The third annual ALK Technologies Transportation Technology Summit was held in Princeton, New Jersey on Tuesday, April 24. This unique industry event highlighted emerging issues and focused on how technology can provide valuable solutions to help address transportation and logistics challenges. The keynote speaker was Princeton University Professor of Operations Research & Financial Engineering, Dr. Alain L. Kornhauser, who is also co-founder and board chairman of ALK Technologies, Inc.
"ALK's annual Technology Summit is the only North American transportation technology forum of its kind," said Craig Fiander, senior director, marketing for ALK Technologies. "ALK is uniquely positioned and qualified to host such an event with its agnostic approach to hardware and transportation management and mobile communications systems integration." Fiander continued, "All segments of the market were represented and the extensive program designed for senior management and IT executives was well received based on survey feedback."
Attendance at the event was strong, with a 40% increase in participants over last year. The audience was comprised of senior level executives from North American transportation and logistics companies of all sizes. Industry leading technology thought leaders in attendance included Ernie Betancourt, CEO, of Innovative Computing Corporation, Tom McLeod, president and CEO of McLeod Software, and Dave Mook, COO of TMW Systems.
Stanford Erickson, associate publisher for the Transport Topics Publishing Group, provided an overview of the U.S. transportation industry outlook. Despite slower economic growth in 2006, Erickson said, trucking rates held up due to highway congestion, fuel prices and a shortage of drivers, factors that limit trucking efficiency overall. Erickson noted the decline in model-year 2007 truck sales attributable to new, more expensive components required by federal regulation; and he pointed out that money not spent on new trucks this year was available for efficiency-enhancing technologies.
Various motor carriers presented case studies on their transportation technology deployments. Leading off the day was Ken Crane, application manager, mobile technology for US Xpress Enterprises. Crane spoke on their implementation of ALK's CoPilot Truck GPS navigation system which is used in conjunction with IDSC's fuel optimization system to reduce non-revenue mileage and fuel costs.
During a lengthy Q&A session, Crane stated, "Drivers' response to the navigation system, spoken directions, and new onboard computers has been excellent. For example, we even had a driver team that was due a new truck. They turned down a brand new tractor in order to keep CoPilot Truck installed on their current in-cab unit." Crane continued, "Drivers with pick up and deliveries in the Los Angeles area have experienced time savings of a half day. Even 15 minutes saved per day will add up significantly over the course of a year, and the technology will easily pay for itself."
Greg Confer, vice president of business development, and Mike Zupon, director of MIS, of Ward Trucking discussed their $100,000 in annual line haul mileage cost savings and their conservative projection of $50,000 in annual toll cost reduction using ALK's street-level routing and tolls calculation software.
Scott Sullivan, vice president, information technology and services for LTL carrier Pitt Ohio Express presented their multi-award winning wireless and enterprise management system. Sullivan elaborated upon how their mobile communications system integration allowed them to maximize their IT investment.
SMC3, a major LTL rate organization as well as a provider of technology, training and services to the LTL industry, attended the Summit for the first time. Danny Slaton, senior vice president, business development for SMC3, outlined supply chain trends and rating opportunities, noting an industry shift resulting in the convergence of traditional LTL and truckload rating practices. SMC3 conducts an annual traffic study that includes over 150 million LTL freight bills, a total of $30 billion in freight revenue. Slaton mentioned that SMC3 and ALK Technologies are working together to offer related rating services.
The event featured two roundtables. The first, specifically for LTL motor carriers and shippers, where a major topic was the quality of customer address information for routing and navigation purposes. Carriers complained that they often have to deal with delivery addresses that cannot be accurately geocoded to the street level locations that LTL operations require. ALK participants noted that the company provides a data cleansing service that alleviates that particular problem. Another LTL discussion centered on rugged handheld devices versus traditional consumer grade mobile devices and phones. The LTL Roundtable was moderated by Michael Levans, chief editor, Logistics Management Magazine and Barry Craver, director of freight processing applications, Old Dominion Freight Line.
A second roundtable for truckload motor carriers, 3PLs and shippers was held simultaneously. There, participants discussed changing driver pay and customer billing based on longstanding, shortest mileage to pay and billing on a standard closer to actual miles traveled (i.e. - Practical), a practice that would help address longstanding and frequent driver complaints. Carriers exchanged opinions on the importance of keeping databases updated, particularly where street-level mapping and tolls are concerned. Participants in the truckload roundtable included numerous carriers, 3PLs, and shippers such as PepsiCo and Church & Dwight. The session was moderated by Ernie Betancourt, CEO, Innovative Computing Corporation.
Other presenters (and topics covered) at the Summit were:
- Edward J. Ryan, general manager, global logistics network, Descartes Systems Group - E-commerce for Transportation
- Brian McLaughlin, vice president of marketing and product planning, PeopleNet - Translating the Electronic Onboard Recorder Proposal
- Jeff Sibio, director, transportation and logistics strategic vertical marketing, Intermec Technologies Corp. - Mobile Technology and Wireless Trends in Transportation
The event concluded with a dinner reception on Princeton University's Campus.
For additional details, visit: www.alk.com/techsummit2007/Agenda.asp.
About ALK Technologies
ALK Technologies, Princeton, N.J., was founded in 1979 by Princeton University professor Dr. Alain Kornhauser, who still provides strategic leadership. ALK recognized the power of information technology early and has consistently developed inventive, practical transportation applications that provide customers a competitive edge, increased efficiency and bottom line benefits. ALK helps companies and individuals understand and harness the relentlessly evolving technologies reshaping the competitive transportation landscape.
More than 21,000 companies use ALK's PC*MILER Solutions, including ninety of the -Top 100- North American motor carriers, the U.S. Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. ALK provides consulting, customized information systems and packaged software solutions. For more information, visit www.alk.com.
