DC Velocity - April 2012

Routing/scheduling software: A new software enhancement developed by Paragon Software Systems Inc. enables trucking companies to organize deliveries to arrive on site at similar times each day. Use of the special Arrival Time Banding feature in Paragon’s routing and scheduling optimization software results in more manageable deliveries for customers, since staff members no longer need to break off from their other duties to receive deliveries at different times of the day. It also allows carriers to make full utilization of their drivers and trucks, while providing the service improvements.

The new feature incorporates the different time zones used across the United States and Canada and will be beneficial to operators when planning and optimizing multiple deliveries on fixed routes or even dynamic routes, the company says. (Paragon Software Systems Inc., www.paragonrouting.com/us)

New LCL lanes into Australia: Ceva Logistics has launched three new less-than-container load (LCL) lanes into Australia. The latest additions to Ceva’s global ocean freight services run from Shanghai, China, and Singapore to three locations in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, and Fremantle.

The three lanes are already operational. The Shanghai-to-Sydney lane has a transit time of 16 days and also serves the Brisbane area. Ceva also offers expedited cargo clearance through its Container Freight Station (CFS) upon arrival. As a result, deliveries to final destinations in Sydney take place three to five days after the vessel arrives in port and to Brisbane within five to seven days. The Shanghai-to-Melbourne lane also serves Adelaide and has a transit time of 19 days. This lane also provides faster freight availability through a Ceva CFS in Melbourne. Ceva can deliver locally in Melbourne within three to five days of vessel arrival, with guaranteed overnight transit to Adelaide.

Further deliveries to both Brisbane and Adelaide are managed by Ceva Ground, which provides full transportation management services through its integrated road line-haul service. The Singapore-to-Fremantle transit time is approximately seven days, with faster freight availability at Ceva’s Perth CFS.

Ceva can provide visibility of all its sailings through its track-and-trace tool, which allows customers to see exactly where their goods are at any point in the supply chain. The company plans to roll out lanes to Sydney and Melbourne out of Hong Kong and Hamburg, Germany, in the coming months. (Ceva Logistics, www.cevalogistics.com)

Cloud-based WMS for 3PLs: LogFire has added transload and deconsolidation functionality to its cloud-based warehouse management solutions (WMS). This new functionality is designed to meet the warehouse management needs of third-party logistics providers (3PLs), the company says.

LogFire expects the new WMS transload and deconsolidation capabilities to be used mainly to help 3PLs move freight from an ocean container to outbound trailer loads by destination, purchase order, or stock-keeping unit. The new functionality eliminates the need to toggle between a transportation system and a WMS, the company says. (LogFire, logfire.com)

SOLID

For over 60 years, American Baler Company has engineered some of the industry’s most advanced baling equipment. As we continue to innovate customer-driven baling solutions, we will continue to influence the way balers should be made.

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