In the latest episode of Shipper Tech Talk, Jeff Ryan and Bryan Schulte from Leaf Logistics joined Mike Mulqueen to discuss what shippers need to be doing to prepare for the inevitable turn of the market.
Watch the full episode here or read the summary below.
Power Lanes and Smarter Procurement Strategies
The solution that Leaf Logistics has built helps shine a light on the places where shippers' policies and practices make their demand harder to serve and, more importantly, specifies how shippers can fix these practices in a way that is beneficial to both them and their transport service providers.
Many shippers unknowingly introduce artificial variability by:
- Splitting volume across multiple carriers in a way that creates unpredictable demand patterns
- Treating similar shipments as separate lanes instead of consolidating them into stable power lanes
- Tendering freight inconsistently, making it difficult for carriers to plan efficiently
Leaf Logistics tackles this problem through power lanes, which help consolidate and stabilize freight volumes. By analyzing shippers' historical shipment data, they identify lanes that can be aggregated to create more predictable demand patterns.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Greater carrier interest in predictable, high-volume lanes
- Lower rates due to reduced operational inefficiencies
- Improved service levels as carriers can plan ahead
Additionally, Leaf Logistics' platform provides real-time insights into procurement inefficiencies, allowing shippers to make data-driven adjustments. This includes:
- Identifying lanes with excessive volatility
- Adjusting tendering strategies to reduce deadhead miles
- Exploring cross-shipper collaborations to create more efficient shipping corridors
"The solution that Leaf Logistics has built helps shine a light on the places where shippers' policies and practices make their demand harder to serve and, more importantly, specifies how shippers can fix these practices."
Quantifying the Cost of Poor Procurement Practices
One of the biggest challenges in fixing procurement inefficiencies is that shippers rarely see the hidden costs of their decisions. As Bryan Schulte explains, no one has ever put a price tag on the volatility shippers create.
Leaf Logistics’ platform changes that by:
- Showing shippers how their actions impact carrier costs
- Demonstrating the potential savings from reducing variability
- Helping organizations align transportation planning with broader supply chain goals
This approach isn’t just about being fair to carriers—it’s about making smarter business decisions that yield long-term cost reductions and service improvements.
"No one has ever put a price tag on the volatility shippers create."
Real-World Impact and Future Outlook
Shippers that have adopted Leaf Logistics' power lane strategy have seen measurable cost savings and operational benefits. By structuring freight in a way that reduces market volatility, they are better positioned when capacity tightens.
Shippers should start evaluating their procurement practices now, before the market shifts. Taking a proactive approach can help avoid the painful rate spikes and capacity shortages that plagued the industry in 2017 and 2021.
How to Get Started
For shippers interested in improving freight procurement, Leaf Logistics offers a data-driven evaluation process. By sharing shipment history data under NDA, companies can receive a customized assessment of their procurement inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
To learn more, visit the Leaf Logistics website or reach out to Jeff Ryan and Bryan Schulte directly.
About the Author
Mike Mulqueen is the Executive Principal of Strategy & Innovation at JBF Consulting. Mike is a leading expert in logistics solutions with over 30 years managing, designing and implementing freight transport technology. His functional expertise is in Multi-modal Transportation Management, Supply Chain Visibility, and Transportation Modeling. Mike earned his master’s degree in engineering and logistics from MIT and BS in business and marketing from University of Maryland.
About JBF Consulting
Since 2003, we’ve been helping shippers of all sizes and across many industries select, implement and squeeze as much value as possible out of their logistics systems. We speak your language — not consultant-speak – and we get to know you. Our leadership team has over 100 years of logistics and TMS implementation experience. Because we operate in a niche — we’re not all things to all people — our team members have a very specialized skill set: logistics operations experience + transportation technology + communication and problem-solving skills + a bunch of other cool stuff.
