform to help shippers manage complex sourcing events.
• 3PL Evans Distribution Systems introduced a business intelligence tool called evans365, which provides warehouse customers a holistic view of their account activity based on real-time data. The new tool accesses and analyzes data sets from Evans’ warehouse management system and other data sources.
• Stretch, the new box-moving robot from Boston Dynamics, is designed to increase pick rates in warehouses and distribution centers. The multipurpose mobile robot can handle package variability and can reach cases throughout a truck or pallet.
• Averitt Express opened a distribution and fulfillment center near Dallas, Texas. Located close to Dallas/Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field airports, as well as BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad intermodal depots, the facility features 400,000 square feet of enclosed space to handle domestic and international freight and cargo.
• To offer shippers more loading space, Dachser is opting for mega trailers—which have greater cargo space dimensions with otherwise the same length and width—in its new fleet purchases over standard semi-trailers. Full conversion of its German fleet is scheduled to be completed by 2027, with some 680 new mega trailers in total. Dachser will also start replacing its fleets in the 24 other European countries where it is represented through its European Logistics business line.

Services

• Importers can reduce demurrage and detention (D&D) storage costs and improve the end-user experience with Maersk North America‘s Destination Cargo Management (DCM) product. DCM analysts help shippers and their trucking providers with D&D mitigation strategies, using a data-driven approach to track dwell time, provide visibility of the ship-to-shore process, and identify chokepoints.
• Echo Global Logistics launched EchoShip Rewards, a loyalty program for shippers using its shipping platform. Shippers can earn reward points when they book LTL and truckload shipments via EchoShip, the company’s self-service web portal that lets users quote, book, ship, manage invoices, and track shipments in real time.
• Direct-to-consumer companies can gain transparency into their shipping process with the partnership between online commerce solutions provider Bond and EasyPost, a multi-carrier shipping solution. The companies offer shippers same-day and on-demand fulfillment as well as returns processing.
• UPS enhanced its specialty pharmaceutical offerings by establishing UPS Cold Chain Solutions, a suite of cold chain capabilities for healthcare customers. Designed to provide pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and laboratories with an end-to-end cold chain service offering, UPS Cold Chain Solutions includes storage and distribution, transportation, visibility, and quality assurance capabilities.
• Hamburg Süd now offers additional protection and fast resolution in the event of cargo damage with its new Value Protect service. The solution enables shippers to protect the value of their cargo against logistics-related risks—including fire, theft, and cargo damage due to ship delays or shipping accidents at sea—during transportation.
• Trailer Bridge introduced a global shipping service that provides end-to-end logistics solutions for domestic and transnational shipments through the company’s non-vessel operating common carrier and freight forwarder license, as well as its fleet of marine and over-the-road assets.
• Event logistics specialists Rock-it Cargo and Sela Sport teamed up to expand logistics services to the sports and entertainment market. Under the partnership, Rock-it acts as Sela’s global freight forwarding and logistics provider in all countries outside of Saudi Arabia, with Sela acting as the logistics provider to Rock-it within Saudi Arabia.
• TechTrans, which provides transportation, logistics, and tracking for manufacturers of specialized high-value equipment, is consolidating its corporate offices and warehouse in the Dallas-Fort Worth area into a single, larger location. The new warehouse space totals 25,000 square feet—an increase of 10,000 square feet from the company’s current facility. The warehouse area features 24 feet of clear height to provide space for future growth.
• RJW Logistics Group, a provider of retail logistics solutions for consumer packaged goods companies, expanded its centralized warehouse operations with a seventh warehouse in the greater Chicagoland area. Its Lockport, Illinois, warehouse will receive an estimated 550,000 pallets and ship more than 66 million cases annually, while creating 200-250 new warehouse jobs.
• The new Liftpoint LTX-series fork truck service lift from Mohawk allows technicians to safely perform preventative maintenance and repairs on forklifts, electric pallet jacks, aisle riders, and other types of materials handling equipment. Equipped with mechanical and hydraulic safety locks, the LTX meets the national safety standard for service lifts.
• The new Liftpoint LTX-series fork truck service lift from Mohawk allows technicians to safely perform preventive maintenance and repairs on forklifts, electric pallet jacks, aisle riders, and other types of materials handling equipment. Utilizing mechanical and hydraulic safety locks, the LTX meets national safety standard for service lifts.

Products

• The new RR200 UltraSeal interior roll-up door from manufacturer Albany features a slim design and tight seal for applications where space is limited. The RR200 UltraSeal door’s bead design creates a strong seal that minimizes dirt and contaminants in warehouse facilities.
• Confidex introduced four new RFID labels that are readable on metal, plastic, and other surfaces to ensure asset management can be conducted faster with fewer errors. The new Confidex Silverline Micro II, Slim II, Blade II, and Classic II labels are engineered with Zebra Technologies to print on Zebra printers.
• Verizon Connect introduced a compact, discreet asset tracker device for customers on the Verizon Connect Reveal fleet management platform. Now, trailers, storage containers, and other equipment can be located and managed remotely online through the Verizon Connect Reveal fleet management platform or the Verizon Connect Spotlight app.
• The MAX mobile workstation from ACD Group can now handle deep-freeze applications. Designed for inventory taking and quality assurance, the workstation can cope with temperatures as low as -18.4 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for cold storage areas and even outdoors in winter.
• StreamTech Engineering’s FoldSerter, a system for inserting multi-page plain paper pack slips into open cartons, automatically identifies each package, communicates with the software system to receive the correct pack slip, prints, folds, and inserts the pack slip into the carton, while scanning each page for verification.

Transportation

• The new East Africa Service 3 (EAS3) from Hapag-Lloyd offers direct weekly sailings between China, Southeast Asia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Deploying seven 2,800 TEU vessels, the EAS3 provides connections to Hapag-Lloyd’s global network via the hub ports of Singapore, Port Kelang, and Shanghai.
• American Airlines Cargo expanded its temperature-controlled shipping capabilities, extending its cold-chain solution network to 30 new stations, including Cincinnati, Memphis, and Pittsburgh. Through the use of CSafe Global’s packaging and temperature loggers provided by CargoSense, the airline verified its aircraft maintains ideal environments for passive temperature-sensitive shipments.
• Amazon Air added Pittsburgh to its expanding U.S. cargo network. Amazon Air packages arrive once daily at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) via a Boeing 737-800F freighter. Through a partner lease agreement, Amazon Air will use 50,000 square feet of space at PIT.
• CG Railway (CGR) launched the first of two new rail ferries. Part of a joint venture between subsidiaries of Genesee & Wyoming and SEACOR Holdings, CGR operates a U.S. Class III freight railroad across the Gulf of Mexico. The newly launched vessel began operations in the second quarter of 2021, with the second new vessel expected in the third quarter.
• The Alliance, comprised of Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hapag-Lloyd, HMM, and Yang Ming Line, is revising its transatlantic schedules to cover a wider range of countries. Replacing the Atlantic 3 service, the new Atlantic 5 weekly service rotation from ONE includes Hamburg, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Antwerp, Belgium; La Havre, France; Southampton, England; Halifax, Canada; Port Everglades; and Cartagena, Colombia.
• Samskip established a dedicated airfreight business, launching the new division at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. The new entity adds to the transport group’s rail, road, shortsea, and inland waterway links throughout Europe.