Dive Brief:
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide’s new AI agent aims to help shippers by automating the process of determining how freight should be classified to help with the upcoming National Motor Freight Traffic Association classification overhaul, according to a June 19 press release.
- Some shippers are unaware of certain freight classifications, Greg West, VP of LTL, said. Mistakes concerning tenders with missing or incorrect freight class or code, which is likely to increase starting July 19, when the National Motor Freight Classifcation overhaul is set to launch.
- It can easily take up to 10 minutes to manually look up or confirm the freight class and code for every emailed LTL tender, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Arun Rajan said in the release. “For shipments the AI agent is reasoning through for the first time, it can choose a freight classification in about 10 seconds.”
Dive Insight:
Companies, from brokers like C.H. Robinson to carriers such as A. Duie Pyle and Southeastern Freight Lines, are preparing for the upcoming NMFC overhaul on July 19.
While the 3PL is offering an AI tool for shippers to accurately classify their freight, both A. Duie Pyle and Southeastern Freight Lines invested in additional dimensioners. These devices help by using laser measurements to capture the exact length, width and height of freight, providing precise dimensional data.
“Customers who tender LTL freight by email or any other method are advised to prepare by making sure they know the accurate weight and dimensions for their freight,” C.H. Robinson said in the release.
The company noted that both weight and dimensions are essential for applying the correct NMFC to freight. “Dimensioner technology can help, and C.H. Robinson has collaborated with dimensioner vendors to provide discounts for its customers,” the brokerage giant said.
C.H. Robinson’s network of carriers is also going through the NMFC transition, West said in an email to Trucking Dive. “[The carriers] don’t want to have to hold a shipment for inspection, reclassify it and adjust their invoice,” West said.
“Our AI agent cuts down on delays and potentially higher charges, and keeps our customers’ LTL freight moving,” West added.
C.H. Robinson has been expanding its AI agents to assist shippers for some time. The 3PL also offers an AI tool to price quotes for less-than-truckload shipments, acquire trucking capacity and set appointments for pickup and delivery.
With the quoting agent, there has been a 30% jump in LTL quotes delivered by AI every month, the company said back in April.
