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Old Dominion to Use Symbol Mobile Computers
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. said Monday that it is equipping more than 1,700 drivers with handheld computers and scanning equipment from Symbol Technologies Inc.The less-than-truckload carrier is rolling out Symbol PDT 7500 computers to be used along a driver's route and will transmit location, pickup and delivery information to dispatchers while collecting route and order information.
The devices also can read bar codes, helping Old Dominion manage and track freight as it travels through the supply chain. Transport Topics
Online Freight Trading Enjoying Success
Web-based Freight Traders Ltd. has been enjoying a run of success recently, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.After its 2000 launch by candy maker Mars Inc., the online group now can match 150 manufacturers up with more than 700 freight carriers through a process of auctioning and tendering, the Journal said.
The system relies heavily on game theory, or the study of how humans interact to achieve different goals, the paper said.
Game theory and auction theory are two parts of theoretical economics, the paper said, that while used in other parts of business are rare in the field of logistics management. A spokeswoman for Freight Trader told the Journal that using game theory with e-commerce has made the system "incredibly efficient." Transport Topics
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