The National Motor Freight Traffic Association recently established a Digital Full Truckload Council. This builds on the success of the Digital LTL Council by combining the digital standards for less-than-truckload and FTL segments. The organization has also created a Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC) to oversee the two segments. This unified approach will boost efficiency and innovation across the logistics industry.
DSDC will foster collaboration between the councils and seek opportunities to share application programming interface standards while allowing them to concentrate on their respective industries.
The Digital FTL Council includes representatives from Averitt, C.H. Robinson, e2open, J.B. Hunt, Nordstrom, One Network Enterprises, Uber Freight, and U.S. Bank Freight Payment.
This new development will support NMFTA's efforts to develop standards that improve communication between carriers, shippers, technology providers, and third-party logistics providers by creating and sharing APIs for a fully digital logistics process.
See also: Fleets Explained: What are trucking segments?
“We have successfully gathered a group of well-known industry leaders who are enthusiastic about this strategy and champion our effort to ensure digital standards are developed,” Debbie Sparks, executive director for NMFTA, said.
For many years, NMFTA’s digital efforts have been mainly focused on the LTL space. In 2021, the association launched a first-of-its-kind electronic bill of lading standard, which many LTL shipping companies adopted.
“NMFTA’s expertise and proven history in standards development provided a strong foundation for our working relationship,” Stuart Scott, chief information officer and EVP of J.B. Hunt Transport, said. “Through the Digital FTL and LTL Councils, we will deepen collaboration and advance digital standards across the logistics industry.”
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