The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) has named REZ-1 as the winner of the 2009 IANA Intermodal Achievement Award for its development of an online platform that has significantly improved the process for matching intermodal container capacity with available shipments. This prestigious industry award is presented to either a public or private organization, or government agency that has made the greatest contribution to the advancement of the intermodal freight transportation industry during the previous year. The award presentation ceremony will take place at the 2009 Intermodal Expo Welcome Reception on November 16 at the Anaheim Marriott.
REZ-1 met a major intermodal industry need by launching SpeedMatch, an online tool that maximizes the efficiency of reloads by matching available equipment capacity with shippers that have loads to fill. Prior to the launch of SpeedMatch, the company's research and development team collaborated with numerous drayage companies, shippers, and railroads to ensure the new tool met their needs. The optimization tool enables drayage companies with empty equipment to post available intermodal containers by numerous criteria, while providing shippers the ability to post their container needs by the same criteria.
The matching process creates a very efficient and effective equipment acquisition model for street interchange by reducing empty trips and their associated emissions, empty miles, and trips in-and-out of intermodal facilities. Overall industry benefits include reduced terminal congestion and dwell, as well as greater fuel economy and better utilization of drivers, power units and containers. Prior to the launch of SpeedMatch, REZ-1 research found rail controlled intermodal equipment being reloaded at a 30-percent rate; now with SpeedMatch reloadings have risen to 56-percent rate ' nearly double.
'REZ-1's foresight and innovation have served our industry well,' said IANA Chairman Greg Stefflre. 'They have worked as a true industry partner with transportation providers and shippers to further improve the value and efficiency of the intermodal industry. As intermodal continues to evolve, REZ-1 and its portfolio of technology-based intermodal solutions continue to evolve as well.' (IANA)
