Averitt Express is the latest less-than-truckload carrier to tigthen transit times in thousands of lanes.
The Cookeville, Tenn., carrier today said it is reengineering its LTL network to move more shipments direct and handle them less, improving service in 14,000 lanes throughout the Midwest, Texas and the South.
The key to the effort is more direct loading of freight to its destination, with less handling along the way. That means not only faster service, but greener, more cost-efficient service, the carrier said.
The initiative will cut 576,000 operating miles from Averitt’s network, saving 100,000 gallons of fuel a year and affecting 86 million pounds of freight, Averitt said.
“We're constantly reengineering our distribution network to get freight to our customers faster and more efficiently,” said Phil Pierce, Averitt's vice president of sales and marketing.
LTL carriers across the nation are tightening their networks and reducing freight handling to speed transit times.
It’s a sign of intense competition for customers as the economy begins to recover and shipping levels rise.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com
