Frozen Food Express (FFE) has deployed Paragon Software Systems Inc’s route optimization software to maximize transport efficiencies within its linehaul operation.
One of the largest temperature-controlled LTL operators in the United States, FFE is using Paragon’s Integrated Fleets and Street Level Mapping solutions to transform its transport planning process. This is providing increased visibility of truck movements between service centers, lowering transport costs and improving on-time deliveries by 12%.
“Implementing Paragon Integrated Fleets has given us unprecedented visibility into our linehaul operation,” said Nick Cook, vice-president, operations, FFE Transportation Services Inc. “In the first six months, we have seen an improvement of 12% in our on-time delivery and reduced our weekly brokered loads by 90%, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and bottom line improvements.”
With 14 terminals across the nation and a fleet of 200 line haul trucks, FFE picks up food products from manufacturers, bringing them back to the service centers where goods are cross-docked and then delivered to retailers in FFE’s local fleet of 700 delivery trucks.
Paragon’s Integrated Fleets software has allowed the transportation team to automate the entire planning process, but also more accurately predict arrival times. This has resulted in the improvement in on-time deliveries at customer sites and a better service experience for all of its customers.
The increased visibility of its transport operation provided by Paragon’s route optimization software has also allowed the LTL temperature-controlled carrier to reduce their pickup and delivery truck fleet by 10%. In addition, centralizing the planning function has allowed FFE to free up local staff to focus on operating the service centers instead of being under pressure to find time to manually plan deliveries.
“Knowing where trucks are and who is available to deliver those loads has greatly added to the efficiency of our transport operation,” said Walter Martz, senior analyst, FFE Transportation Services. “In the past, we had to subcontract to other carriers to haul our loads because we didn’t have enough trucks available. Paragon has helped us eliminate this expense while also removing the penalty fees for not meeting promised delivery windows. Together that is a saving of up to $400,000 each month.”
Paragon Integrated Fleets is an advanced routing software module that simplifies managing complex transport operations into a single planning exercise. Transportation planners responsible for operations that include deliveries and collections from multiple sites and large fleets distributed across multiple DCs can benefit from a centralized planning approach that maximizes utilization of trucks and drivers, and reduces food miles. The addition of the Street Level Mapping software module allows transportation operators to further improve accuracy of delivery routes and schedules.
Following the success of implementing Paragon’s route optimization software in its linehaul operation, FFE is now planning to roll out the software across its pick-up and delivery operation.
For more information, go to www.paragontruckrouting.com.
