The Final Mile

Watch the webinar with slides here: www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/usps-vaping-ban-webinar How can vaping companies make a seamless switch from USPS to a network of regional and local carriers who are willing and ready to deliver?  Midwest Distribution, a long time distributor of vaping and accessory products will be there to share how they navigated away from large national carriers, to the safe harbors of a delivery network. During the webinar, you will also hear: An overview of the USPS ruling and what it entails Locating a network to continue deliveries for vaping products Onboarding new regional and local carriers Maintaining visibility throughout the switch If you're in need of a distributor, check out Midwest Distribution: www.midwestgoods.com To access a comprehensive delivery network and maintain visibility, see a demo of eTrac here.

Today's supply chains are full of capacity shortages, frustrated customers, more returns, and higher costs.  As we enter the "new normal", now is the time to make changes that will protect your capacity into the future through network diversification. Moving to a diverse network that includes regional and local carriers offers a more secure supply chain, however, many companies make crucial mistakes during the transition.  We talked with Nate Skiver of LPF Spend Management on how successful companies diversify their delivery networks. We covered:  Why your perception of high costs needs to change How to start the diversification process to ensure success  His tools for managing a diverse network  Watch the full webinar. Learn more about eTrac Technologies. Learn more about Nate Skiver. Learn more about LPF Spend Management.

Micro-fulfillment centers are appearing faster than ever before. The size and proximity to end-consumers make these centers crucial in a competitive supply chain. What is the future of micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) and how can your company leverage them for continued final mile improvement? Colman Roche, V.P. of eCommerce and Retail at Swisslog, shared his insight on the future of MFCs. During this webinar, he covered: What your company needs to create a MFC The keys to a successful MFC Where MFCs are going and how your company can be prepared For more final mile resources, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com Learn more about Swisslog here. Connect with Colman Roche here.

Peak 2020 left many supply chains scrambling. Last minute capacity caps by the major national delivery carriers left millions of orders delayed and undelivered for the holiday season. Is 2021 going to bring a similar experience? Jim Tompkins, a well-known consultant with decades of experience in logistics, will provide his insights on how companies should be preparing for the upcoming peak season, can help protect their supply chain and ensure a prosperous season. We discussed: Expected restraints and speed bumps for the 2021 peak season Holiday consumer behaviors that may change supply chains What steps to take now to begin preparing for peak This episode is the audio from a webinar. To watch the full webinar, visit: www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/final-mile-peak-2021-jim-tompkins About Jim Tompkins Dr. James A. Tompkins is an international authority on designing and implementing end-to-end supply chains. As the founder and chairman of Tompkins International, his focus over the last several years has been in the areas of digital commerce, unichannel and supply chain reinvention. His 40-plus years as CEO of Tompkins International and his focus on helping companies achieve profitable growth give him an insider’s view into what makes great companies even better. Jim is a thought leader, sharing insights on supply chain excellence through his thousands of presentations around the world and his YouTube videos have had over a million views.  He has written or contributed to more than 30 books and over 1,000 articles and has been quoted in hundreds of business and industry magazines. Find Jim Tompkins on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/jimtompkins1/ Find more final mile resources: www.etractechnologies.com/ See a demo of eTrac: www.etractechnologies.com/see-a-demo

5G is going to have a huge impact on logistics and the final mile -- are you ready? We sat down with Bill Wark of floLIVE and Michael Hegeman of eTrac Technologies to discuss what 5G means for logistics and final mile visibility. We discussed: The foundational changes 5G will make to logistics and the final mile Innovations stemming from 5G that can be implemented The processes companies should take in rolling out 5G View the complete webinar:  https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/webinar-bringing-5g-to-the-final-mile Learn more about Bill Wark:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/billwark/ Learn more about Michael Hegeman:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhegeman/ Learn more about floLIVE: https://flolive.net/ Find more final mile resources here: www.eTracTechnologies.com

Is there such a thing as a Shipper of Choice? Can shippers protect capacity and improve their customers delivery experience by taking the strides to improve their relationship with their carriers? Spoiler: yes.  We sat down with Lorena Camargo of Pearl Trans and Harold Boyett of Blue Streak to learn how shippers, 3PL's and other logistics intermediaries can improve their relationships with their final mile carriers. We discussed how initial discussions, alignment of values, and technology all play into a positive relationship.  Meet the speakers: Lorena Camargo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-camargo-a3874655/ Harold Boyett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haroldboyett/ Emily Henderson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hireemilyhenderson/ Additional Resources Watch the full webinar: https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/webinar-shipper-of-choice-myth-or-reality More final mile resources: https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library About eTrac Technologies: https://www.etractechnologies.com/

Many companies are striving to achieve a more sustainable last mile, but is it possible? Navigating the current logistics model to overcome the challenges brought by 3rd party carriers, independent contractors, and “business as usual” seems daunting. IKEA has decided to dive head first into sustainability, pledging to be emissions free by 2025. How are they conquering logistics-norms to achieve this? We sat down with Steven Moelk of IKEA to discuss how they:  Brought together their delivery network of 3PLs to get on board with EV’s Overcame the challenges of working with independent contractor carriers and drivers while mandating truck standards The tools they’re using to motivate ICs and carriers to use EV’s Where they see sustainability going in the future During the podcast, Steven mentions an app they use called Fluid Truck. eTrac Technologies has no affiliation with Fluid Truck, but you can learn more about them here: https://www.fluidtruck.com/ Steven Moelk can be found on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-moelk-22265614/ For more resources on the final mile, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com. 

How do the top companies reach their last mile? Hear their stories and learn from their experiences in our new series: Forging the Final Mile. Join us as we sit down with Adam Bridges, Senior Director of Operations and head of last mile for J.B. Hunt. He’s forged the final mile initiative for one of the largest 3PL’s in the world. During the webinar, we will discuss: How J.B. Hunt made the decision to pursue the last mile Purchasing last mile assets vs. partnering with third party companies Managing growth and scaling your last mile footprint Knowing your team’s strengths and deciding what to outsource How their plan has pivoted in a pandemic world For more final mile resources, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com. 

What's coming to the last mile in 2021? Luanne Allen and Emily Henderson discuss their predictions for the new year and the pivots that are sure to come, including: Growth in drone deliveries Changes to how consumers receive their orders Sustainability and packaging changes Capacity expectations The end of a singular-carrier system Cold-chain strain For more information on the last mile, visit www.eTracFinalMile.com See a demo of eTrac at www.eTracFinalMile.com/request-a-demo/

Who has time to watch a webinar anyways? (If you do, watch full recording here.) We broke out the audio of one of our most popular webinars where we sat down with Jeff Boutwell to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our Carrier Partner Network. If you're not familiar with our network, it is a comprehensive database of regional and local last mile carriers who you can utilize to start or grow your last mile footprint. In this podcast we cover: Why you might choose to use regional and local carriers to reach the last mile What kind of carriers we have in our network and what services they provide How you can access these carriers to quickly pivot, grow, or establish your last mileThis episode was originally recorded as a webinar.  To watch the full webinar with slides, click here.  Want to learn more about the Carrier Network? See a demo of eTrac here. For more last mile resources, visit: www.eTracFinalMile.com.

For today's podcast, we selected the all-too-interesting topic of... data. Interesting might be a strong word, but nevertheless data is what makes your supply chain thrive. Data is required for visibility, efficiency, and analysis of your providers. It can save you significant time and money when reaching the last mile.  Given its importance, we recognize the lack of knowledge and understanding many have of data and how it works. Many think data is too complex or out of their skill set, but we disagree. For today's show, we've broken down the basics of data with Luanne Allen, Director of eTrac Services. Listen as we cover: The kinds of data and how it moves The applications of data for transportation  What kind of technical literacy to expect from regional and local carriers Data's role in shifting to a paperless supply chain Utilizing data to maintain efficiency  It can seem a daunting task to connect your system to the systems of regional or small carriers, but understanding the data and technology behind the connections and working with the right partner makes it the right choice. For more last mile resources visit www.eTracFinalMile.com.  Learn more about our expert, Luanne Allen, here: www.linkedin.com/in/luanne-allen-a13b0b8/

What is going on with parcel? From surcharges to capacity caps to an October Prime Day it seems like a storm is brewing in parcel. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Brian Byrd, EVP of Operations at Transportation Impact, to learn what's coming for parcel during peak season, including: What big 3 customers are facing over the next few weeks. Why volume is a negative for Fedex, UPS, and USPS customers.  How to pivot your supply chains to keep things moving during peak season.  How shippers can influence buyer behavior to mitigate some of these problems. What's coming in 2021 -- from Q1 to Q4. Tune in to learn the state of the Parcel market going into peak and beyond! Brian Byrd is the EVP of Operations at Transportation Impact. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, Bryan began his carrier in equity markets. In 2012, he transitioned to Transportation Impact as a Business Analyst. Brian has worked through advanced leadership roles including Parcel Audit and Negotiation services. He excels in all areas of supply chain optimization and strategy with the goal of delivering a cost reduction. You can find Brian Byrd on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brian-byrd-ti/ You can learn more about Transportation Impact on their website: www.transportationimpact.com/ For more last mile resources, news, and information visit the eTrac website: www.eTracFinalMile.com

This week we sat down with Bryan Wyatt of Chainalytics and Danny Barfield of eTrac to answer all of your questions about surviving 2020's unprecedented peak season. We discussed: What your biggest concern should be during peak What adding capacity to your last mile looks like The true cost of adding a regional or local carrier network Maintaining last mile visibility as you quickly add capacity What to expect moving into 2021 About the guests Bryan Wyatt is a principal in Chainalytics' transportation consulting practice. He brings 20+ years of experience to this role—both as a shipper at The Home Depot and Georgia Pacific as well as a carrier specializing in last mile delivery—where he helps companies assess and optimize their transportation processes, organization and costs. Brian was named a 2020 Pro To Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and he's an instructor at the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute. www.Chainalytics.com Find Bryan on LinkedIn Danny Barfield is the Executive Vice President at eTrac, helping companies save time and money as they reach the last mile. With "30 years +" in the industry, he has worked in carrier management, technology, operations and sales for companies including Datatrac, Fedex Freight, Dynamex and more.  www.eTracFinalMile.com Find Danny on LinkedIn

The most valuable 15 minutes you'll spend today. Record-setting rates and shipment limits have companies scrambling to find new ways to reach the last mile for peak season. Is it too late? We say it's not. Today, Luanne Allen, director of eTrac services, will cover: - Why people are leaving the large national carriers in droves - Where to start looking for alternatives to large national carriers - How to find a multi-carrier network - How long finding and onboarding a multi-carrier network should take - How to maintain visibility as you onboard these new carriers To find capacity now, visit www.eTracFinalMile.com. 

A revolutionary year for last mile has required unprecedented innovation from supply chain professionals. At the core of success in last mile is utilizing technology that will help you overcome challenges and build a thriving supply chain. On this webinar you will learn about: New innovations in last mile technology for every business How to successfully deliver on customer expectations 3 tips for simplifying delivery through mobile technology Differentiators that will increase profitability and customer satisfaction See the full webinar at: https://www.etracfinalmile.com/blog/overcoming-challenges-succeed-in-last-mile-deliveries/ About the speaker:  Jon Ward has been the VP and CSO Elite EXTRA for nearly a decade and is responsible for new sales development, support and market research. Jon has spent the last several years working closely with retailers and couriers to solve the challenges of last mile deliveries and streamline the delivery process. His experience with retailers and couriers nationwide has given him a vast and in-depth understanding of the markets we serve and have paved the way for the future of advanced dispatching in these markets. Learn more about Jon and Elite EXTRA at www.EliteExtra.com. 

As the holidays approach and capacity becomes scarce, knowing how to optimize your existing capacity is vital. Learn from last mile expert, Danny Barfield, as he explains how to make the most out of your existing capacity. In this 15 minute webinar, you will learn: The future of capacity Driver recruitment and retaining Building a system of networking technology Watch the full webinar presentation here: www.etracfinalmile.com/blog/watch-protecting-your-last-mile-by-optimizing-existing-capacity/ About the speaker: Danny Barfield is the Executive Vice President of eTrac, where he brings a depth of industry experience. He's worked in many areas of the final mile including American Freightways (now FedEx Freight), Expeditors International, and Dynamex. His experience includes carrier management, technology development and implementation, and supply chain consulting. Learn more about Danny Barfield here: www.etracfinalmile.com/our-team/danny-barfield/

As we enter into a peak season unlike any other, is your last mile up for the challenge? Experts predict that orders will result in a 700 million package capacity shortage. This, combined with higher accessorials and surcharges from the large national carriers can ruin your typical peak season plans. In this insightful episode, our last mile expert, Luanne Allen, will cover how to prepare your last mile for peak season during a pandemic. 

There is no shortage of methods to reach the last mile, but are they setting you up for success? Building a comprehensive network that allows your supply chain the agility to thrive in any environment is key.  In this podcast, our expert, Luanne Allen, explains: the different ways to reach the last mile the benefits and drawbacks of each how to build a network of last mile carriers ensuring an agile and comprehensive final mile network Learn more about the Final Mile and eTrac at www.eTracFinalMile.com.