Posts Tagged “ALC Logistics”
By Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif.: ALC Logistics, the software and LTL division of the Allen Lund Company has announced the consolidation of it’s full TMS offering, under the Alchemy brand. It is a software and transportation solution for the shipping industry, with a focus on perishable freight. ALC has been committed to the development of their TMS solution for years. Under the guidance of CIO, Chetan Tandon, the product offering is especially geared to the produce and perishable industry, however, it also offers options to shippers of all sizes and commodities. “From the time I began my career with Allen Lund Company, I found that they were always forward thinking with regard to technology. We’ve recognized the need for automation in this industry and I’ve had the privilege to develop our software, Alchemy, to support our customers’ specific needs,” stated Chetan. “We are consistently working on new features to make our customers business run as smoothly as possible.”
Alchemy incorporates shipper and carrier modules, freight audit and spot pricing options, load tendering, yard management, business intelligence reporting, and the most recent addition to Alchemy, dock scheduling. The evolution of the TMS through ALC Logistics now sets the standard for software solutions.
From Kenny Lund, VP ALC Logistics, “I am so pleased that we have a new name for our mature and stable transportation systems offering. We have earned our reputation with our customers as a premier provider of software and expertise to help them move billions of dollars’ worth of freight supported by systems that give more visibility and cost controls. We want the Alchemy brand to represent the standard for high quality, adaptable transportation solutions.”
About ALC Logistics:
ALC Logistics has been providing transportation software solutions to shippers since 1994. Operating under the Allen Lund Company, LLC umbrella, ALC Logistics is a separate business entity located in Charlotte, NC.
About Allen Lund Company:
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 470 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to arrange dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF. If you are interested in joining the Allen Lund Company team, please click here.
Established in 1976, the Allen Lund Company was selected as the 2017 Supply & Demand Chain Executive, 2017 Food Logistics 100+ Top Software and Tech Provider, a 2016 Top IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, 2015 Coca-Cola Challenger Carrier of the Year, 2015 Top Private Company in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2015 Top 100+ Software and Technology Providers, 2015 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, a 2014 Great Supply Chain Partner, and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2014 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” The company manages over 365,000 loads annually in 2015, and received the 2013 “Best in Cargo Security Award.” In 2011 the company received the TIA 3PL Samaritan Award, and the NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies) named Allen Lund Company the 2010 Best Broker of the Year. More information is available at www.allenlund.com.
By Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif. – The Allen Lund Company (ALC) will be participating in Navidad en el Barrio for the 10th consecutive year. Working together with growers, shippers, and carriers Navidad is able to provide food baskets to over 15,000 families-in-need during the holiday season.
This year ALC worked with companies such as Wada Farms, Dayka+Hackett, Rainier Fruit Company, Wonderful Citrus, and Grimmway Farms to provide food donations. “We are thrilled with the great response our customers and shippers have given to Navidad this year,” stated Nora Trueblood, Director of Marketing and Communications. “Adding fresh produce to the dinner baskets is of huge value to the families.”
This year ALC also had the privilege of running a shoe drive in the Corporate office. We were able to collect 130 pairs of brand new shoes ranging in all sizes from toddler to teen. On December 12th the shoes will be handed out at St. Vincent de Paul’s annual shoe and toy drive to hundreds of families that wait in line for hours.
This will make the second year that with the Allen Lund Company’s coordination, Navidad Christmas dinners will also be given to 500 families at St. Vincent de Paul during their annual toy and shoe drive.
About Allen Lund Company:
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 400 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to transport dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF.
Kenny Lund doesn’t argue with the American Trucking Associations annual study, American Trucking Trends, which shows independent truckers and leased owner operators making $56,167 on average in 2014, which was 7 percent more income than the previous year. However, the vice president of operations for the Allen Lund Company, a third party logistics provider, says freight rates still aren’t increasing enough and operating costs are high.
For example, gasoline in California is $4 per gallon, while Number 2 diesel is about $3.50 per gallon. Take on excessive government regulations, plus an economy that leaves a lot to be desired, and Lund doesn’t see the freight rates keeping up with other costs.
“Truckers are making more money, but the rates aren’t up as much as expected, and the economy was expected to be much stronger,” Lund says.
He points out produce trucking is still dominated by companies with five trucks or less.
“God bless the owner operators out there. They don’t realize collectively what they do for this country and how important they are,” Lund surmises. “We try to convey that as a company and treat these owner operators with the respect they deserve. They are a critical component in the economic system of the U.S.”
He recently heard someone point out if all access to Los Angeles was cut off, there is only a four-day supply of food available. Lund calls that thought “sobering” and notes people just do not realize what a great transportation system has been built in this country due to all of the small companies working together.
“With the efficient distribution system throughout the U.S., you can pretty much get strawberries anywhere in the U.S. the year around, and this is true with most major commodities,” he says.
ALC Logistics
As for Allen Lund Company, he is particularly excited about a division of the firm, ALC Logistics. He developed the company’s Transportation Management System, building it from the ground up. It is the first one created and provides software solutions ranging from claims management to freight audits, and carrier contracts, among other features.
“It is pretty exciting. We are running about $1.4 billion through the system, working with the companies we have now, and we are just getting started,” Lund says.
As for the trucking industry itself, Lund is very interested in the development of driverless trucks. For example the technology is now available where you can follow someone on I-40 from New Mexico to Arkansas and never touch the steering wheel. He sees this addressing problems associated with hours of service regulations.
“I think we’re only five years or less away from it (driverless trucks),” he notes.
“If you can sell this to the driver by saying you are almost out of hours, then you put it on auto pilot. The driver can then go to sleep while the truck is moving down the road, and have your hours still available when you arrive at destination,” Lund observes. “It makes the single drivers like teams.”
(This is part II of a two-part series. The Allen Lund Company was formed in 1976 by its namesake. I have known Mr. Allen Lund nearly since the founding of the company. His son Kenny Lund joined the company 26 years ago this month. At that time the operation had 32 employees. Today Allen Lund Company has 500 employees, arranges about 250,000 loads a year, of which about 40 percent is with fresh produce. The company has 30 offices nationwide and will soon break the $500 million mark in annual sales. — Bill Martin)
by Allen Lund Company
ALC Logistics, the software and logistics division of the Allen Lund Company, introduced a customized Transportation Management Software (TMS) specific for produce.
Built on a platform that has been in place for five years, the TMS produce specific solution is now available to the industry. The software enables companies to have control over their transportation spending and includes customized programming to fit each customer’s needs. Specific to produce, customer’s will have control over: load tendering, dock scheduling, spot pricing, and live load tracking.
The ALC TMS Sales team is headed by Kenny Lund, Vice President, Chetan Tandon, CIO, and providing sales and implementation, Kevin Peterson. “We are very excited to roll out this product, at what, we believe, is the right time to help those that transport produce,” stated Lund. He added: “38 years of experience transporting produce have gone into this software which adds visibility, creates efficiencies, controls costs and eases the challenges of produce transportation. There is nothing like it on the market; it works with your systems and adapts to your business processes to ultimately save you time and money.”
About Allen Lund Company: Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 390 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to transport dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division.
Established in 1976, the Allen Lund Company received the TIA 3PL Samaritan Award for 2011 and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2013 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” The company managed over 288,000 shipments in 2013. The NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies) named Allen Lund Company the 2010 Best Broker of the Year. More information is available at www.allenlund.com.