Loadsmart and Red Gold Revolutionize Logistics, Achieving Significant Savings and Efficiency Gains

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Loadsmart, a premier freight technology and transportation service provider, and Red Gold, a leading manufacturer of high-quality tomato products, have unveiled impressive results from their partnership aimed at modernizing logistics processes. The initiative has led to substantial improvements in efficiency, resilience, and cost savings for Red Gold.

Red Gold embarked on this transformative journey to overhaul its logistics operations, driven by the goal of increasing efficiency and reducing costs. This was achieved through the phased implementation of Loadsmart's cutting-edge technology and services, each step proving its return on investment (ROI) before moving to the next. The transformation began with Opendock, Loadsmart’s online dock scheduling platform, expanded with ShipperGuide TMS, and culminated in the addition of Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) services via Loadsmart’s Freight Brokerage.

Key Achievements

Warehouse Throughput and Scheduling Efficiency:

• 18% Increase in Throughput: The use of Opendock has streamlined scheduling, allowing carriers to book appointments directly, which has freed clerks from manual scheduling tasks.
• 90% Reduction in Lead Times: Appointment lead times have drastically decreased from days to just 1-2 days.

Cost and Time Savings:

• 17% Savings on LTL Freight: Red Gold has significantly cut its LTL freight costs annually by expanding its network from three to 24 LTL providers through Loadsmart’s Brokerage Services.
• 25,000 Loads Auto-tendered: The implementation of ShipperGuide TMS has automated 70% of shipments, saving time and reducing manual processes.

Operational Improvements:

• Enhanced Communication and Performance: Opendock has facilitated better communication with customers and improved carrier performance through accessible order and shipment information.
• Efficient RFP Management: ShipperGuide TMS has expedited the RFP process from weeks to hours, resulting in 46 completed RFPs since launch.

Becoming a ‘Shipper of Choice’:

• Strategic Planning: By streamlining operations and improving efficiency, Red Gold is positioning itself as a preferred partner for carriers, ensuring resilience against market fluctuations.

James Posipanka, Red Gold’s Supply Chain Manager - Logistics, commented on the strategic foresight behind these changes, "The current transportation market is extremely shipper-friendly and has been for the past 18 months. Now is the time for us to plan and prepare for when it swings the other way, and carriers can choose which customers they want to work with. When that happens, we want to be a ‘Shipper of Choice.’ By putting strategies and processes in place now, we’ll be successful when the market does flip.”

Detailed Outcomes

Opendock Platform:

• Manual Process Reduction: Carriers independently schedule dock appointments, reducing clerical workload.
• Increased Throughput: Appointments scheduled swiftly, improving case throughput.
• Decreased Delayed Sales: Enhanced ability to address missed appointments promptly.
• Reduced Dock Congestion: Clear visibility on order staging schedules.
• Enhanced Carrier Performance: On Time Pickup Performance data aids in making informed hiring decisions.
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ShipperGuide TMS:

• Frequent Carrier RFPs: Accelerated RFP process, increasing efficiency.
• Auto-tendered Shipments: Significant automation of shipment processes.
• Workload Reduction: Streamlined operations have boosted team efficiency by 25%.
• Improved Tracking: Centralized tracking information simplifies exception management.
• Fast User Adoption: User-friendly interface facilitates quick training and integration.
• Better Decision-making: Access to comprehensive reports and dashboards aids strategic planning.
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Brokerage Services:

• Expanded Freight Modes: Increased LTL provider relationships, reducing costs.
• Extended Capacity Reach: Establishment of contracted rates with additional carriers, driving down freight costs.
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This collaboration between Loadsmart and Red Gold showcases the potential of technology-driven logistics solutions in transforming traditional supply chain operations, paving the way for sustained efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the future.