To entice drivers, carriers are spending money trying to lure experienced bulk specialists away from their current employers, causing changes in the market that lead to turmoil for carriers and, in turn, delays and higher costs for shippers.
Odyssey offers an analytics-driven technology platform that does more than help book loads. It’s an intelligent system that provides insights into the driving factors of the bulk carrier market. The interesting thing about our new platform is that it’s based on the reality that bulk shipping is highly relationship-driven. These insights allow shippers to better understand network dynamics — and how they as shippers can more positively influence those dynamics based on their decisions. The technology provides data and insight that allows Odyssey and its customers to test “what-if” scenarios. “What if we paid more for certain loads or lanes? What if we asked our customers which shipments they absolutely needed by certain dates and which ones could move out without affecting business outcomes? What if we established relationships with a new set of carriers that we hadn’t considered before?”
Given the alarming demographics of the bulk driver market, it seems that a combination of technology and relationship building is the best path forward. We believe we have the right platform. It’s all about collaboration and efficiency and linking carrier preferences with shipper business goals. We’d be happy to give you a peek behind the curtain and show you what we mean. If you’re interested, contact your Odyssey account manager. And if you know of smart, capable young people looking for a solid career, point them to the nearest bulk carrier.
