MONTREAL — Canadian National announced on December 17 it will use IntelliTrans’ supply chain management technology to offer enhanced internet shipment tracking, tracing, and management capabilities for paper products moving throughout North America.
The new e-Business offering at www.cn.ca will provide paper mills that originate traffic on CN several capabilities, including both original and dynamic estimated times of arrivals for shipments (ETA); explanations for significant changes in transit times; full intervention capabilities to manage shipments that are off-schedule, and on-line service performance reports for CN and its rail partners.
Customers using the new internet offerings will have at their fingertips accurate information to better plan and manage rail shipments, and will know that their shipments are being closely monitored.
The enhanced track, trace and intervention package will be available starting in the first quarter of 2002.
The agreement between CN and IntelliTrans also contemplates that CN customers will be able to monitor and manage individual paper rolls across multiple transportation modes and warehouses. This will link all participants in the supply chain and provide a single point for inventory information – whether the inventory is in motion or at rest, whether the shipment originated on CN or another carrier, and whether it is located in a railcar, truck, ship, port, terminal or warehouse.
James M. Foote, CN’s executive vice-president, sales and marketing, said: “CN wants to make its easier for shippers to make the most of CN’s top-rated scheduled railroad service. Time and again our customers have told us the most important eBusiness service we offer is individual shipment tracking providing estimated times of arrivals, identification of specific shipments delays, and the status of the overall rail network.
“Through our arrangement with IntelliTrans, CN will improve the tracking, tracing and intervention capabilities available on our web site. Our ultimate goal is to provide shippers with an integrated inventory management service across all modes and across the entire supply chain. This is how we will create better value for our customers.
“We are very excited to be teaming with an organization that has demonstrated a commitment to serving the paper industry through its products and solutions.”
Richard M. Gerstein, CEO of IntelliTrans, said: “CN is focused and committed. This is a truly collaborative effort that will lead to advanced data flow between CN, IntelliTrans and our joint customer base. CN is a company willing to deliver value to its customers.”
CN and IntelliTrans will work jointly to develop relationships with other major rail carriers, warehouse operators, over-the-road carriers, short lines and other supply chain partners to deliver true collaborative supply-chain solutions to shippers.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and founded in 1992, IntelliTrans, LLC, is a predominant supplier in North America and Europe of logistics and supply chain optimization solutions that enable process manufacturers and commodity companies to manage and monitor their assets and inventory on a global basis. IntelliTrans enables its customers to increase the efficiency and visibility of their supply and distribution networks through a blended application of internet-based software, wireless asset monitoring, strategic consulting, data management, customized software and systems integration services.
IntelliTrans also has offices in Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, England, and Sweden.