RNDC is transitioning to e-fleets .
SUSTAINABILITY PAYS OFF
Incorporating sustainability into your fleet can not only help reduce shipment costs but also reduce your company ’ s carbon emissions .
In October of 2024 , DHL and Diageo North America incorporated two fuel cell electric trucks , powered with hydrogen , to their U . S . fleet . The hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks are part of a broader sustainable supply chain strategy for both companies that has included the use of battery electric vehicles , optimizing vehicle usage and routes , shifting to a multimodal approach and increased use of US EPA SmartWay partner carriers . These efforts have resulted in year-over-year reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for both Diageo and DHL .
“ Given the cost-of-living crisis at the moment , we are seeing sustainability being pushed down because it ’ s expensive to implement ,” says Pleeth . “ One way that we get around this is by utilizing technology to lower costs .”
Fin ’ s e-cargo bikes are fully electric and don ’ t use any fuel , which drastically cuts costs . Adjoined with the use of AI in helping deliver items more efficiently , being sustainable certainly has its perks .
PROVIDE SEAMLESS COMMUNICATION
With everything going on in ware-
DHL ' s Class 8 electric trucks rolled out in December of 2023 and feature zero tailpipe emissions , energy conservation and extended range .
houses in a single minute , it can cause communication to falter on different shipments . If a shipment has been ready for a few hours ahead of the appointment time or there is an operational delay in the order preparation , these scenarios need to be relayed to team members as soon as possible to prevent further delays .
This is where AI comes into play yet again . Many technology companies including Locus Robotics , FORTNA and Swisslog offer special tools to implement in warehouses that can help provide seamless communication , in real time , about shipment ready times .
Whether it ’ s alerting employees of potential delays or notifying them about early ready times , better communication can help reduce idle times , optimize asset utilization and create more efficiency in the warehouse .
On top of providing better communication between employees , AI can also help warehouses communicate with customers . According to the DHL case study , the shipping provider ’ s customer service automation involves AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants that are integrated across various customer interaction platforms , including the company ’ s website , mobile app and social media channels .
DHL ’ s AI-powered tools are crafted to manage an extensive array of customer requests , including tracking shipments , scheduling deliveries , addressing concerns and furnishing data . •
“ We have opportunities to leverage more vans and non-CDL vehicles in geographical areas where reaching capacity on a standard CDL truck is challenging . This approach aims to lower costs and gain effi ciency .
Michael Bratcher , vice president , operational transformation , Southern Glazer ’ s Wine & Spirits www . bevwholesaler . com Spring 2025 • Bevearge Wholesaler 13