Drive Down Costs and Emissions on the Same Lane

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4 min read
November 17, 2022
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Traditional transportation benchmarking practices are holding shippers back in a volatile economy where the market unpredictably seesaws and fuel prices constantly shift.
For years, standard operating procedure was to develop benchmarks using promised rates contracted during an annual RFP rather than actual transacted costs. The problem? Shippers that haven’t modernized their processes miss critical cost-saving opportunities.
But with the right partners and technology, you can access comprehensive transportation data that encompasses variable factors like diesel fuel prices, linehaul rates, and accessorial charges. This comprehensive data enables you to optimize your transportation network in response to real-time rate fluctuations and develop geographically specific strategies that generate cost savings and improved efficiencies.
To realize these savings and efficiencies, you need a deliberate strategy that begins with a thorough review of all the data you currently use for transportation benchmarking — as well as data you don’t.
The first step toward customizing your transportation benchmarking strategy is to evaluate the quality of your data. Not all data is actionable.
For example, some data points provide context about shipments without leading to new opportunities. Others may be important factors to consider but aren’t credible or relevant to your industry.
The bottom line is that it’s imperative to understand where your transportation data points come from and how they’re collected so you can determine whether they’re relevant to your network. You should ask yourself if your data is:
To determine whether your benchmarking data is dynamic, transparent, specific, comprehensive, and actionable, contact your IT and transportation management system (TMS) teams to conduct a data analysis. And it pays to be thorough. Companies frequently overlook siloed data that can yield valuable insights simply because it’s not typically accessible to end-users. Assess all available data points and then work with a transportation management technology solutions provider to transform siloed information into an accurate and actionable data set.
In an unpredictable economy, you can’t afford unreliable transportation benchmarking data. A strategic benchmarking solution ensures access to extensive real-time insights, empowering you to make accurate, data-informed decisions.
However, analyzing your data is only the first step in optimizing your transportation strategy. Breakthrough’s Capac-ID provides continuous visibility into your network performance, delivering real-time, transacted rate benchmarking, lane-specific carrier identification, and actionable recommendations to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
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