APRIL - 2022 19logisticstechoutlook.comwarehouses as a part of its service offerings. As part of the onboarding process, Commtrex educates shippers on the different components of moving freight by rail. Then Commtrex runs an analysis on the load. If shippers find it feasible, Commtrex provides freight rates and creates an actual rail program to aid shippers in moving freight by rail. For instance, a shipper who traditionally had not moved any freight by rail approached Commtrex when they could not find the trucking capacity to move their load. The client had never contracted a railroad, transloader, or warehouse, and needed to move the product within three weeks. Commtrex created a strategic plan for moving the load on railroads with short notice by researching and securing rail rates and routing, identifying a transload facility within close proximity to the client's location, and coordinating the freight move from origin to destination. Commtrex's logistics team ended up achieving about 15-18 percent savings for the client while ensuring flexibility and reliability. Commtrex's primary distinction is that they provide the largest database of rail-served supply side companies, including transloaders, warehouses, terminals, ports, short line railroads, and many others. "We have everything in our system and a shipper can connect directly with these providers through our platform," states Lew. Shippers fill out a simple form based on their transload request, and the software algorithm matches them with transloaders, warehouses, or terminal ports. Commtrex has significantly shortened the time it takes for shippers to connect with any provider they need. Moreover, the Commtrex customer service team provides direct visibility to overall operations acting as an extension of the shipper's logistics team and as the primary point of contact for all entities involved in the end-to-end rail logistics. Forging ahead, Commtrex is focused on developing new tools for shippers to manage their freight movement more efficiently. They are working on both a delivered cost calculator and a carbon footprint calculator so that shippers can analyze the prices and carbon footprint for their moving requirements on the platform itself. The company will further enhance warehousing options on their website to provide increased visibility into available product storage capacity. They are also developing tools that will allow for shippers to access containers needed for intermodal movements. In addition, Commtrex is continually focused on adding educational materials and new training videos so that both new and experienced shippers can leverage the content and learn more about the rail industry. As rail continues to grow its footprint as the most sustainable and cost-effective mode of transportation, Commtrex has positioned itself as the go-to-platform for rail shippers to facilitate and manage their rail movements across North America. Martin Lew
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