How J.D. Irving achieved greater operational control and efficiency with Trimble | Case study
Finding the path to operational excellence is a major challenge for diverse transportation conglomerates like J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI). Discover how they leveraged Trimble TMW.Suite TMS to automate inventory management, reduce empty miles, and build a more resilient, data-driven supply chain.
The challenge: Diversity of services introduces complexity
Identifying the path to operational excellence is a challenge for executives at every asset-based transportation business. For JDI, that challenge is further complicated by their diverse business portfolio. Across their 140+ years of business, JDI has expanded operations across US and Canada, with a fleet that spans fuel supply, van, flat bed, dry bulk, reefer, and container services, and a wholly owned railroad.
JDI’s fuel supply business, RST Transport (RST), operates in a hyper-competitive market that offers virtually no margin for error. Fuel retailers expect suppliers to provide a seamless experience, with 100% on-time delivery and cost-efficient, accurate inventory control.
In addition to RST, JDI operates a diversified trucking company – Sunbury Transport – that offers cross-border shipments between Canada and the US Sunbury operates multiple, discrete business units, and completes some 1,500 deliveries daily.
The solution: A comprehensive transportation management system (TMS)
RST implemented TMW.Suite TMS in 2010 and based on that company’s success with the solution, JDI is now leveraging TMW.Suite TMS to transform business processes at Sunbury, as well.
TMW.Suite TMS is a comprehensive, highly versatile solution developed specifically for transportation businesses to give them greater control of their entire operational lifecycle. The software helps drive dramatic improvements in productivity from existing resources and equipment, and speeds order management, billing and dozens of other critical functions.
This all-in-one solution delivers reliable tender evaluation, operational insights and predictive intelligence instantly. Leverage the industry’s most trusted data to automate, accelerate and amplify your entire business, all while freeing your team from multi-touch manual tasks to focus on the high-value activities most critical to your cash cycle.
For fuel supply fleets, the solution also includes extensive inventory management and forecasting tools that help ensure exceptional customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The results: Improved efficiency and control
Through their implementation of TMW.Suite TMS, JDI improved their operational efficiency and control, increasing their system reliability and overall business strategy through better data. These and other benefits have proven TMW.Suite TMS as the right choice for enhancing business performance at JDI's RST and Sunbury businesses.
“RST basically offers a commodity service (fuel delivery), but TMW.Suite has helped us differentiate ourselves and make us ‘stickier’ to the customer,” said a JDI representative. As one example, the solution has enabled RST to automate inventory management and replenishment based on electronic readings from in-ground tanks. “We’ve been able to embed ourselves in our customers’ supply chain and automate with them, so the value from an operational perspective is absolutely unique.”
The underlying data available through the software has been another key advantage. TMW.Suite TMS is seamlessly integrated with JDI’s telematics and EDI platforms so operations professionals can monitor the business on a near real-time basis. This also helps reduce costs – particularly challenging in the fuel delivery category, where trucks normally run more empty miles. “We know where the trucks are, how much fuel they’re burning, driver behavior – all of the things necessary to run the business more effectively.”
The improved reliability of TMW.Suite, as compared to JDI’s legacy software, also has improved operations. “This software is uniquely stable,” Lordon says. “I don’t have to worry about the user community not being able to work. I don’t have to worry about the supply chain being disrupted. For these reasons alone, Trimble and TMW.Suite have helped me sleep easy.”
"We’ve needed to transform the way people in these business units do their jobs. Operating sub-optimally will not allow us to compete given the cost pressures of today’s market. So the decision to use TMW.Suite was easy."
– JDI Representative
Ready to get started with TMW.Suite TMS? Check out the solution page, or contact our team for a consultation and demo.
