DC Velocity - January 2016

A new software extension from Paragon Software Systems Inc. allows carriers to plan more efficient routes for time-sensitive loads by avoiding scheduled road closures and detours, the company claims.

Clients can use Paragon Route Control to add time-sensitive restrictions to transport plans so their drivers can avoid delays such as school-zone dropoff times, parade routes, and city road restrictions during rush hours.

Dallas-based Paragon provides truck routing and scheduling software designed to cut transportation costs and improve efficiency. The company’s other products include daily route optimization, fixed-route rationalization, transportation resource management, strategic logistics planning, and home-delivery order management through dynamic routing.

The new app allows transportation planners to use a calendar to create routes that comply with time- and day-related local, state, and national regulations, and circumvent road closures resulting from major public events. The tool helps minimize the impact of these restrictions on routing and scheduling, as drivers can deliberately avoid traffic snarls such as road congestion caused by the Boston Marathon or Super Bowl, construction areas, or vehi-cle-specific travel restrictions, such as a ban on 53-foot trailers on certain highways between midnight and 6 a.m.

“Our grocery-store clients have asked for this capability to make their day-to-day job easier—and we have delivered with Paragon Route Control,” Paragon CEO William Salter said in a release. “Our customers can [now] create rules that automatically apply legitimate route deviations at specific times of the day, week, or month by truck type to their transportation plans, reducing the level of manual intervention required by the planner. Drivers can better meet delivery schedules while adhering to road restrictions and regulations, ensuring on-time deliveries and improving customer satisfaction.”

Paragon adds calendar
capability to route-
planning platform Conveyor equipment firm Dorner Manufacturing Corp. will merge with

FlexMove System, a Penang, Malaysia-based manufacturer of flexible chain conveyors. … Akro-Mils has expanded its line of louvered carts with the addition of small and large models with locking doors. … Zebra Technologies Corp. has introduced the Windows 10-ready VC80, a vehicle-mount computer designed to extend any PC-based application to material handling vehicle operators in need of mobile access. … Label company Avery has posted an article on its website that offers advice for small and medium-sized businesses looking to be compliant with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for labeling and identifying hazardous chemicals. The article, “Easing the Transition to GHS Label Compliance,” can be found in the “GHS News” section of www.avery. com. … Wynright Corp. has introduced the AS- 30 Sliding Shoe Sorter, a high-speed positive sorter designed to accurately track and gently sort cartons of various sizes and configurations. … Intelligrated has launched an educational “On The Move” webinar series designed to facilitate interactive discussions on technologies and trends in the material handling industry. … Registration for the Warehousing Education and Research Council’s (WERC) 39th Annual Conference is now open at www.werc.org/2016. The event will be held May 15–18 in Providence, R.I. short takes

Imagine the Possibilities

Another Sign You Need Apex | #TrueStory What good is a $1,500 scanner if you can’t find it? Find out how to keep all your handheld devices safely organized, charged and ready to work at ApexSupplyChain.com/AssetManagement. Manage handheld devices like you can’t work without them