Last Mile, First Priority: How Shippers Can Win in a Volatile Market
In today’s parcel landscape, volatility has become the norm. From rising surcharges to shifting carrier strategies, staying ahead means getting smarter with both technology and sourcing. That’s why Intelligent Audit hosted a timely webinar featuring Hannah Testani, CEO of Intelligent Audit, and Adam Bryant, CEO of Jitsu.
If you missed the webinar live, the recording is now available to watch on demand.
Market Disruptions Are the New Normal
The discussion kicked off with a candid acknowledgment of disruption—from the UPS-Amazon decoupling to FedEx surcharges and USPS rate rumors. But instead of fear, the tone was educational and solution-oriented: how can shippers thrive in this complexity? Joe Wilkinson, VP of Professional Services at Intelligent Audit, emphasized that while many national carriers are introducing incremental pricing strategies and new fees, savvy shippers are uncovering real savings through making more strategic moves with the right data at their fingertips.
Rethinking the Carrier Mix
Adam Bryant laid out a carrier landscape that’s far more nuanced than “FedEx vs. UPS.” He classified options into:
- Nationals: UPS, FedEx, USPS
- Super Regionals: OnTrac
- Growing Regionals: Jitsu, UniUni, Veho, SpeedX
- Hyper-Local Regionals: LSO, GLS, UDS
One key insight: regional carriers are no longer just backups—they're primary partners for next-day delivery, transparency, and flexibility. Jitsu, for example, operates in 35+ metro areas, covers 122 million people, and offers 99.6% on-time delivery through a gig-powered, asset-light model.
Why Diversification Matters Now
Joe Wilkinson and Adam Bryant agreed that diversification isn't just about cost—it's about control. Regional carriers can provide:
- Better SLAs with proactive communication (e.g., 2-way SMS for delivery updates)
- Risk mitigation during peak season
- Tech-forward support with real-time integrations
Jitsu leverages data like geofencing and demand prediction to optimize routes and improve delivery outcomes.
AI: From Buzzword to Backbone
Both Intelligent Audit and Jitsu shared real-world applications of AI. From anomaly detection in parcel audit workflows to automating support tickets and invoice loading, machine learning and LLMs are becoming embedded in operations. Intelligent Audit is even piloting a conversational AI bot to answer platform queries—another step toward smarter, faster decision-making.
Bottom Line
Relying on a single-carrier model is risky in a volatile market, and it’s time to re-think yesterday’s strategies. There’s never been a better time to optimize for speed, savings, and customer satisfaction, and self-serve modeling tools are the easiest and fastest way to move beyond spreadsheets and guesswork to uncover the answers you need to make carrier diversification decisions in real time.
Watch On Demand
Want help building your multi-carrier strategy? The full webinar is now available to stream. Watch the recording