Friday, August 22, 2014
Technology helps Detroit trucking companies weather the floodwaters
When flash floods in Detroit last week threw a curve at logistics companies that use highways to move freight, truckers say technology helped them avoid trouble spots and lessened the weather's financial impact on their businesses.
Con-way Freight, the large regional and national less-than-truckload arm of $5.5 billion logistics giant Con-way Inc., depended on computer routing technology to avoid flooding.
"The only service center that was significantly impacted was Pontiac. The flooding and closures, particularly I-696, created some operational issues and delays," said Gary Frantz, director of communications for the Ann Arbor-based company. He added that some trucks from Canada were rerouted.
"Between the technology we have in the trucks (on-board computers and GPS) and the local knowledge and experience of our drivers, we were able to navigate around the problem areas to ensure pickups and deliveries were made, with a few having minor delays due to traffic congestion," Frantz said.
Con-way drivers witnessed how the flooding affected traffic, but didn't get caught in it themselves.
Kathleen McCann, president and CEO of Romulus-based new- and used-vehicle transporter United Road Services Inc., said her firm was minimally affected.
"Our Warren terminal shut down as the employees couldn't get there, but they were able to do their work virtually," she said. "Our drivers were diverted and were lucky enough to have not been caught in traffic as the water swelled in. We took a big hit with Hurricane Sandy flooding in the Northeast in 2012, so I feel for those who felt it this time."
Real-time communications and mapping technology unavailable in the past, cushioned the business impact of the flooding, according to Scott Reed, CEO of Wayne-based Rush Trucking, which had a few missed deliveries but reports very little financial impact from the floods.
"It would have been a crazy day 15 years ago," Reed said.
For more of Crain's Detroit Business story: crainsdetroit.com
Maersk breaks world record for hauling most containers (video)
MOL bulk carrier uses special steel that absorbs impact
Home | The Magazine | Conferences | Port Handbooks | Newswire | Advertise | Ocean Schedules | Contact
CBN Archives | About CBN | Subscribe to CBN | Southeast Freight Conference | Marine Fuels Conference | Heartland Shippers’ Conference | Port Productivity Conference | Pacific Northwest Ports Handbook
Golden Gates Ports Handbook | Southern California Ports Handbook | Buy Handbooks | Subscirbe to Newswire | Newswire Archives | Upload Files