Your Strategic Transportation Management Solutions Provider

Remember the first half of 2021 when consumer demand soared and supply chain bottlenecks wreaked havoc on transportation networks? Well, 2022 is looking like more of the same. A labor shortage of 4.6 million workers is plaguing industries from transportation to manufacturing, meanwhile consumer demand is skyrocketing and raw goods are low in supply.

With one in five container vessels stalled outside a congested port and the pool of truck drivers still not growing fast enough to meet demand, retailers are struggling to keep pace, let alone remain profitable. These conditions have also increased freight rates because with limited capacity, carriers hold the power to define the market.

Between January 2018 and Q2 2022, truckload freight rates rose 28.2%, reaching a record high — and those elevated rates are expected to continue for most of 2022. But this is only part of the problem: The transportation industry is also facing difficulties securing container shipments and scaling its labor force to keep up with demand — which ultimately means carriers are struggling to meet compliance.

To remain profitable, you must ensure your carriers deliver goods on time and in excellent condition. Now is the time to look inward at your transportation network and identify new carrier partners that can help you achieve these goals.

Prevent high contract pricing from harming your bottom line

In a carriers’ market, you have to be willing to explore new opportunities that empower your transportation and logistics team. There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to optimize your supply chain strategy, but you can start with these tips.

• Establish expectations with contracted carriers. When establishing carrier relationships, set expectations up front for pricing and service levels. Foster these partnerships to avoid high spot market rates you would typically pay when a carrier is non-compliant. Contract rates offer a reduced risk of pricing fluctuations, and help secure stability and long-term service partnerships.

• Identify new opportunities. We all know that things don’t always go as planned. So to remain competitive, you must be agile. Source best-fit carriers outside your transportation network so you have additional options when a contracted carrier’s truck is unavailable. Smaller carriers like independent owner operators can aid your capacity needs at a more competitive rate. Adding non-traditional carriers to your routing guide can also diversify your transportation network, helping you keep pace with supply and demand.

• Lean on carrier data. In today’s ever-evolving freight market, a data-driven freight strategy is a requirement. With a dataset of real-time linehaul rate benchmarking data, you can more easily source optimal carriers and secure competitive rates. Access to this data eliminates the need to rely on inflated spot market carriers or brokerage to identify carriers in your network.

At the end of the day, the goal of transportation is to move goods in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. To do that — and remain profitable — you must cultivate strong carrier relationships, initiate new partnerships, and use linehaul rate benchmarking data to optimize your network. Untapped carrier opportunities exist — you just need to find them.

Schedule a demo of Capac-ID for fair-market pricing and best-fit capacity recommendations customized to your transportation network.

Sustainability is daunting. Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions make up the vast majority of shippers’ emissions — about 10% of which come from transportation. These emissions are also the most difficult to quantify and reduce because they fall outside the reporting organization’s direct control.

Today, that changes. We’re clearing up the misconception that sustainability equals complexity with the launch of CleanMile — an end-to-end transportation emissions management solution. For any transportation professional who has wondered if they can make transportation fuel management, network strategy, or execution more sustainable, CleanMile is here to make sure they will.

This Earth Day, we are excited to showcase how CleanMile enables organizations to weave sustainable practices into transportation operations to effectively reduce lifecycle emissions.

The Pressure is on for More Sustainable Practices

Transportation — including trucking, rail, and other modes — is both the highest emitting sector of CO2 in the U.S. and a significant contributor to atmospheric pollution. Rising atmospheric CO2 levels are responsible for nearly two-thirds of the energy polarity causing the Earth’s temperature to increase. The rise in carbon dioxide has myriad, far-reaching consequences for the global environment, from ocean acidification to changes in the availability of natural resources.

But scope 3 emissions continue to be the most difficult for companies to manage. Your organization is responsible for reporting greenhouse gas output from sources that aren’t directly under your control. How do you quantify how much CO2 a particular vendor is producing, let alone reduce it?

The issue is a double-edged sword: We need transportation to distribute goods across the globe, yet emissions stemming from transportation are harming the environment at a rapid pace. But this paradox presents an opportunity. Organizations seeking opportunities to harness their data can use CleanMile to work toward scope 3 emissions reduction and make progress toward corporate sustainability goals. If you’ve ever wanted to make better business decisions for the planet, now you can.

We Make Real Progress

At Breakthrough, we work alongside our clients to create a competitive advantage in their supply chains. In 2021 alone, new Breakthrough clients on the Fuel Recovery program reduced intermodal fuel spend by 58% and truckload fuel spend by 20%.

Now, we are going the extra mile by enabling your business to make real progress toward transportation emissions reduction. With three phases of engagement, CleanMile helps your business:

1. Track. By combining data and smart technology, CleanMile can monitor the energy consumption and lifecycle emissions associated with your entire inbound and outbound transportation network. This sets the foundation for custom recommendations for emissions reduction.

2. Plan. After tracking and analyzing your network’s carbon emissions, we create an emissions reduction roadmap tailored to your sustainability goals. In the planning phase, we provide actionable and data-driven recommendations to help you stay on track with business objectives while reducing emissions.

3. Execute. What separates us from our competitors? We don’t just suggest a plan and expect you to execute it — we stay by your side until you reach the end of your roadmap to sustainability. Every business is unique, so every business’s plan to achieve sustainability goals will look different. Whether you need to overcome the hurdles of alternative energy use or you’re in search of a more sustainable shipping partner, we’ve got you covered.

With CleanMile, You Can

Tackling sustainability initiatives doesn’t have to be intimidating. This Earth Day, we’re changing the way we view scope 3 emissions reduction — the problem is no longer too large or too complex. You can make meaningful progress toward more sustainable transportation practices and with CleanMile, you will.

Ready to take your first step toward a greener future? Schedule a demo of CleanMile today.

Learn more about our marine fuel management solution.