Case Studies How transportation expertise grows sales

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	How transportation expertise grows sales

How transportation expertise grows sales

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Industries	Agriculture Food & Beverage
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases	Fleet Management Inventory Management Predictive Replenishment Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Data Science Services Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	When the consolidation of retail and foodservice companies escalated in 2005, the process for transporting fresh produce changed significantly. Shippers were required to provide transportation services due to the shift from customary FOB terms to delivered pricing. This change increased the involvement of shippers in transportation and logistics. Additionally, retailers began requesting year-round availability of produce and local sourcing to reduce food transport miles and increase product vitality. Small and medium-sized shippers struggled to negotiate competitively priced refrigerated services consistently, especially those with less than truckload (LTL) volumes. These challenges were exacerbated during peak shipping periods, such as holidays, when even large shippers faced difficulties in finding transportation capacity. Read More
About Customer	Western Growers is one of the largest agricultural trade associations in the United States, representing 3,000 members who grow, pack, and ship 90% of the fresh vegetables and 70% of the fresh fruit and nuts in Arizona and California. Members like Gills Onions rely on innovative and flexible transportation solutions to manage shipping capacity and achieve overall consolidation savings. Western Growers' members are deeply involved in the agricultural supply chain, from growing to packing and shipping, and they require reliable and cost-effective transportation solutions to meet the demands of their customers. Read More
Solution	Western Growers partnered with C.H. Robinson in 2006 to develop a unique transportation program for its member shippers. The program aggregates shippers' freight volumes to attract a robust carrier base with customized performance metrics. This allows shippers like Gills Onions to meet customer delivery requirements, attract new customers, and focus on their core business operations. Key elements of the program include customized pricing, extensive LTL capability, high volume surge capacity, and strategic account management. C.H. Robinson's technology provides end-to-end shipment visibility, near real-time reporting through EDI communications, and executive scorecards to analyze on-time deliveries and performance exceptions. Shippers can also outsource transportation procurement and operations to C.H. Robinson, gaining operational flexibility and focusing on their core business. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software

Applicable Industries

Agriculture

Food & Beverage

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Warehouse & Inventory Management

Use Cases

Fleet Management

Inventory Management

Predictive Replenishment

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Data Science Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

When the consolidation of retail and foodservice companies escalated in 2005, the process for transporting fresh produce changed significantly. Shippers were required to provide transportation services due to the shift from customary FOB terms to delivered pricing. This change increased the involvement of shippers in transportation and logistics. Additionally, retailers began requesting year-round availability of produce and local sourcing to reduce food transport miles and increase product vitality. Small and medium-sized shippers struggled to negotiate competitively priced refrigerated services consistently, especially those with less than truckload (LTL) volumes. These challenges were exacerbated during peak shipping periods, such as holidays, when even large shippers faced difficulties in finding transportation capacity.

About Customer

Western Growers is one of the largest agricultural trade associations in the United States, representing 3,000 members who grow, pack, and ship 90% of the fresh vegetables and 70% of the fresh fruit and nuts in Arizona and California. Members like Gills Onions rely on innovative and flexible transportation solutions to manage shipping capacity and achieve overall consolidation savings. Western Growers' members are deeply involved in the agricultural supply chain, from growing to packing and shipping, and they require reliable and cost-effective transportation solutions to meet the demands of their customers.

Solution

Western Growers partnered with C.H. Robinson in 2006 to develop a unique transportation program for its member shippers. The program aggregates shippers' freight volumes to attract a robust carrier base with customized performance metrics. This allows shippers like Gills Onions to meet customer delivery requirements, attract new customers, and focus on their core business operations. Key elements of the program include customized pricing, extensive LTL capability, high volume surge capacity, and strategic account management. C.H. Robinson's technology provides end-to-end shipment visibility, near real-time reporting through EDI communications, and executive scorecards to analyze on-time deliveries and performance exceptions. Shippers can also outsource transportation procurement and operations to C.H. Robinson, gaining operational flexibility and focusing on their core business.

Impact #1	Participating members can move fresh produce more efficiently and provide consistent service to meet customer requirements.
Impact #2	The program enables shippers to sell more products to their customer bases and achieve a more efficient and economical supply chain.
Impact #3	Shippers can respond to regional sourcing requests and year-round supply requirements by moving production from traditional growing locations and developing offshore supply sources.

Impact #1

Participating members can move fresh produce more efficiently and provide consistent service to meet customer requirements.

Impact #2

The program enables shippers to sell more products to their customer bases and achieve a more efficient and economical supply chain.

Impact #3

Shippers can respond to regional sourcing requests and year-round supply requirements by moving production from traditional growing locations and developing offshore supply sources.

Benefit #1	Potato growers saved nearly a half million dollars over truckload rates during the peak season through strategic contracts negotiated by C.H. Robinson.
Benefit #2	C.H. Robinson provides weekly pricing information from different growing regions to delivery locations around the country.
Benefit #3	The LTL and forward consolidation program created by C.H. Robinson includes service centers across the nation.

Benefit #1

Potato growers saved nearly a half million dollars over truckload rates during the peak season through strategic contracts negotiated by C.H. Robinson.

Benefit #2

C.H. Robinson provides weekly pricing information from different growing regions to delivery locations around the country.

Benefit #3

The LTL and forward consolidation program created by C.H. Robinson includes service centers across the nation.

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Overview

How transportation expertise grows sales

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit