Safeguarding Your Freight — Vol. 3 Technology
How Technology Builds Trustworthy Carrier Networks for Perishable Freight
Imagine managing a network that ensures millions of dollars’ worth of fresh produce reaches its destination across the nation, consistently arriving in peak condition. At Sunrise, this is our core mission.
Our story began with a focus on quality, ensuring the perishables bought and sold by Four Seasons Produce reached their final destination looking (and tasting) their best.
Innovation and a pursuit of excellence fueled our growth, making us a leader in perishable freight logistics. But how do we consistently help others succeed in fresh? The answer lies in investing in the right technologies to continue building a foundation of trust within our carrier network.
Gone are the days of relying solely on price quotes and best guesses with limited carrier information.
Powerful carrier assessment technology offers a deeper dive than basic quotes, providing in-depth data on a carrier’s safety record, on-time delivery history, and their expertise in handling temperature-controlled freight. Provided with this data, our team can efficiently identify reliable partners who can guarantee the integrity of perishable freight before entrusting them with a high-value load.
At Sunrise, we utilize Carrier Assure, a cutting-edge software that utilizes performance scoring to predict a carrier’s handling of your freight.
Carrier Assure provides an easy-to-use platform with an intuitive dashboard displaying all critical information for informed decisions.
Here’s what sets Carrier Assure apart:
- Advanced Data Science: It analyzes hundreds of thousands of data points directly from the FMCSA.
- Objective Carrier Scores: Scores are based on market statistics, peer group comparisons, and millions of data points.
The Result? An objective carrier score that empowers us to:
- Maximize Efficiency: Match the right carrier to the right load.
- Optimize Cost-Effectiveness: Get the best value for your specific needs.
Carrier Assure empowers us to match the right carrier to the right load, maximizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Top-performing carriers identified by the software are ideal for critical or high-value shipments of perishables. These carriers consistently demonstrate a commitment to safety, on-time delivery, and expertise in temperature-controlled logistics. However, Carrier Assure also recognizes opportunities for optimization. Lower-scoring carriers can be suitable for shorter, less valuable hauls. In these cases, our team leverages their expertise to conduct additional vetting procedures, ensuring all shipments, regardless of value, are handled with the utmost care.
With Carrier Assure integrated into our carrier selection process, our team is equipped to secure the best possible carriers resulting in 3 key benefits:
- Reliable Transportation: Minimizes risk of delays and disruptions, ensuring your perishables arrive on time and in top condition.
- Minimized Fraud Risks: In-depth data analysis helps us identify and avoid carriers with a history of fraudulent activity.
- Guaranteed Freshness: Selecting carriers with expertise in temperature-controlled logistics safeguards the integrity and freshness of high-value perishable freight.
The Human Touch
Data is powerful, but it’s not the whole story. Our experienced team understands that a successful partnership relies on more than just numbers. Negotiation skills and clear communication are still top of mind during the selection process. Our procurement team considers factors like a carrier’s responsiveness and communication style to ensure a smooth, collaborative experience throughout the transportation process.
We understand that our customers rely on the timely and safe delivery of their perishable freight. At Sunrise, our commitment goes beyond just being a logistics provider. As a family-owned business with a strong focus on values, we continue to invest in our people and technology to best serve our customers in the ever-evolving world of logistics.
Article by Karly Wiest