In an era characterized by swift technological advancements and global sustainability drives, traditional industries are under intense pressure to innovate. Few sectors feel this urgency more acutely than the freight transportation industry. Amidst this wave of transformation, one innovator, Spencer Steliga, Founder and CEO of shuddl, proposes a unique solution that promises to tackle the industry’s Achilles heel: inefficiency and environmental impact.
A Bumpy Road to Efficiency
In the United States, a significant portion of goods moves cross-country by truck. The onset of the pandemic amplified this reliance, creating an almost insatiable appetite for shipped goods. The question arises: is there a way to reset U.S. reliance on this default mode of transportation? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it might appear. As Steliga explains, the need isn’t to slow the roll but to evolve the system to accommodate this new reality.
Enter shuddl and its Less Than Load (LTL) aggregation solution. “It’s not so much about resolving the issue of more goods flowing, but about utilizing every resource we currently have,” says Steliga. By using predictive AI, shuddl instantly pairs shippers with trucks in the vicinity traveling at less-than-capacity, placing one to 12 pallets on them with precise pickup and delivery times. This ingenious approach maximizes efficiency, drives down costs, and creates additional revenue opportunities for drivers.
Innovation Serving Entrepreneurs
Statistics from the American Trucking Association show that an astounding 95.7% of transportation companies and operators own ten trucks or less. How would an initiative like shuddl impact this sector of transportation entrepreneurs? According to Steliga, it presents a win-win situation. “It’s an opportunity for additional revenue for drivers and a new way for shippers to save time and money,” he states, emphasizing that shuddl’s innovation targets an improvement of the entire system, rather than favoring one group over another.
Manufacturers Are a Key Player in the Puzzle
The role of manufacturers in this logistics sustainability and reliability equation is vital. Steliga calls for open-mindedness from manufacturers and urges them to embrace new technologies that could potentially enhance their efficiency and productivity. Despite the challenges that come with implementing new technology, Steliga firmly believes that the benefits outweigh the difficulties.
Creating a Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chain
Envisioning a “perfect world” scenario, Steliga explains how shuddl contributes to sustainability and supply chain resilience. The platform not only reduces miles traveled, fuel use, and carbon emissions but also decreases the amount of packaging required to protect goods from damage in transit. shuddl also provides shippers with complete, real-time transparency, a feature that could revolutionize the entire supply chain.
Setting aside the very real concerns of environmental sustainability, what would motivate a manufacturer or other enterprise to actively seek to consolidate freight shipping with an LTL vendor like shuddl? The answer lies in the value proposition. By resolving the issues that are a byproduct of LTL—damage, delays, and lack of visibility—shuddl presents a cost-effective solution, enhancing efficiency and contributing positively to the environment.
Lessons from the Pandemic
The pandemic laid bare the vulnerability of global supply chains and magnified the importance of efficient logistics. Lessons learned from this period have informed shuddl’s approach to tackling the challenges of the freight and logistics industry. The drive to maximize resources, as demonstrated by shuddl, emerged as a viable answer to the looming question of managing a decrease after a massive influx, as well as the persistent driver shortage.
Steliga is confident that we are on the cusp of significant disruptions in the freight and logistics industry. In this new state, the focus is on solutions, primarily in the technology space, that could have massive impacts.
Aligning Efficiency and Sustainability
Finally, it is important to highlight Steliga’s advocacy for green technology. He believes that in the supply chain, sustainability and efficiency are largely synonymous. shuddl embodies this belief, significantly impacting efficiency at all stages, lifting every stakeholder in the process, and fostering a mutually beneficial system.
It seems the freight industry has found a viable remedy for its Achilles heel in the form of shuddl. While the road to industry-wide adoption might still be long and fraught with challenges, the potential benefits of embracing such innovative solutions appear to be transformative. shuddl has the potential to rewrite the rule book of the freight industry, creating a paradigm where efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability coexist.
