TMW Adds Real-Time Freight Tracking to TMS Solutions

Fleets using TMW Systems' Innovative IES, Access, or AccessPlus transportation management solutions can now extend real-time order and shipping information to their customers with the IES Freight Tracker portal, an integrated customer service and dispatch.

Replacing TMW's Pressurize platforms, the new visibility portal enables carriers to improve customer satisfaction through accurate, transparent and timely order updates.

“More than ever before, transportation and logistics providers are facing pressure to provide customers with transparency into every step of the delivery process,” said Ray West, senior vice president and general manager of TMS solutions for TMW. “With the launch of the IES Freight Tracker portal, we are enabling Innovative IES users to meet these heightened expectations by giving them a way to provide customers with accurate, up-to-date load status whenever and wherever they want to access them.”

The IES Freight Tracker portal is designed to be a scalable and cost-effective customer support tool that integrates into a user's existing Innovative IES platform. The web-based solution allows carriers to view shipments from multiple customer codes and utilize drag-and-drop functionality to reposition shipment details.

Users can offer their customers configurable, secure access to real-time delivery details. Transportation providers can easily customize settings for each customer, allowing them to view orders based on type and to sort and filter shipment details. In addition, customers can use the portal to access shipment documents and related images, export shipment data to Excel, and create up to seven hyperlinks to important documents indexed by order number.

Implementation of the IES Freight Tracker portal requires the use of Innovative IES, Access, or Access Plus solutions in version R9.7 or later along with the Innovative Web Edition module. Other requirements include an internet-connected device with a web browser and business-quality internet bandwidth.

Related: TMW Updates Billing, Planning, Business Tools

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Trailer Orders Decline But Meet Expectations

Photo: Great Dane

The final trailer order numbers for the month of July have been released by transportation industry analysts FTR and ACT Research, showing a steep decline from the previous month, but an increase overall compared to last year.

FTR found that trailer orders hit 13,400 units, falling 29% from June but up 40% compared to last July. Order activity met expectations in most segments, according to FTR.

“Orders usually fall as fleet managers take a break and turn their focus to next year,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “The bright spots this month are the strong flatbed orders, and that production did not fall much from June's impressive totals. This indicates production should be fairly steady the rest of the year.”

July is usually the weakest order month of the year, according to ACT Research, due to a pause from fleets as they reassess equipment needs for the rest of the year.

“We saw continued strong year-over-year net order performance last month,” said Frank Maly, ACT's director of CV transportation analysis and research. “As has been the pattern, solid dry van commitments helped lead the total industry, with significant year-over-year gains in flatbed trailers occurring as well.”

So far this year, the industry has booked over 153,000 net orders, according to ACT, representing a 43% improvement over 2016. The shift by fleets to a more positive outlook coincided with last fall's election, according to ACT.

“Another positive for the industry is that cancellations remain low,” said Maly. “Fleets are obviously standing firm with their order commitments, an indication of fleet confidence in the near-to-medium term outlook.”

Related: HDT's 2017 Trailer Update

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