Con-way Commences Enhanced Track and Trace For LTL Freight Shipments

US – Less than truckload (LTL) specialists Con-way Freight has rolled out an advanced technology platform utilizing mobile applications for its daily pickup and delivery and freight management operations, and is utilizing AT&T as the wireless network services provider supporting its operations. By using more than 11,000 hand-held devices supported by dock automation software applications, Con-way Freight can gain and interpret real-time information on shipment pickups and deliveries from its driver workforce in the field.

The new applications, combined with AT&T's network, provide faster access to more complete and accurate information, giving the company the ability to respond faster to customer needs while improving operations planning and execution. The company also is gaining benefits through better equipment utilization, with the entire cargo collection and delivery operations in over 290 cities nationwide running applications over the AT&T wireless network.

As drivers return to Con-way's 290 freight service centres across the U.S., the new dock automation application is utilized to streamline cross-dock handling; resulting in higher capacity and higher quality loads. These applications help improve operational efficiencies through better shipment data and operations planning designed to reduce damage claims, improve transit times, and achieve more cost-effective equipment utilization.

Con-way also deploys an AT&T Virtual Private Network (AVPN) providing a business continuity solution for both the pick up and drops and Dock Automation applications. For both applications, the mobile devices cross both networks- wireless and AVPN - to enable a built-in business continuity/disaster recovery solution.