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in this issue
· User Group Schedule Now Available
· Mobile Technology Improves Efficiency
· Welcome New Clients
· FACTSview™ Financial Analyst Empowers
Users
· Tip of the Month: Purging Old Records
· News & Notes
· DLTL Meeting a Must-Attend for LTL
Executives
· Calendar of Events
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Greetings!
Welcome to
the February 2006 edition of the CLI newsletter, Trucking with CLI. Our
feature story this month revolves around the upcoming User Group meeting
being held on April 6 and 7. The schedule is now set and this year's theme of
"Optimizing FACTS™" makes this a must-attend event for any user of
the CLI FACTS system. Covering both the operations and administration
systems, this program will be valuable for everyone who attends. If you have
not yet signed up for this important program, please do so today.
This
month's newsletter also features an article on wireless technology. Written
by Jeff Amerine, vice president at KonaWare, the article discusses how mobile
technology is more affordable and effective than ever before. KonaWare is a
solutions partner of CLI's.
Finally, be
sure to read the article on the new Financial Analyst module that's part of
FACTSview™, Business Intelligence. Check out the always-useful "Tip of
the Month" from our training department. And please read about the three
new clients to join the CLI roster, CCT Logistics, Minute Carriers and Riegel
Transport.
Enjoy the
issue.
User
Group Schedule Now Available 
2-Day
Training Set for April 6 & 7
The
preliminary hour-by-hour schedule is now available for the CLI User Group
Conference. The theme this year, "Optimizing FACTS," highlights the
fact that sessions will be dedicated to training attendees how to get the most
from their software systems. The conference will be held on April 6 and 7,
2006 at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains, NY. Attendees will learn not only
from CLI expert trainers but from business peers as well. Plus key
operations people will have the opportunity to provide input on the design of
the graphical version of FACTS. The agenda, fact sheet and registration form
are available through the links below.
After an
opening general session, the meeting will be divided into two concurrent
breakout sessions covering "Billing and Administration" and
"Operations and Highway." Sessions include: Data Entry/Billing
Accuracy, How to Increase Rating Success, Mapping and Density, EDI Transfers,
Cash Flow Procedures, Business Intelligence, Call Logging Specifics, Auditing
Techniques, Dispatch and Routing Logic, Driver Communication, Highway
Routing, Daily Reset and more.
In addition
to the structured training seminars, there will be opportunities to meet
one-on-one with CLI staff, so that customers can get answers to their most
pressing needs and questions. The program continues through noon on Friday so
that participants can either enjoy their afternoon in the New York City area
or head back for their flights home. This program will be very interactive
and attendees should be prepared to participate.
There is no
fee to attend this event. Because CLI feels so strongly that training is an
important component of the successful use of any software system,
participants are invited to attend this program FREE of charge. Attendees are
responsible only for their travel, hotel and non-program-related meals. Call
914-332-0300 or e-mail clis@carrierlogistics.com
with any questions. A link to the registration form is found at the end
of this newsletter.
Optimize
FACTS. Maximize Business.
For the
agenda, click here
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Mobile
Technology Improves Efficiency
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 Minimizes Total Cost of
Ownership
A
"perfect storm" of sorts now exists enabling transportation
companies to implement driver communications and wireless automation. The
readily available technologies can dramatically improve supply chain
efficiency while minimizing total cost of ownership. The mass-market
production of Pocket PC and J2ME devices, consumer-driven GPRS and CDMA/1X
wireless networks, and flexible, modular application software has driven
down overall solution costs. A range of flexible solutions can now be
deployed for well under $1,000 capital cost per driver and no more than $25
per month for multi-mode terrestrial and satellite service.
Terrestrial-only wireless services, with continually improving geographic
coverage and network speed, can be secured for even lower monthly fees.
For
example, it is now possible to develop and deliver solutions using
standards-based off-the-shelf hardware, GPS systems, public wireless
networks, handheld devices, and flexible software to address the following
motor freight operational issues:
- Pick-up and delivery
applications and solutions
- RFID portal and handheld
solutions for piece-level control and Wal-Mart EPC initiative
compliance
- Trailer, tractor, and
driver tracking, control, and security
- Arrive/depart status at
both terminal and customer locations
- Outbound line-haul
optimization
- DOT-compliant automated
accounting and logging for driver hours of service (HOS)
- Yard management and control
- Dock automation
- Freight bill imaging and
capture using driver handheld devices
These are
but a few of the operational areas that can benefit from the convergence of
these new wireless technologies. Now might be the perfect time for you to
investigate how they can make your transportation business run more
effectively and efficiently.
This
article is adapted from a whitepaper written by Jeff Amerine, VP of
Transportation and Logistics at KonaWare Inc., a software company that
allows transport companies to track assets and communicate with drivers
through mobile computers and wireless networks.
For more
information on KonaWare, click here »
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Welcome New
Clients
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 CLI is pleased to announce the addition of
the following clients to our roster: CCT Logistics, Minute Carriers, and
Riegel Transportation have all recently chosen the FACTS total freight
management systems to help streamline processes and increase their
productivity.
CCT
Logistics, headquartered in Toronto, is a full-service transportation,
logistics and warehousing company, specializing in fast, efficient
distribution throughout Canada. Established in 1994, CCT Logistics has
developed a customer-oriented approach, allowing them to fully understand
customer's specific requirements. The addition of the FACTS solution
reinforces this commitment to their customer base.
Minute
Carriers, Inc. upholds this same commitment to customer service, which is
part of the reason they chose the FACTS system. Located in Jersey City, NJ,
Minute will begin to reap the benefits of FACTS, faster than, well, a
minute.
Riegel
Transportation Inc., based out of West Babylon, NY, will find greater
efficiencies with the FACTS system. The fully integrated nature of the
solution will benefit the organization and their dedication to superior
shipping services for many years to come.
CLI would
like to thank all of these organizations for choosing the superior total
freight management software, FACTS, as well as the personnel that support
it.
Welcome.
We look forward to partnering with each of you.
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FACTSview™
Financial Analyst Empowers Users
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 CLI is pleased to announce that the Financial Analyst
module of the FACTSview Business Intelligence suite is now available.
Financial Analyst will energize your financial management by putting the
information you need instantly at your fingertips. A valuable addition to
FACTSview, Financial Analyst offers real-time comparisons and analyses
allowing you to view and utilize your data while letting you drill down to
get a complete financial picture.
Financial
Analyst gives you greater control over all your accounting areas including:
General
Ledger
You can take individual GL journal entry transactions and aggregate them
using this dynamic analysis tool. It also allows you to look at your
business in three new ways. You can:
- Compare: View the
financial statements of individual locations or divisions side by
side.
- Consolidate: Combine
financial information based on multiple parameters.
- View Trends: See how GL
accounts have performed over time.
Accounts
Receivable
The A/R piece of Financial Analyst allows you to instantly identify your
worst and best paying customers. It will help you reduce DSO and
delinquencies. Access to this information will give you the power to hold
your customers accountable with valid data and details.
Accounts
Payable
The A/P component provides a one-stop-shop to see all your outstanding
amounts due. This will help you maximize payment terms and also track
historical information so you are empowered to negotiate better terms with
your vendors.
In
addition, Financial Analyst lets you automate your month-end reporting
process to truly streamline your procedures. You can access reports you
currently generated once a month - now every day. Financial Analyst puts
you in control of your data, allowing you to harness the power of the
information and use it to better run - and grow - your business. To learn
more about Financial Analyst or the complete FACTSview suite contact Ken
Weinberg at kweinberg@carrierlogistics.com.
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Tip of the
Month: Purging Old Records
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 (Reference Code: Purge Records)
Historical
data is retained in the FACTS database for reporting purposes and for
researching questions about the past. However, at some point you need to
decide exactly how long this history should be kept online. While every
business is different, a guideline is three years of history should be
sufficient. Here are some tips to help you purge your old records.
Highway
Trips and Manifests
If you are using the Highway module of ROUTRONICS, you are familiar with
creating, dispatching, and arriving Trips. In hw.daily # 70, you
have the ability to archive Trips that have arrived. This does not actually
purge records, but rather moves them to a historical database. These
records can still be accessed at hw.trphist for viewing or updating. The
main function of this process is to "clean up the clutter" of old
Trips from your active operational screens to allow for more fluid use and
quicker searches when managing your daily Trips. When necessary, Trips in
history can then be purged using hw.sysadm # 50.
Purging
Outdated Delivery Bills and Pick-ups
If you use the Inbound Planning module, ib.daily # 10 can delete
delivery bills from routes that have not been dispatched. You can set up
routes as miscellaneous for bills entered into the system in error. This
function allows you to remove these bills from the delivery system that are
older than a certain date and/or by an individual route or route section.
When using Call Logging for taking pick-ups in the Terminal Control File at
ib.maint # 9, you can set parameters for how long to keep previous
Pick-up Calls and if they should be purged from history automatically after
the said number of days.
Purging
Administrative Records
At bs.purge there are a number of utilities you can use to remove
old records including those from A/P and A/R files, old probill and
shipment records, outdated quotes, as well as inactive customer files. Most
of these allow you to select parameters based on a date range, customer or
probill number(s), and return a report of what was purged. These utilities
also allow you to choose if you want to archive the data with the ability to
export the purge into an external file.
Always
use discretion when purging any records, but remember the benefits of a
smaller and more manageable database often lead to a more efficient
operating system.
If you
would like to respond to the Tip of the Week or you require additional
information, please send an e-mail to Training@carrierlogistics.com.
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News & Notes
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 The 2005 Year-End
issue of Transport Topics featured an article on CLI's Leadership Summit,
focusing on how to use the web to boost your sales and marketing efforts.
For a copy of the article, click the link below.
The same
issue also quoted Ken Weinberg, vice president, CLI, in an article about the
new customs requirements for trucks entering the U.S. The article noted
that CLI has partnered with ViaSafe to ensure that their customers meet all
of the requirements when they take effect. For a copy of the article, click
the link below.
Ken
Weinberg also recently spoke at the ATA Leadership Meeting and NAFC Annual
Conference in Tampa, FL. Ken was part of a panel at the NAFC session
discussing "Wireless Productivity: What Can the New Technologies Do
for Us?"
Click here for the articles »
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DLTL Meeting a
Must-Attend for LTL Executives
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 The Distribution
& LTL Carriers Association will hold their annual meeting in San Diego,
CA at the Westgate Hotel on February 26 - March 1, 2006. Among the
activities scheduled will be educational seminars, social and networking
opportunities and an exhibition area for trucking industry suppliers.
Keynote
and general session speakers include Dr. Charles Petty whose session, "Climb
the Ladder of Success - and Take your Family with You" will address
balancing career and family in a humorous and entertaining manner; Gary Wu,
president and CEO of Volvo Trucks, Greater China, will discuss
"Business Opportunities in China"; Paul DiModica, president,
DigitalHatch, will lead a session on "Growing Your Business in the
Competitive Market"; and Tom Kempa, a vice president at Cigna
Healthcare, will give his insights into "Developing a Healthcare Plan
for the Trucking Industry."
The program
will also feature an economic review and forecast for 2006 as well as a
government affairs report. In addition, an exhibitors' roundtable has been
scheduled to provide an opportunity for all exhibitors to directly address
the association in regard to their products and services. There will be
several networking opportunities including social events, a golf tournament
as well as spouse activities.
It's not too late to register. To download a complete
meeting packet today click here »
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Calendar of
Events
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Quick Links
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