Case Studies CalArk Puts the Brakes on Competitive and Economic Pressures

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	CalArk Puts the Brakes on Competitive and Economic Pressures

CalArk Puts the Brakes on Competitive and Economic Pressures

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS) Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Transportation
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Fleet Management Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	During the recession, larger trucking companies became serious competitors to middle market leaders, such as CalArk, vying for any and all for-hire carrier business. In response, CalArk needed to sharpen its operations to retain market share, maximize driver utilization and maintain profitability, all with a decreased fleet size. Keeping profit margins and service levels up with a reduced fleet wasn’t the only challenge CalArk faced. Larger trucking companies were dipping into the mid-sized market trying to find new freight lanes. Determined to hold on to its customer base, CalArk upgraded to Manhattan Carrier 2010. Read More
About Customer	Since the mid-1970s, family-owned CalArk International has built a strong reputation for on-time, reliable service as a for-hire truckload carrier. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas with terminals throughout the United States and Mexico, CalArk is a mid-sized company that operates a fleet of 600 trucks, including dry van and refrigerated trailers. The company has maintained its growth and success by recruiting superior employees and leveraging the latest technology. CalArk sought a real-time carrier management solution to automatically optimize driver-to-load assignments in 2004, implementing Manhattan Carrier from Manhattan Associates. Read More
Solution	To meet these competitive challenges, CalArk opted to upgrade Manhattan Carrier. The solution’s 2010 release includes En-Route Assignment (ERA), which combines the matching functionality of the Driver&Load module, and the efficiency evaluation capabilities of Drop&Swap. ERA merges two highly functional Manhattan Carrier modules: Driver&Load helps CalArk dispatchers look at each driver’s load assignment and attributes in real time, and matches specific drivers to the best possible load combinations. Drop&Swap improves the company’s efficiency by evaluating trucks on the road and determining optimal load swaps to eliminate empty miles, improve utilization and protect service. It also helps CalArk identify pending problems or service delays that could occur. In addition to ERA, the company also uses other Manhattan Carrier modules, including Fuel&Route to provide drivers with street-level directions and a fueling plan to reduce the overall cost for fuel, taxes, and tolls, and Profit Analyzer which assesses all factors that impact profitability and provides a P&L statement for every customer and every load. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS)

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Fleet Management

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

During the recession, larger trucking companies became serious competitors to middle market leaders, such as CalArk, vying for any and all for-hire carrier business. In response, CalArk needed to sharpen its operations to retain market share, maximize driver utilization and maintain profitability, all with a decreased fleet size. Keeping profit margins and service levels up with a reduced fleet wasn’t the only challenge CalArk faced. Larger trucking companies were dipping into the mid-sized market trying to find new freight lanes. Determined to hold on to its customer base, CalArk upgraded to Manhattan Carrier 2010.

About Customer

Since the mid-1970s, family-owned CalArk International has built a strong reputation for on-time, reliable service as a for-hire truckload carrier. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas with terminals throughout the United States and Mexico, CalArk is a mid-sized company that operates a fleet of 600 trucks, including dry van and refrigerated trailers. The company has maintained its growth and success by recruiting superior employees and leveraging the latest technology. CalArk sought a real-time carrier management solution to automatically optimize driver-to-load assignments in 2004, implementing Manhattan Carrier from Manhattan Associates.

Solution

To meet these competitive challenges, CalArk opted to upgrade Manhattan Carrier. The solution’s 2010 release includes En-Route Assignment (ERA), which combines the matching functionality of the Driver&Load module, and the efficiency evaluation capabilities of Drop&Swap. ERA merges two highly functional Manhattan Carrier modules: Driver&Load helps CalArk dispatchers look at each driver’s load assignment and attributes in real time, and matches specific drivers to the best possible load combinations. Drop&Swap improves the company’s efficiency by evaluating trucks on the road and determining optimal load swaps to eliminate empty miles, improve utilization and protect service. It also helps CalArk identify pending problems or service delays that could occur. In addition to ERA, the company also uses other Manhattan Carrier modules, including Fuel&Route to provide drivers with street-level directions and a fueling plan to reduce the overall cost for fuel, taxes, and tolls, and Profit Analyzer which assesses all factors that impact profitability and provides a P&L statement for every customer and every load.

Impact #1	Despite the down economy and increased competitive pressures, CalArk has leveraged Manhattan Carrier to successfully maintain its pre-recession market share with 25% fewer trucks.
Impact #2	The company has avoided increasing its 6% empty mile ratio while running a leaner operation.
Impact #3	Manhattan Carrier’s ERA solution provides the tools and information needed to execute smarter on a day-to-day basis and make the best planning and dispatching decisions.

Impact #1

Despite the down economy and increased competitive pressures, CalArk has leveraged Manhattan Carrier to successfully maintain its pre-recession market share with 25% fewer trucks.

Impact #2

The company has avoided increasing its 6% empty mile ratio while running a leaner operation.

Impact #3

Manhattan Carrier’s ERA solution provides the tools and information needed to execute smarter on a day-to-day basis and make the best planning and dispatching decisions.

Benefit #1	Maintained pre-recession market share with 25% fewer trucks.
Benefit #2	Avoided increasing its 6% empty mile ratio.
Benefit #3	Dropped deadhead (empty) miles by approximately 50%—from nearly 12% to 6%.

Benefit #1

Maintained pre-recession market share with 25% fewer trucks.

Benefit #2

Avoided increasing its 6% empty mile ratio.

Benefit #3

Dropped deadhead (empty) miles by approximately 50%—from nearly 12% to 6%.

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Overview

CalArk Puts the Brakes on Competitive and Economic Pressures

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit