It’s been reported that Mark Twain famously said upon reading his own premature obituary: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said about electronic data interchange (EDI) software—as many in the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry lament its demise because application programming interface (API) has entered the supply chain technosphere.

Shippers have a new list of expectations, while carriers desire greater differentiators. As digital commerce continues to explode, many final-mile and reverse logistics providers are rethinking and redefining their roles and navigating new opportunities as they start the push toward the next peak season.

What does the rest of 2024 have in store? As we enter Q2, this is the question on every LTL leader’s mind. Macroeconomic shifts, industry trends, unexpected current events––each of these factors into core decision-making, and accordingly, each should have a consistent spot on the radar of any logistics leader looking to successfully adapt to market conditions.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to finances. How well has your LTL company managed costs? How well have you capitalized on new opportunities in a changing market? These questions define success and failure in the logistics industry.

In the first of four new SMC3 LTL Hybrid Sessions, industry veterans revealed how they charted a path to career success in the less-than-truckload (LTL) market. Joe Kniple, senior vice president of revenue and pricing at Worldwide Express, and Erica Brigance, vice president of data science at ArcBest Technology, provided best practices for others looking to break into the LTL industry and/or advance through the ranks.

Justin Springer, Director of Business Development, SMC³ and Joe Tillman, Manager Education Programs, SMC³ Analyst Insight: In an environment with increasing supply chain complexity, fluctuating capacity, and consistent technological advancement, shippers that stand out as a “shipper of choice” for carriers are most effectively able to drive lower costs and more productive provider relationships.  To stand out from […]