usually take several weeks to complete, but Averitt made the onboarding process relatively simple and quick, he adds. As a supply chain solutions provider, Averitt can be flexible to the needs of shippers like Suzuki, says Joseph Greek, senior content marketing strategist. The technology Averitt can offer, including visibility through its WMS, also helps shippers streamline their own supply chains, he adds. The benefits of the partnership can be seen daily. “Since we started using Averitt’s transportation services, we have significantly improved on-time delivery, carrier communications, and supply chain visibility,” Cobb says. “Averitt’s website is simple to navigate, their online system tools are easy to utilize, and their staff quickly provides all requested information and documentation.” Suzuki recently started dealer fulfillment operations out of Averitt’s warehouse in Grand Prairie, Texas, and is considering utilizing their regional LTL services out of the same location.
Franke, which offers modular coffee systems among other foodservice products, worked with a 3PL to develop a customized solution that optimizes LTL freight while balancing cost and service to customers.
network, XPO can meet Franke’s transportation needs with speed and efficiency. If Franke requests drop trailers on a Friday afternoon, XPO can accommodate and deliver them within the country with a one- to four-day turnaround time, Christensen says. NO BUSINESS DISRUPTION Another factor in the success of the rollout was XPO’s ability to onboard the additional business without disrupting Franke’s operations. Because XPO already had integrated relationships with some of Franke’s locations and its vendors, it was able to scale quickly, consolidating Franke’s multiple carriers without disrupting its supply chain. The main benefit for Franke? “A streamlined outbound LTL shipping
working together for several years, but their relationship grew significantly in 2022, when the Franke team consolidated its U.S. carrier base, says Marissa Christensen, vice president of national sales for XPO. XPO’s coast-to-coast network, record of on-time service, and existing relationships with many of Franke’s vendors were key to this shift, she adds. Over about one month, XPO seamlessly completed Franke’s consolidation of carrier services across the United States. XPO transports freight for Franke throughout the United States and Canada, and provides premium care services, including a dedicated customer support team. Because XPO has an in-house trailer manufacturing capability, it’s able to provide drop-trailer services to Franke. By dropping trailers at Franke’s locations and swapping them out after they are loaded, XPO enables Franke to consolidate carrier efforts on its docks while also providing more flexibility in how and when they load their trailers. Through its coast-to-coast carrier
ICYMI: Consolidating Carrier Services
Franke, a leading global supplier of products and services for residential kitchens, foodservice systems, convenience stores and professional coffee-making, manages operations that span 60 companies across five continents, with an employee roster that tops 8,000. Franke partnered with XPO to leverage the LTL freight transportation provider’s carrier pricing program. XPO tailored the program for Franke’s various divisions, with an emphasis on the Home Solutions division. “Our goal was to optimize the carrier base for our division while balancing cost and service to customers,” says Rachel Davis, project manager at Franke. “We utilize XPO as our primary outbound LTL carrier to customers within the United States with a new pricing program for our Home Solutions division,” she says. XPO and Franke USA had been
process for our Home Solutions division,” says David Salmon, procurement category manager at Franke.
Moving forward into the upcoming months, Franke plans to quantify the benefits of the new pricing program and partnership with XPO. n
116 Inbound Logistics • July 2023
Powered by FlippingBook