“Reducing Invoicing Surprises,” the third session of the SMC³ LTL Online Education webinar, featured Tyler Limbaugh, Truck Audits Manager at American Rail & Truck Audits (AMTR).  He got to the bottom of what can go wrong in pricing freight — and how shippers and carriers alike can avoid mishaps.

Freight classification is an important part of LTL — shaping everything from pricing to operational efficiency. LTL freight is complex, comprising a wide variety of products and materials. Classification gets even more complicated with models like hub and spoke, where freight is moving constantly between different docks and trailers. With all this complexity, how does freight get classified?

LTL continues to grapple with how sustainability concerns are poised to reshape the industry in the coming years. Promising innovations from within the industry and stringent regulations imposed by state and federal agencies all but guarantee seismic shifts on the near horizon. The question on everyone’s lips: will these changes transform the industry for the better – or do they have the potential to destroy it?

Featuring two Leadership Series sessions and one panel discussion, the second day was chock-full of insights and pressing questions. Both Leadership Series sessions explored emerging industry trends, actionable business strategies, and the technologies driving the future of trucking and supply chain management. Sandwiched in between the two leadership sessions, a panel discussion featured three of the many giants in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry, leaders who are reshaping the space. Featuring an innovative playbook of strategies and trends, the panel addressed the relentless pace of emerging technologies—and how to keep up.

Technology plays a central role in the Less-than-truckload (LTL) industry. While the trucking industry as a whole has been slower to adopt new technology, it’s apparent today that technology solutions are where to turn to optimize freight spend, achieve shipment visibility and streamline transportation planning.

A recent report by McKinsey & Company revealed a concerning statistic. If emissions stay on their current trajectory, net zero would not arrive even by the end of the century, the firm reported. Considering that the trucking industry hauls 72 percent of the nation’s freight and travels 300 billion miles annually, it’s essential to put a spotlight on its contribution to the carbon footprint.