Why This Matters to Distributors: Private fleet operators continue to face pressure from transportation, fuel, and labor costs. Routing and fleet optimization technology is becoming an increasingly common tool for distributors seeking productivity gains without adding trucks, drivers, or warehouse capacity.
New Castle Building Products has reduced annual fleet mileage by approximately 25,000 miles after implementing route planning and execution software from Descartes Systems Group, the companies said June 10.
The White Plains, New York-based distributor, said the technology replaced a manual route planning process across its distribution network, helping reduce fuel consumption and transportation costs while improving delivery performance.
New Castle operates 24 locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, supplying roofing and exterior building materials to residential and commercial contractors throughout the Northeast.
Keith Haskell, chief operating officer of New Castle Building Products, said the company’s growing delivery network and increasingly complex routes created a need for more centralized planning and dispatch operations.
The Descartes platform uses route optimization technology to build delivery schedules based on factors including delivery windows, vehicle capacity, traffic conditions, and jobsite requirements. The system also provides visibility into fleet operations and delivery execution.
Neither company disclosed the size of New Castle’s fleet, the cost of the software deployment or the resulting fuel savings.
The announcement reflects a broader effort among distributors to improve transportation efficiency as delivery costs remain a significant operating expense. Building products distributors often operate complex delivery networks that require multiple job sites stops, specialized equipment and time-sensitive deliveries tied to construction schedules.
Founded in 2002, New Castle traces its roots to a sheet metal business established in 1910. The company is family-owned and serves customers across six Northeastern states.
Descartes Systems Group provides transportation management, routing and supply chain software for shippers, carriers, and logistics providers.
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