Savings In the Ba
ARTC LOGISTICS: Tools for Better Understanding and Control of Freight Spending ARTC Logistics, formerly AR Traf c Consultants, has been providing advanced transportation management software and third-party logistics services for nearly 60 years. Its new name re ects the breadth of services the company offers, says Nick Fisher, director of sales. These services include routing optimization, load tendering, tracking and tracing, a vendor compliance portal, and advanced analytics, among others. Each year, ARTC audits $450 million in invoices and manages 20 million packages. On its audits alone, ARTC saves clients an average of 2 to 4% of freight spend. The name isn’t the only change. ARTC is enhancing its dashboard and reporting portal so they’re easier to use with handheld devices and allow for more custom reports. They’ll also provide greater connectivity with carriers. “Customers will be able to gain more accessibility to more carrier information at one time and in one place,” Fisher notes. ARTC’s freight dashboard displays key freight performance indicators. Shippers can see where their freight dollars are going, so they can better understand and control their freight spending. CalcRate, ARTC’s agship software program, is designed to interface with most ERP systems. By pulling orders directly, it keeps shippers’ accruals in balance. The proprietary software ARTC offers can be hosted in the cloud or installed on a client’s IBM iSeries computer. The programmers who developed the code handle support calls directly.
We have created a cloud-native, state-of-the- art solution with enhanced pre- and post- auditing capabilities. –Tom Nightingale CEO AFS Logistics
In addition, a lack of detailed reporting and the large number of LTL carriers with which the company was working made managing and gaining visibility to freight costs and performance dif cult and cumbersome. AFS Logistics, collaborating with a shipment visibility software company, designed a custom solution that provides access to accurate, timely transportation data and predictive insights, including parcel delivery status, location, and more. Armed with this insight, AFS uncovered freight accessorial charge errors—including incorrect detention, reconsignment, and layover charges— that had previously been hidden. AFS also implemented a new claims process the locations could use to le and manage less-than-truckload freight claims. In the rst 15 months, more than $238,000 was returned to the company in paid claims, while parcel savings in 2020 hit nearly $1.2 million. Given this, it is not surprising that Nightingale says more cargo owners and others are asking about the company’s FBAP services. “We have seen a pretty dramatic increase in the number of inquiries coming to us,” he says.
Because the new interface offers automated functionalities and full visibility to a range of freight audit and payment data—such as invoice, shipping, and billing details—shippers can more ef ciently and accurately manage their freight, and make faster, more informed decisions. Over the past 40 years, AFS has completed 22 acquisitions, including some of the most successful freight services rms in the United States and Canada, Nightingale says. As AFS has expanded, so has its client base. While historically focused on mid- tier manufacturing, distribution, and retail companies, the company has now added high-tech, retail, and automotive companies to its client list. Pre- and Post-Payment auditing yields cost savings AFS processes 4 million freight bills each week and manages about $11 billion in transportation spending each year. Among other services, it offers both pre- and post-payment auditing services. Clients typically save between about 6.6 to 8% of their transportation spend; the exact percentage varies with the mix of modes. Consider AFS’s work with a global electric distributor that operates more than 500 branches and distribution centers across the United States. Many of these locations process massive parcel and LTL volumes. At times, outbound packages weren’t properly delivered. While ling a claim would have enabled the company to get a refund, it had no process for doing so. As a result, each failed delivery was considered a sunk cost.
Customers will be able to gain more accessibility to more carrier information at one time and in one place with ARTC’s enhanced dashboard and reporting portal. –Nick Fisher Director of Sales ARTC Logistics, formerly AR Traffic Consultants
78 Inbound Logistics • September 2022
Powered by FlippingBook