Trinity Logistics: 3PL tackles LTL

Leaders at third-party logistics services provider (3PL) Trinity Logistics needed to get a better handle on the complexities of managing its less-than-truckload (LTL) business-so they turned to technology to solve the problem.A well-established truckload (TL) service provider, the 3PL has been diversifying into LTL, a segment of the business that requires managing a range of accessorial charges-additional fees charged to shippers when extra services are required, including special equipment, additional labor, special handling, or extended wait times, among others. If not handled proactively, such charges can lead to billing discrepancies and uncomfortable conversations with customers when unexpected charges are added.Trinity Logistics decided to partner with accessorial identification service Shiplify to get ahead of those issues and reduce discrepancies-and company leaders say they are seeing results in the form of fewer billing variances and better customer relationships.INTEGRATING FOR SUCCESSShiplify's technology platform provides accurate, real-time access to location data, which helps companies identify delivery sites where additional services may be required-such as residential addresses or destinations with limited access or that require a lift-gate in order to make the delivery. Such requirements entail additional fees, charged to the shipper.With Shiplify's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform, Trinity Logistics has visibility into all of those issues, allowing the company to proactively manage accessorial charges and improve billing accuracy. Trinity was able to easily add the platform through its transportation management system (TMS)-from freight management software company Banyan Technology-which has an existing integration with the Shiplify platform."Collaborating with Shiplify perfectly complements our mission to deliver unparalleled efficiency in freight management. It enriches our platform, allowing us to proactively address potential shipping challenges," Brian Smith, CEO of Banyan Technology, said in a case study describing the project. "For our clients, this means improved billing accuracy, reduced delivery issues, and enhanced operational efficiency, which are key components in driving customer satisfaction and retention."Curt Kouts, director of LTL at Trinity Logistics, agrees."Shiplify has transformed our LTL operations," Kouts said in the case study. "By implementing their platform via Banyan Technology, we've significantly reduced billing variances and improved our customer relationships by proactively managing accessorial charges. This partnership has added efficiency to our business, saving our LTL shipping customers thousands of dollars."Specifically, the Shiplify addition has reduced Trinity Logistics' billing variances by 24%.The move has also improved carrier relationships."By utilizing shared data, Trinity strengthened its relationships with carriers who also use Shiplify, aligning both parties on the same information," according to the case study.