Amazon Freight started operation with a core foundation of technology that supported its rapid expansion during the pandemic and continues to fuel its growth. Ari Silkey, general manager of Amazon Freight and CTS Executive Committee member, shared this technology journey at a May 8 webinar, Freight 101: Urban Freight Delivery and Logistics, offered as part of CTS’s “Unpacking Freight: From Producers to Front Doors” programming.
Drivers with Amazon Freight know their route, weather, traffic, construction, and other factors before they even hit the road. While on the road, their trailers come equipped with cameras and end-to-end GPS tracking capability—as well as sensors located on the tires and inside the trailer that keep the truck running as optimally as possible.
Meanwhile, a dedicated team of relay operation center agents work in the background to support drivers, especially as they face unexpected disruptions. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) captures data and offers agents access to information and suggested solutions quicker than ever before.
“Transportation has always been about getting a package from point A to point B, and getting it there safer and faster,” Silkey said. “These technology developments accelerate the progress greatly.”
Successful tech integration requires a deep understanding of your customers, knowing the core customer problem before jumping to the solution, and taking into account all aspects of real-world operation as part of an ongoing process of improvement, he said.
“It’s rarely a silver bullet that changes the world,” Silkey said. “It’s often incremental innovation that gets you there—and that’s definitely how we built this network.”
View Freight 101: Urban Freight Delivery and Logistics webinar recording
Take a quick online quiz about Amazon’s approach to urban freight delivery and logistics!
Learn more about CTS's "Unpacking Freight" theme and check out the latest research and resources about freight in Minnesota.
Past Freight 101 webinars:
- Minnesota State Freight Plan (take the online quiz!)
- Maritime Freight (take the online quiz!)
- Aviation (take the online quiz!)
- Rail (take the online quiz!)
- Trucking (take the online quiz!)
—Darlene Gorrill, contributing writer
