Smith Transport’s Innovative Transportation Technologies

This month we are featuring leaders in trucking transportation technology highlighting the innovative information and technology systems at Smith Transport in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania. The transportation industry is such an amazing and important ecosystem vital to our economy’s sustainability. Technology can help multiple modes of transportation move congruently and effectively, such as when The Everett Railroad Company works together with Smith Transport in the concerted delivery of commodities safely and reliably between rail and highway truck trailers. Some of the technologies we are focusing on Smith Transport include their disaster recover system, multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) and mobile satellite communications systems. Innovation in transportation technology plays such a critical role in how companies fulfill complex supply chain by keeping them literally and figuratively moving forward in safe, reliable and profitable ways.

 About Smith Transport

Barry F. Smith, the founder and owner of Smith Transport, began his career by starting his own business at the young age of sixteen by contracting the hauling of milk and cream from dairies. By the young age eighteen, Barry started his career in trucking as an independent contractor. In addition to operating his own trucking unit, Barry also managed a fleet of five trucks for his father. At this time of his career, Barry also began to learn the difficult tasks involved in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling a fleet of trucks which enabled him to set out on a new entrepreneurial endeavor by purchasing and refurbishing long-haul tractors. Soon after, the demand for warehouse and storage space in the local area led to the initiation of another important part of the business, Smith Transport Warehouse. The business continued successful growth of the organization in the following years, evolving from operating five tractors to nearly 1000. According to the company, “warehousing space now approaches 2,000,000 square feet. A full line of logistics services are tailored and customized to meet the unique and precisely defined requirements of a multitude of customers with which Smith Transport, Inc. and Smith Transport Warehouse have forged long-term strategic alliances.”

Leading Safety Technology

Disaster Recovery Center

Smith Transport has invested in a modern disaster recovery plan to minimize any downtime for our customers in addition to their transport and warehouse operations. Smith’s principal data center consists of two AS400s serving as the primary for our transportation and warehouse companies. The Remote Data Center consists of two AS400s serving as the back-up for the transportation and warehouse companies. Each data center is supported by a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) with 45 minute run time in addition to a 125 KW Diesel Generator.

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

Smith Transport has integrated an MPLS network that is connected to a virtual cloud environment and managed 24/7 by their third party provider. Each of their service locations utilizes dual routers along with dual voice/data circuits. The equipment and circuits are sized large enough to conduct the entire traffic load for each facility individually. In the case of a failure with one side of their network at a facility, the smart technology will automatically re-route the traffic to the other circuit targeted at minimizing downtime for the facility in addition to their customers.

Transportation Application and Optimization Software

Smith Transport uses an established industry leader for their transportation management software. This software offers the ability to create customer profiles and orders, dispatch equipment, review order information (current and historical), and provide equipment status and availability. Additional functionality of this application includes a general ledger, billing capabilities, and a shop maintenance module. They also utilize a suite of optimization tools to assist with decision-making and performance monitoring. The software helps with decision making on optimized fuel solutions, unit to load recommendations as well as a lane profitability tool. The system also provides a tool for on-time and out-of-route performance monitoring.

Mobile Satellite Communications Systems

One of the more impressive trucking technologies is Smith Transport’s mobile satellite communication systems which equips trucks with automatic vehicle positioning along with two way text and data communications. These types of innovative trucking technologies enable improved fleet management, streamlined communication while increasing the security and safety.

Smith Transport houses, maintains, and operates two L-3 Trans Sim VS IV driving simulator units at our Roaring Spring, PA facility with modern technology and systems that enable them to simulate common hazards and risks of the highway without exposing our drivers to actual danger.  The trucking simulators allow the company to operate in a multitude of 2D and 3D environments.  Many combinations of truck, engine, transmission, trailer, load weight and more are instantly available to the training instructors. Trainers have the ability to develop and perform their own custom scenarios based on past experiences or upcoming weather events. Transportation and freight delivery and logistics companies investing in these types of transport management and training technologies such as Smith Transport on the leading edge of the industries’ training and performance.

Sources: Smith Transport, The Everett Railroad Company