Let’s do the math.
If you're spending $15M a year on transportation—and many mid-to-large retailers are—a 10% reduction in freight costs puts $1.5M back on the table.
Now factor in service level improvements, cleaner KPI alignment, real-time tracking, and a logistics partner that can deliver usable results inside 45 days instead of dragging their heels for 6 months.
Why would anyone settle for less?
The truth is, most companies stay trapped in legacy systems and outdated carrier contracts because they assume change will take time, stall operations, or worse—fail.
But a new model is proving that assumption wrong. Fast.
Industry leaders are unlocking 12–18% savings and regaining end-to-end control—without risky overhauls.
Here are the 7 key tactics they’re deploying to reduce complexity, cut costs, and create resilient transportation networks…
The 45-Day Transportation Reset: How Industry Leaders Are Cutting Freight Costs While Improving Delivery Performance
Let's do the math.
If you're spending $15M a year on transportation—and many mid-to-large retailers are—a 10% reduction in freight costs puts $1.5M back on the table.
Now factor in service level improvements, cleaner KPI alignment, real-time tracking, and a logistics partner that can deliver usable results inside 45 days instead of dragging their heels for 6 months.
Why would anyone settle for less?
The truth is, most companies stay trapped in legacy systems and outdated carrier contracts because they assume change will take time, stall operations, or worse—fail.
But a new model is proving that assumption wrong. Fast.
Industry leaders are unlocking 12–18% savings and regaining end-to-end control—without risky overhauls.
Here are the 7 key tactics they're deploying to reduce complexity, cut costs, and create resilient transportation networks…
#1 – Stop Paying for Phantom Service Levels
Most transportation contracts include premium service levels you're paying for but rarely receiving. The average retailer is overpaying by 8-12% for delivery promises that carriers consistently fail to meet.
Your carriers should be held accountable for every delivery promise they make—or adjust their pricing accordingly.
Renegotiating based on actual performance versus promised service can immediately reduce costs while improving reliability.
Erica's Note: When we analyzed 50+ retailer contracts last quarter, every single one was paying premium rates for service levels they weren't receiving.
#2 – Eliminate the "Implementation Black Hole"
Traditional logistics partners often take 6-9 months to implement changes. Meanwhile, you're bleeding money every day waiting for results.
Leading retailers are now demanding partners who can analyze, implement, and deliver savings within 45 days—not quarters or years.
Every month of delay in optimizing your transportation network costs you 1/12th of your potential annual savings.
Look for partners who guarantee implementation timelines with financial penalties if they miss deadlines.
Erica's Note: I've seen companies waste millions waiting for "someday" solutions when 45-day implementations are now the gold standard.
#3 – Deploy Network-Wide Visibility Now, Not Later
You can't manage what you can't measure. Yet 78% of supply chain leaders admit they lack real-time visibility across their transportation network.
Modern visibility platforms now deploy in weeks, not months, providing immediate insights into carrier performance, cost inefficiencies, and service gaps.
Complete visibility unlocks the hidden 15-20% cost reduction most networks contain.
Today's leading solutions provide both historical analysis and real-time tracking in a single dashboard.
Erica's Note: The game-changer isn't just having the data—it's having actionable insights delivered automatically.
Ready to reset your transportation network in just 45 days? Click here to schedule your free network analysis and receive a guaranteed savings estimate.
