Con-Way Transportation Services has upgraded its web-based system that automatically notifies its LTL customers in the US and Canada by e-mail when their shipment may be late. The new function expands the previous list of causes for delay and upgrades the algorithm that reviews shipment status.
The system – Con-Way Dynamic Shipment Management (DSM) – is available immediately to Con-Way customers.
Con-Way’s normal on-time performance is between 98% and 99%, but its operations are not immune to the affects of bad weather and other uncontrollable factors that can delay a shipment. “We've provided our customers with the ability to sign up for specific delay and shipment status notifications for the last three-and-one-half years,” said Con-Way president, David McClimon. “This enhancement now adds even greater functionality. We've added programming intelligence that reviews all possible conditions that may cause a delay in on-time delivery. The system generates an e-mail exception notice to our customer when a condition is observed that could cause the late delivery of a shipment.”
Con-Way says that no other trucking company currently offers this type of notification. It is available today, August 15, to registered Con-Way web site users and is provided free of charge. Since Con-Way first offered the system in December 2001, more than 3,000 customers have signed up for the service and more than 275,000 individual e-mail messages are sent each month providing updates on the status of customer shipments.
The notification will advise the shipper of current shipment status including location, new estimated delivery date, consignee name, shipment PRO number or other identification number, shipment type, weight, number of pieces and contact information should the shipper want to respond to the message. A follow up e-mail is also part of the notification process and will tell the shipper the time and place of final delivery.
“Every Con-Way shipment is monitored at each leg of its lifecycle,” said Bryan Millican, CNF’s executive vice president of sales & marketing. “Our technology tells us if we are performing to our transit time standard. In those rare times when we don't, we're giving shippers greater visibility and control over their shipment. The notice does not mean the shipment will absolutely be late, but knowing in advance that there is a possibility provides the time to make adjustments if a shipment is critical.”
In September of 2003 Con-Way was the first LTL carrier to announce a money-back guarantee for late delivery of shipments moving on its current tariff. The company says it believes it has more business moving on its guaranteed product that any other LTL company.
Millican said that having the information enables shippers to be pro-active in their own business environment. “They can inform their customers. They can adjust production schedules. They can adjust labour crews. Or they can choose to do nothing.”
Only a small portion of Con-Way's shipments will not eligible for e-mail notification. The exceptions will include shipments destined for Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and shipments with destinations not serviced direct by Con-Way. The system will be available only to customers registered on Con-Way’s web site
