Managing inventory and warehouses, as well as coordinating shipments and deliveries, are some of the challenges faced by logistics operators. Their most frustrating and time-consuming task, however, is loading and unloading truck trailers. In the past, this process could take at least 45 minutes, since workers would have to handle pallets individually. As a result, truckers had to wait until their trailers were unloaded before they could pick up or drop off freight.
A trucking company called ArcBest developed an innovative freight-management system called Vaux. In place of handling pallets individually, Vaux is a steel-and-aluminum racking system that sits beneath and around cargo inside trailer beds, allowing forklifts to push or pull freight in one move. Vaux technology, according to ArcBest, speeds up loading and unloading trucks by more than 5 minutes, compared to 45 minutes using traditional methods.
As a result of this technology, logistics operators and truckers both benefit. By eliminating bottlenecks and inefficiencies in distribution facilities, Vaux enables greater efficiency in trailer turns and yard congestion for logistics operators. For truckers, reducing dwell time is crucial since excessive delays mean drivers are not getting paid, which leads to higher driver turnover, and a ripple effect on subsequent loads.
Vaux has already been tested by companies like Polaris, which has found that the system allows for more freight to be loaded per truck, since the racking can be arranged to fit a variety of package sizes and shapes and to stack items. Moreover, Polaris has been able to cut down on the amount of product that gets broken as it is moved on and off trucks, particularly delicate items such as glass windshields and doors.
In addition, Vaux has software to track freight while it is traveling, giving shippers a clear picture of where their goods are. In addition to cellular service and a Global Positioning System tracker, the pallets are scanned as they are loaded, allowing the software to track them based on their location on the racks.
For both logistics operators and truckers, Vaux technology has revolutionized the logistics industry by streamlining loading and unloading processes, reducing dwell time, and improving efficiency and profitability. Increasing the use of this technology will lead to further improvements in freight management and transportation as more companies adopt it.
