MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO—Dec. 14, 2022 — Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively covering the movement of product through the global cold food supply chain and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain, have selected NorthStar Digital Solutions (NDS) as a 2022 Top Tech Startup, which spotlights top software and technology startups in the supply chain and logistics space.

This year’s winners play in a variety of different market sectors, however AI-powered automation and real-time transportation visibility make up a majority (35% and 33%, respectively) while bringing in $1 million to over $20 million in annual revenue.

Recently, NDS launched their custom mobile application, FR8Focus, designed to solve real-world challenges in the LTL market through visual digitization. In collaboration with Radaro, an enterprise technology platform that streamlines and optimizes LTL and freight deliveries, FR8Focus connects the road to the back office with automated document processing and real-time fleet monitoring. Built with intuitive software easily integrated into back-end systems, it unifies communications between drivers, dispatch, administration and the customer while accelerating antiquated processes from hours to seconds.

“From seed funding rounds to launching new solutions, many of today’s tech startups are poised to disrupt the supply chain space. They’re introducing new innovations, improving user experiences and striving for that safer, smarter, more efficient supply chain,” comments Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “The future of the supply chain industry is directly impacted by the development of these new technologies and I’m very excited to see what’s next for these winners.”

NDS COO, Dave Brajkovich states, “Waiting for information is a non-starter in this day and age.” While working with leading private carrier, Polaris Transportation, the company aims to find more innovative ways to create operational efficiencies and enhance the overall LTL shipping experience utilizing leading edge technologies including enterprise APIs, mobile applications, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and Hyperledger blockchain fabric.

Dave Brajkovich will be attending the Manifest Vegas forum scheduled for Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2023, where select Top Tech Startups will be presenting on stage and additional winners will be featured in the Education Program.

Recipients of this year’s award will also be profiled on FoodLogistics.com and SDCExec.com. Go to https://foodl.me/ibl8vs to view the full list of Top Tech Startup winners.

About Food Logistics

Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Food Logistics and sister publication Supply & Demand Chain Executive are also home to L.I.N.K. and L.I.N.K. Educate podcast channels, L.I.N.K. Live, SCN Summit, SupplyChainLearningCenter.com and more. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com to learn more.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Supply & Demand Chain Executive and sister publication Food Logistics are also home to L.I.N.K. podcast channel, SCNSummit.com, SupplyChainLearningCenter.com, the Women in Supply Chain Forum and more. Go to www.SDCExec.com to learn more.

About NorthStar Digital Solutions

A new way of connecting the supply chain to you. NorthStar infuses the digital experience into transportation and supply chain industries through powerful, efficient and seamless technology platforms. Known as systems integrators, they provide unified end-to-end solutions and offer direct connectivity streams to associated partners, carriers, shippers, brokers and consumers. For more information, visit northstardigital.solutions

Polaris is a proud member of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, supporting their efforts to advance digitization in our industry and improve supply chain efficiency. Recently, we took the pledge to adopt the NMFTA’s Digital LTL Council’s new standard of Electronic Bills of Lading by July 2023.

The Digital LTL Council’s new eBOL standard is meant to improve visibility and accelerate processes while minimizing costs and offering seamless transactions for carriers. As innovators within our industry, we are honoured to join this initiative while seeking more solutions to elevate our customers’ shipping experiences.

To learn more about the pledge, visit: https://bit.ly/3h18FDD

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Larry Cox Academy for Polaris employees wanting to accelerate their careers!

Spearheaded by our President & CEO Dave Cox, CHRO Laura Muir and COO Richard Kunow, we bring you a 15-month intensive training program dedicated to accelerating our team’s professional development. Its framework is inspired by the legacy of our Founder, Larry Cox (2017).

“We have the resources, mentors and of course, the talent for this program to have a huge impact not only on the future of our company – but our industry as whole. This is an incredible way to promote career growth for people who want to lead, elevate and innovate.” Dave Cox reflects, “Larry would be thrilled to see how we are continuing his mission to make Polaris a place where passionate employees can reach their full potential and find professional fulfillment.”

The Larry Cox Academy includes a detailed syllabus covering managerial basics and holistic operational and supply chain insights – opening more avenues for qualified employees across all departments. Participants will be paired with sponsors in leadership roles who will offer direct guidance and evaluations throughout the process.

In September, we welcomed Poonam Poonam from our Customs Department as our first academy participant. It has been wonderful seeing her gain the tools and knowledge that will help her succeed in her future advancement! Stay tuned for her graduation scheduled for December 2023.

If you want to learn more about the Larry Cox Academy please contact HR at hr@polaristransport.com

Written by: Angel Coker, CCJ senior editor

A new mobile app that aims to help carriers reduce heavy administrative labor via systems automation has hit the North American market.

NorthStar Digital Solutions (NDS), the 2019 Polaris Transportation Group (PTG) spinoff software division, recently partnered with Radaro, an enterprise technology platform that streamlines less-than-truckload and freight deliveries, to create the FR8Focus app that aimed at helping carriers connect, track and manage their fleets in real-time.

“FR8Focus is about more than a single piece of technology. It’s about flawlessly combining an assortment of technologies to solve industry-wide issues. Operations can see their entire fleet(s) on the road at a glance, communicate with drivers instantly and adjust schedules ad hoc,” NDS COO Dave Brajkovich said in a news release. “From a carrier’s customer standpoint, we have eliminated a lot of frustration. When they see real-time route flows and receive instant notifications, there is no longer a need to ask where their shipment is.”

PTG hired Brajkovich, with his experience in automating business systems, as its chief technology officer in 2018 to lead its investments in technology and drive new digital capabilities for which the company was recognized in 2020 as CCJ’s Innovator of the Year.

Winning Innovator of the Year spurred PTG to create the FR8Focus app, which is designed to provide agility and visibility while reducing time spent paper-shuffling from hours to minutes or even seconds.

And it started with PTG’s asset-based company.

“One major gap in this industry – and we learned this first hand with our asset-based company – is the tie that binds physical to virtual was missing,” Brajkovich told CCJ. “Even with many options available in the market we did not find a good fit that would solve many of our issues, so we went looking for a solid solution.”

NDS ended up purchasing the Radaro platform, which had the basic driver control applications built on the latest mobile platform. He said NDS enhanced the Radaro product by deploying backend integrations to tie in all the critical core transactional systems.

Now, the application is feature rich with the ability to use off-the-shelf edge devices like iOS and Android smart phones and tablets along with Windows operating devices like ELD tablets.

FR8Focus is designed to keep the front-end tools simple for the driver so they couple it to their daily activities with minimal efforts for the administrative requirements.

“Connecting the road to the back office” leverages the ability to receive, send and gather data and information for all internal and external supply chain partners to be informed in as real time as possible, Brajkovich said.

This is what Brajkovich says FR8Focus is geared to provide and its return on investments:

• It offers simple to use front end for the drivers receiving electronic manifests.

• Routes and schedules are pushed to the drivers.

• Drivers manage by updating order statuses as they arrive, orders management updates assessorial, additional charges, detention, etc.

• Document imaging snap-to-grid (makes taking snapshots of documents easy), proof of delivery, bill of ladings, customs invoices and more, all integrated and updated to the back end instantaneously.

• Asset route management, tracking miles, delivery and pickup times, fuel and yield management.

• Integrated systems notifications, including weather, capacity, safety and more

• Full dispatch visibility of the fleet in motion with all delivery and pickups on grid.

• Full customer visibility for live tracking by order with early arrival and changes notifications.

NDS worked with PTG to gain insights into these transportation pain points to refine the application. NDS now offers these tools to external markets.

“Our main goal was to bring our drivers and assets visibility and communications to the backend to minimize heavy administrative labor that could be managed via systems automation from the road to the back office,” Brajkovich said.

It significantly lessens carrier overhead, eliminating all manual labor previously required to handle documentation.

PODs are scanned by the drivers and uploaded instantly to backend TMS systems to provide next-minute customer invoicing. Customs documentation is uploaded immediately to expedite shipment release and border crossing, backed by document capture resolution that mitigates errors.

“Our solution was developed with the carrier, the customer and the driver in mind, resulting in truly intuitive systems where workflows anticipate each step,” Joe Thull, Radaro’s head of North America said in the news release. “FR8Focus complements existing tech stacks to allow for efficient integration and avoid the headache of replacing systems essential to running their business.”

Brajkovich said FR8Focus can help carriers improve their bottom lines.

According to its use case, PTG experienced a $25,000 monthly revenue increase using the app. It also resulted in a 100% decrease in missed invoices due to lost/incomplete paperwork, a 95% decrease in QA audits, a 75% decrease in document handling, a 50% decrease in customer disputes due to real-time invoicing, a 40% acceleration of AR payment cycles (from weeks to days) and 90% straight-through automation of invoicing.

Brajkovich said integration is quick, too. FR8Focus can be integrated into a small fleet or trial portion of a larger fleet within a couple of days.

While attending the annual Trucking HR Canada Gala to accept our Top Fleet Employer Award, we were ecstatic to learn that Polaris was also selected for the prestigious Achievement of Excellence for Women in the Workplace!

 Every year, Trucking HR Canada recognizes one Top Fleet Employer who demonstrates exceptional commitment to gender equality and female representation in our industry. Polaris Chief Human Resources Officer, Laura Muir, shares, “From hiring and onboarding to staff support programs and ongoing training, mentorships and more, Polaris has fostered a culture where women can thrive and advance.”

 Since our beginnings under the leadership of Founder Geri Cox, Polaris has offered an environment that welcomes and encourages women to pursue careers in transportation. Geri has served as a prominent role model in a historically male-dominated field, opening doors for those with limited access to fulfilling opportunities. Today, more than 50% of our management team is represented by women.

 Polaris President & CEO, Dave Cox comments, “At Polaris, we celebrate every employee’s unique strengths. We greatly value Geri and all the women on our team who continue to make a significant impact on our company’s growth and future!”

 2022 marked Polaris’ 5^th consecutive year as a Top Fleet Employer, designating us as Top Fleet Employers of Distinction. Dave Cox adds, “The Achievement of Excellence for Women in the Workplace from Trucking HR Canada further highlights all that we’ve accomplished in creating a space where employees of all genders and backgrounds are supported and excited to work together. Thank you to our entire Polaris family for helping us earn this high honour!

Every year, Inbound Logistics compiles a list of recommended carriers who are proven to have the expertise, assets and capacity to serve their readers’ transportation needs. Once again, Polaris has been selected to join this prestigious list as a Top 100 Trucker of 2022!

This is our 5th consecutive year of being chosen among hundreds of competitors based on collected data, interviews and research. It reflects our ability to provide premium trucking solutions for shippers across Canada and the USA. They need safe, efficient services and with our dedicated specialists, modern equipment and integration of leading technologies, we consistently deliver.

“Shippers gain a competitive edge from Polaris’ innovative solutions and partnership approach. In the face of today’s complex transportation and logistics challenges, they offer much-needed reliability and scalability.” Comments Inbound Logistics Editor, Felecia Stratton, “They identify the root of their partners’ needs and offer streamlined end-to-end solutions that ultimately strengthen customer relationships.”

Polaris President and CEO, Dave Cox shares, “Thank you, Inbound Logistics, for this high honour! We take immense pride in all that we do for our partners and are more motivated than ever to keep growing and raising the bar to serve the shipping community’s evolving needs.”

For the full list of Top 100 Truckers of 2022, visit: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/2022-top-100-truckers/