Drayage services used to be carried out by horses and carts. That was before giant containerships traversed the oceans, before consumers demanded fast deliveries, and before we required digital trails in every step of the supply chain.
“Drayage is a connector, relying on the requirements and interfaces of warehousing, ports, steamship lines, regulating agencies, and their own drivers. They need to be integrated with mission-critical reliability,” a Fast Company article said, adding that “technology offers an opportunity to improve this link in our supply chain.”
The digital shift has impacted drayage so profoundly that it’s almost hard to imagine the days when freight was moved by horses and carts. Modernizing the drayage industry in the 21st century has been crucial in improving supply chain efficiency.
Modern and efficient drayage operations, according to ParcelPath, provide:
“Drayage is like the hidden hero of the supply chain. It keeps goods moving smoothly across different transport modes without breaks. This makes sure that the complex system of global trade works well,” ParcelPath said.
“An assortment of critical challenges affect the drayage industry, such as capacity constraints, congestion and delays, compliance and regulations, maintenance and repairs, driver shortages, labor disruptions, appointment challenges, asset allocation and utilization, tight timelines, lack of visibility, outdated legacy software, and cost pressures,” an Inbound Logistics article said.
Drayage providers that have been slow to put outdated equipment and practices out to pasture have been left in the dust by innovative transportation companies that have jumped over barriers to adopt and integrate new technologies.
“Digital technology can make businesses more agile and adaptable, allowing them to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs. This can give them a competitive advantage over businesses that are slower to adapt,” a Forbes article said.
“Drayage can be seamless when done with the right providers, but without reliable drayage services, problems will trickle down through the supply chain. This impacts every other stage of the process. In other words, drayage must go well to ensure the best possible outcome for the movement of goods on the rest of its journey,” an All Things Supply Chain article said.
Digital technologies help ensure the best possible outcomes in drayage management by:
“Innovative, technology-driven 3PL providers will employ things like AI, automation, and analytics to enhance trackability for businesses. These insights can vastly improve visibility and optimize processes across the supply chain. For instance, they can utilize route optimization to circumvent traffic and accelerate shipping times if necessary,” a Smart Warehousing blog said.
It added that “without the help of a professional drayage service provider, your business runs the risk of disrupting efficiency and slowing down supply chain operations. Partnering with a 3PL that provides cutting-edge technology and drayage services can help prevent hindrances by assuming the role of a reliable and efficient intermediary within your supply chain.”
At VCPB Transportation, we have embraced cutting-edge technology to provide the very best drayage trucking services. We expertly navigate the complexities of port operations and offer tailored drayage solutions with streamlined and coordinated movements; real-time tracking for complete transparency; and reliable and professional transportation management.
Our extensive network and experience in drayage management ensure containers are efficiently moved off port terminals. We make sure trucks arrive on time to reduce shippers’ exposure to unnecessary detention and demurrage fees. We know that real-time tracking is of utmost importance, and we constantly monitor all shipments using our state-of-the-art tech stack.
At VCPB Transportation, we’ve got shippers covered, whether it’s drayage or transloading, expedited shipping, produce transportation, intermodal services, refrigerated trucking, or overweight and oversized freight.
Start shipping with VCPB today.
VCPB Transportation
600 Meadowlands Pkwy Secaucus, NJ 07094
(201) 770-0111
