August - 20238 logisticstechoutlook.comHow Shippers and Class 1 Railroads Can Partner with 3PLS to Grow the Bottom Line At a recent INFORMS conference hosted by BNSF Railway, Jon Gabriel, vice president of network strategy, design, and innovation, shared a slide created by Oliver Wyman, a leading international management consulting firm, showing 100 percent of executives surveyed "found truck superior to rail on all attributes of customer experience." This means when given the choice of mode aka "freight that has a choice"shippers prefer trucks. While that data point alone isn't late breaking news, the three attributes that influenced these results make me want to jump up and down raising my hand like the nerdy (and overly competitive) kid I was. The conversation hit on these three attributes:· Equipment/capacity· Ontime performance· Shipment visibilityINFORMS attendees listening to ideas on how the railroads can help transition the mindset of shippers who prefer trucks to rail. There must be a better way! As someone with decades of experience working at Class 1 and Class 3 railroads and on the 3PL side, I know there is absolutely a better way. We have all got to let go of our pride and get comfortable working together. Shippers can use 3PLs to WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AREN'T WE?By Michelle Gonzales Bowling, Vice President ­ Logistics, Watco CompaniesIN MY OPINIONMichelle Gonzales Bowling
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