While every kid’s idealistic view of the far-distant future likely includes some type of flying car, we’ve yet to see the skies filled with mass transport vehicles. There’s been plenty of transportation innovation, though, and in the last few years the emergence of AI and software-based tools has made logistics vastly more efficient and transparent.
At Shaker, we’ve rapidly adopted technology that’s replaced cumbersome processes and improved how we serve our customers – but we’ve stayed grounded in what truly makes our operation invaluable: the care and expertise of our people. Combining human and technology resources is allowing us to work smarter and find better solutions for our customers.
Here’s a look at some of the key benefits of logistics technology in our operation.
A Tech-Enabled Logistics Team
Powerful logistics technology permeates every aspect of our daily operation at Shaker. It’s astonishing to think back to the company’s founding three decades ago and realize that everything was once on paper and asynchronous – routing guides, carrier contact lists, maps, and more. Today, more than 20 pieces of technology touch each shipment we manage, ensuring that we’re selecting the best routing, the safest carriers, the right equipment, and including the right documentation.
Layered atop this tech ecosystem is our team of trained logistics pros, who know how to seamlessly move across platforms to optimize loads. While software makes it easier to see options, it’s still our human logistics specialists who interpret the data and make decisions that deliver for our customers.
Finding Capacity with Technology
At the beginning of a shipment, our team relies on several digital load boards to access the widest possible network of carriers, reaching thousands of carrier options at various price points to give shippers coverage options for any type of freight. We then use real-time rate data to analyze the market and determine reasonable pricing for the lane, which can change from hour to hour based on supply and demand, weather, equipment availability, or other factors.
Once we find carrier options, our suite of technology automatically assesses each carrier’s risk level by running instant checks of driving records, insurance coverage, and safety scores. Our associates weigh these variables against our own rigorous internal standards to determine whether to award shipments to new carriers. For lanes where we frequently ship, we have dedicated carriers lined up and our transportation management system can automatically rate and tender loads to those carriers with minimal intervention, ensuring that shipments are covered and planned quickly.
“The relationships are a core part of Shaker’s service,” said Jason Smith, CEO. “Technology makes it so much easier for us to find quality carriers, but our team has to take that final step to determine if a carrier meets our standards. We’re very particular about the carriers we choose because establishing carrier loyalty is the key to providing elevated service to shippers.”
Real-Time Shipment Tracking
Once a load is moving, Shaker has access to multiple systems to track a shipment’s location in real time. Our tools include real-time GPS tracking on our fleet, with a dashboard customers can access, direct digital tracking for LTL shipments, and digitally-enabled tracking for brokered loads, where we maintain a direct connection to the carrier’s vehicle.
While technology allows our team to see where any shipment is in real time, there’s more to tracking than knowing where a dot is on a map. Delays and equipment issues can’t be explained or solved by an algorithm. It often requires person-to-person communication to diagnose an issue and collaborate on a solution. Our team is frequently in touch with drivers and dispatchers via phone to make alternate plans or come up with recovery options when a shipment runs into trouble.
Once a shipment makes it to its final destination, Shaker’s technology tools provide digital proof of delivery, allow our team to verify that freight is secure and damage-free, and enable paper-free billing of customers and carriers – the trees are thankful!
Accessing Top Technology through your 3PL Partner
While the tools and software available to manage shipping and logistics are powerful, they’re often complex and expensive and don’t make sense for shippers to purchase on their own. Software subscriptions and licensing fees for a comprehensive logistics tech stack would cost shippers hundreds of thousands to replicate on their own.
“Partnering with a 3PL like Shaker means that you get access to everything we’ve invested in, and the advantages that technology provides,” said Jason. “We can check rates and run an analysis on lanes, manage routing guides using sophisticated AI-based route optimization, and ensure that there are checks and backstops to ensure only safe, vetted, and reliable carriers are used.”
Plus, 3PL partners are plugged into the industry and constantly evaluating new options in logistics software. “Each year, we assess and invest in the tools we think will bring our operation, and therefore our customers, the most value,” said Jason. “The ability to crunch large data sets almost instantly lets us dial in the best routes, pricing, and carrier options for each load. Our dashboards show us in real-time the market conditions that could impact our customers. And every shipper who works with us benefits from our technology, and our team of humans.”
Flying Cars or Not, Humans Still Matter in Transportation!
Software can make logistics more efficient, but a computer can’t be loyal, cater to a shipper’s needs, or connect all the dots to solve a complex logistics problem. Only people, with longstanding experience, can provide elevated service like that. Relationships are the foundation of honest logistics practices. Loyalty between shippers and their logistics partners fosters a culture of mutual success and a willingness to support each other find solutions through varying market conditions. Technology enhances efficiency, but it can’t go the extra mile. The combination, however, of future-focused tech with service-minded humans with expertise in logistics, can’t be beat.
Efficient Logistics Solutions Driven by Technology, Powered by People
Partner with Shaker Logistics to get the best of both worlds—cutting-edge technology powered by people who genuinely care about your business. Our team’s expertise, combined with innovative tools, ensures your freight moves efficiently, reliably, and with the personalized attention you deserve. Let us help you navigate the complexities of logistics with solutions tailored to your unique needs. Connect with Shaker Logistics today and see the difference human-driven service makes.