Shaw Tracking and customers form industry alliance

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Shaw Tracking, a leader in mobile communications for the Canadian transportation industry, is partnering with a network of "Canadian-based ground transportation carriers of varying size and geographic scope."

The association, called Shaw Alliance, involved carriers that subscribe to Shaw Tracking in-cab tracking and communication technology.

Shaw Alliance carriers who traditionally compete with one another on the highways developed a plan to work together, technologically, says Shaw.

"Most professional associations exist to lobby the government, bring visibility to a specific industry segment and establish ethical guidelines. The Shaw Alliance takes it a step further and developed a plan to combine capacity, linked by technology to create the largest fleet of diversified units in North America," said Mike Ham, VP of Business Solutions.

"This approach has allowed quality carriers of all sizes to satisfy their customers while maintaining their individual relationship and brand with the customer, while partnering with other carriers for capacity."

The technology links the Shaw Alliance members and Shaw Tracking’s on-board technology such that carriers can view the available fleet of the other Shaw Alliance members in real-time.

Another advantage to members is when they "broker" loads to each other, the technology allows for real time tracking of the trucks, regardless of which Shaw Alliance partner is carrying the freight.

Within a few short months, the combined capacity of Shaw Alliance carriers is over 2,500 units, making it one of the largest single sources of diversified transportation units in North America, the company says.
The Alliance also improves the options customers have available, especially those customers looking for single-source transportation solutions as a way to reduce costs and improve service.

Shaw Alliance membership is limited to carriers who meet specific fleet standards and "ethical and quality standards." The group has a recently-formed Board of Directors with a primary focus of increasing shippers’ awareness of the Best in Class performance of Shaw Alliance members.

"Not only do we have the responsibility to represent the transportation industry within the government regulatory environment, and set performance standards, but we also have a responsibility to market the Shaw Alliance and its benefits to shippers," says Ham.