Cargo Shorts Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Automation and digitization are rapidly transforming the LTL industry, enabling greater transparency and visibility. Seamless technology fosters improved planning, pricing, service, and relationships among carriers and shippers.
 
Host Jonathan Betz speaks with Barry Craver, VP of Technology at Old Dominion, who served OD on the business side for twenty years and took responsibility for IT in 2023, and Paul Dugent, Executive Director of the Digital LTL Council under the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Paul is responsible for bringing together LTL motor carriers, technology providers, and shippers to standardize and digitize the data stream of an LTL shipment.
 
Key Takeaways:  
What tech trends and breakthroughs are reshaping LTL shipping? [1:23]
 
Looking forward, opportunities in automation and API standardization are promising. [4:42]
 
Why will standardizing APIs transform the relationship between carriers, shippers, and 3PLs? [5:33]
 
The biggest challenges for shippers when it comes to adopting the standardized APIs. [7:40]
 
How has the industry adopted and implemented the single standard eBOLs and other technological changes? [10:12]
 
Is the National Motor Freight Classification system being reimagined? [14:18]
 
From a technology standpoint, what will the LTL industry look like in 10 years? [20:20]
Resources: OD Outlook
ODFL.com
National Motor Freight Traffic Association
Cargo Shorts podcast
Shippers can direct freight-related questions to marketing@ODFL.com

The findings from Mastio’s annual study of LTL carriers help shippers evaluate carriers based on many important attributes.
 
Shippers need to choose the right partner when selecting a carrier. Shippers want to ensure that their freight will make it to their customers on time and damage-free. What tools are available to help shippers choose the right carrier for their business? How can collecting independent, third-party logistics data assist them with the decisions?
 
Host Jonathan Betz speaks with Kevin Huntsman, the president of Mastio & Company, a market research consulting firm that conducts independent customer experience research across various industries. For over 20 years, Mastio & Company has been surveying shippers annually about their needs and what they look for in a carrier. On today's episode, Kevin shares insights on how Mastio & Company conducts the survey and what it means for the industry. Old Dominion was named the number one national LTL carrier for quality for the 14th consecutive year. Marty Freeman, president and CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line shares why this award means so much to the organization and how Old Dominion uses the data to continuously improve service for their customers. 
 
Key Takeaways:  
Who is Mastio & Company, how do they collect LTL survey data, and how is the data used in the logistics industry? [1:44]
 
OD builds its company culture around the results of the Logistic Professional Survey. [4:30]
 
The attributes shippers value are highly weighted when Mastio chooses the Logistics Professional Survey Award winner. [7:49]
 
How OD uses the Conscious Differentiator attributes when setting annual objectives. [11:02]
 
What is the Mastio value map and why is it important for shippers? [13:22]
 
The Mastio independent third-party study offers shippers and carriers the important data needed to make informed business decisions. [17:22]
Resources: OD Outlook
ODFL.com
Mastio & Company
Cargo Shorts podcast
Shippers can direct freight-related questions to marketing@ODFL.com
 

Understanding freight classification is a critical part of the shipping process. If freight is not properly classified or wrong item numbers are used, the most accurate rates may not be applied, which can lead to an unwelcome surprise on the final bill. Understanding these classifications is critical to a business, but why is it a struggle for some, and what can be done to improve the system to streamline LTL shipments?
 
In this episode, hear from Old Dominion’s Director of Pricing Services, Erin Topper. Erin spent 18 years at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), where she was responsible for managing the classification development process, including reviewing and updating packaging-related content and writing proposals to amend the National Motor Freight Classification.
 
Key Takeaways:  
What are the components that go into determining the freight classification for LTL shipments? [1:36]
 
Why should shippers spend more time upfront in properly classifying their freight? [3:31]
 
What is being done to help shippers properly classify freight? [4:36]
 
How important is packaging, and what is the key for shippers to get packaging “just right”? [6:38]
 
Why does Old Dominion prioritize claim prevention? [13:06]
 
Erin answers shipper’s freight-related questions. [13:42]
Resources: OD Outlook
ODFL.com
Cargo Shorts podcast
Shippers can direct freight-related questions to marketing@ODFL.com
 

Customer expectations are growing as economic stress factors remain, giving rise to an uncertain holiday season.
 
Retailers face their peak period during this season of shopping and shipping. This year appears to be shaping up like few others. Inflation remains a concern, interest rates continue to rise, and retailers are worried about weakened spending. So, where do things stand now? Do shippers expect this season to be naughty or nice?
 
In this episode, hear from the Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers Business School, Dr. Tony Bell. Dr. Bell has 30 years of experience in supply chain operations and management with Johnson & Johnson, the Coca-Cola company, Whirlpool, and Maersk. And Old Dominion’s Senior VP of Sales, Steve Hartsell. Steve has over 20 years of experience and has held multiple positions, including Director of OD Expedited and Service Center Manager.
 
Key Takeaways:  
What can we expect for the holiday shopping season, based on the fall shipping season? [1:15]
 
Have post-COVID-19 supply-chain issues been solved? [3:21]
 
Are manufacturers and retailers managing their inventories sufficiently despite the multiple supply chain risks? [5:27]
 
How can risk-mitigation strategies reduce supply chain challenges? [8:35]
 
What can retailers do to prepare for this holiday season? [10:08]
 
How are labor shortages impacting the overall supply chain? [10:59]
 
Resources: OD Outlook
ODFL.com
Cargo Shorts podcast
 

How can carriers evolve to navigate retail supply chain complexities and future consumer expectations?
 
The pandemic caused a seismic shift in the industry and resulted in systemic changes to traditional retail supply chain strategies. What lessons did we learn and where have we landed to better meet customer demands?
 
In this episode hear from Joe Metzger, former Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Operations at Walmart and 30 year veteran in consumer product goods supply chain leadership at Kraft Foods and The Kellogg Company. Greg Plemmons is the Executive VP & Chief Operations Officer at Old Dominion Freight Line. Greg has over three decades of experience working in LTL and transportation.
 
Key Takeaways:  
What were the biggest retail and supply chain challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and do those issues still exist in the market? [2:06]
 
How can you overcome supply chain challenges to become more resilient and collaborative? [6:59]
 
How can manufacturers work with retailers to mitigate inventory issues still affecting the delivery of consumer goods? [9:03]
 
How can AI and machine learning capabilities benefit the transportation and logistics industry? [10:57]
 
How has the Amazon model affected the current state of retail shipping? [11:57]
 
Do customer scorecards drive efficiencies and a higher level of customer satisfaction? [14:32]
 
What future trends and expectations stand out within consumer goods and retail shipping? [16:41]
  Resources: ODFL.com
Cargo Shorts Podcast
 

There are many reasons for shippers and carriers to share information including better planning, better pricing, and cost savings. It benefits all parties to work together to improve transparency, efficiency, and trust. Business expectations are rapidly changing, therefore it is important to come together to talk about using digitalization in transportation and how it can lead to enhanced visibility and transparency.
 
Joining host Jonathan Betz are Todd Polen, the VP of Pricing Services for Old Dominion Freight Line, and Scooter Sayers, President of Sayers Logistics, an LTL Consultancy. In this discussion, they address how clarity can lead to benefits such as improved planning, better communication or sharing of information, and most importantly increased trust between companies and customers.



Key Takeaways:  
How digitization helps to improve transparency in business operations. [0:47]
 
How will the NMFTA’s new single standard eBOL benefit the transportation industry, and how is Old Dominion responding? [6:08]
 
How will digitization help control business costs in the transportation industry? [9:40]
 
How should carriers help shippers digitize their operations? [11:00]
 
What is missing in the relationship between shippers and carriers, and how can a “Shipper Scorecard” remedy the issue? [13:21]
 
Where are the friction points for adopting new technologies in the transportation industry? [16:47]
 
What is the future of transparency and pricing within the shipping industry? [21:30]



Shareables:  
“When you have transparency, when you have visibility through digitization, that’s going to help you reduce errors. It’s going to help you get big data fast in the fields that you need to operate with. It turns events and exceptions into actionable data that you can actually work with and it promotes standardization.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
 
“If a carrier can reduce their cost by saving fuel, by not having to add labor as they grow, they can offer better pricing to their customers. So it’s a win-win for everybody.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
 
“We’ve actually adopted, I think we’ve got it with about 10 or 12 customers now, a digital scorecard. In other words, how well are they doing at integrating with us digitally? Are we getting a bill of lading digitally? If we are, what is the quality of the data that we get?” — Todd Polen, VP of Pricing Services, Old Dominion Freight Line
 
“I think a great place to start is incentivizing everyone to pull out all of these exceptions, all of this friction, all of the sand in the gears and eliminate this administrative burden for everyone.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
 
Resources: ODFL.com
Cargo Shorts Podcast
Sayers Logistics