Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019:
Digital freight broker’s ‘back-up plan’ — its own small fleet of trucks
Archerhub, a digital freight broker based in Denver, has been in a growth spurt with connected carriers and shippers utilizing its services to connect. Particularly useful, the company says, in selling to shippers is what company reps call a built-in “back-up plan” for freight movements that experience any number of hiccups en route or during the planning process: in addition to contracting with independent carrier partners, Archerhub owns its own truck fleet.
Find more about broker Archerhub’s service via this link to its carrier page.“Should a truck break down in route to delivery,” said Nick Darmanchev, Archerhub chairman and CEO, “because we have our own fleet, we always have a truck ready to recover any shipment, 24/7.” The company’s self-service technology for locating capacity doesn’t “just assign truck to a load. We always assume something might go wrong during its transit. Our algorithm is designed to constantly give options for backup trucks, just in case.”
The company, reps say, has made strides in refrigerated and dry van freight, particularly food- and beverage-related.
LTL hauler expanding last-mile services
The FedEx Freight provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) services is expanding its “FedEx Freight Direct” program to more than 80 percent of markets in the contiguous United States. The expansion follows a pilot program in select markets earlier this year for the delivery of bulk ecommerce items like furniture, TVs and exercise equipment into residences and businesses alike.
Direct will be the first standardized FedEx service to make deliveries through the door and into homes, and will enhance delivery into businesses with new tiered service options. The service incorporates technology to increase shipment visibility, give consumers enhanced delivery choices, and offers convenience.
As in truckload, the growth of e-commerce continues to rapidly change customer expectations, creating new opportunities, the company says, including an increase of inbound freight to distribution centers and deliveries of bulky items to end customers.
“Today’s consumers are just as comfortable purchasing a television or sofa online as they are groceries or books,” said Brie Carere, FedEx executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. “We’re seeing more oversized items move through our global network.”
Pilot Flying J opens new location in Odessa, Texas
A new Pilot Travel Center is now open in Odessa, Texas. The new stop offers drivers 15 truck parking spaces, five diesel lanes, three showers, a Dunkin Donuts self-serve, laundry facilities and more. The new store, located at 4200 W. Highway 302, is the company’s 89th Texas location. Two more Texas locations are set to open later this year in Midland and Andrews.
PFJ will also celebrate the fall holidays with coffee specials and more. For National Pumpkin Day on Oct. 26, the company will offer a pumpkin maple cappuccino starting at $1.59. Pumpkin pie coffee creamer and pumpkin spice syrup will also be available for coffee.
The company is also offering a “Boogo” deal between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 in which customers can buy-one-get-one-free on Reese’s Pumpkin King Size Cups and Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper Chips.
Additionally, through the end of October, PFJ is offering truck drivers 25% off Hungry Driver food combos, such as wings and tenders, when they buy 50 gallons of fuel or more. The deal must be saved in the PFJ app to be redeemed.
