CCJ

July 2018

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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commercial carrier journal | july 2018 43 INNOVATORS XPO LOGISTICS Greenwich, Conn. freight visibility across XPO's entire transportation network of asset-based and third-party logistics solutions, all though a single login page. XPO says shippers can leverage XPO Connect's increased visibility to identify uctuations in capacity, spot rates and load postings by geography. "XPO Connect gives customers direct access to our transportation network and the predictive data that powers it," said Mario Harik, XPO's chief information of- cer. " e platform provides a new level of visibility that informs better decision- making under all market conditions." XPO tied its XPO Connect service to its existing Drive XPO mobile app that allows drivers to access the company's Freight Optimizer truckload manage- ment system to locate loads while on the road. XPO plans to expand XPO Connect's capabilities to include other transportation options such as truckload, rail and last-mile delivery. "One of the most exciting things about XPO Connect is the way we've rede ned visibility as business intelligence," said Troy Cooper, XPO's chief operating o cer. "Our proprietary algorithms are turning masses of data into relevant information in split seconds so that our customers can purchase transportation as e ciently as possible." Shippers can view uctuations in capacity, spot market rates, weather conditions, tra c and other factors that XPO Logistics seizes on growth in omnichannel retail, e-commerce BY JEFF CRISSEY W hen a private equity rm purchased a $150 million majority share of Express-1 Expedited Solutions in the fall of 2011, Bradley Jacobs, the newly established chairman and chief executive o cer, made it clear his expectations for the future of the company now known as XPO Logistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 4). "I plan to build a multibillion-dollar transportation brokerage business over the next several years," said Jacobs before the deal was nalized. "Express-1 is an ideal plat- form, with prominent positions in expedited services, freight brokerage and freight forwarding. I'm excited about leading the company into its next phase of growth." A er a number of high-pro le acquisitions over the next several years – including home delivery provider 3PD, intermodal carrier Pacer International and less-than- truckload giant Con-way (XPO divested the Con-way truckload division in 2016) – XPO was well on its way to achieving Jacobs' initial vision. At the same time as XPO was establishing itself in the industry, consumer habits began to shi quickly toward online purchases. Since 2011, e-commerce has become a bright spot in the economy, growing from 5 percent to nearly 10 percent of all U.S. retail sales by 2018. Globally, e-commerce represents a $1.7 trillion market today. With $15 billion in revenue last year – roughly $9 billion for transportation and $6 billion for logistics – XPO now is the largest last-mile provider of heavy goods and the second-largest contract logistics provider worldwide. But XPO isn't stopping there, as the company has announced several recent technology developments that will help cement itself as a leader in the brokerage and trucking spaces for years to come. Connected network Earlier this year, XPO Logistics launched XPO Connect, a cloud-based digital mar- ketplace that allows shippers to manage shipments and reduce costs with real-time The transportation and logistics giant's latest innovations provide enhanced service and greater visibility.

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