AIT Worldwide Logistics, a global leader in supply chain solutions, has announced the launch of its Middle Mile Network, a new service that offers a faster, more secure, and cost-effective alternative to traditional expedited less-than-truckload (LTL) services on vital routes covering more than 90% of major U.S. metropolitan areas.
The Middle Mile Network connects major markets across the U.S. by serving more than 160 lanes every week, with hubs strategically located in import/export gateway cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The service is particularly beneficial for customers importing goods to North America, as it reduces the transit time and the risk of damage or loss of their shipments.
According to AIT’s Chief Business Officer, Greg Weigel, the Middle Mile Network is a result of extensive strategic planning and execution that AIT began in 2021. He said that the service provides a higher standard of service that connects with AIT’s first and final mile options to deliver a world-class, end-to-end supply chain solution for their customers.
The Middle Mile Network achieves its speed and efficiency by continuously monitoring and reducing the dwell time – the number of hours a shipment waits from when it’s dropped off at a hub until beginning the middle mile segment of its lifecycle. The average transit time of the Middle Mile Network is one to two days less in comparison to typical expedited LTL service.
The service also ensures the security and quality of the shipments by avoiding the comingling of freight from other providers within the hub network. That fact, combined with fewer freight touches, results in a remarkably low claim ratio.
Ryan Carter, AIT’s Sr. Vice President, Americas, said that the service’s transparency and precision set it apart from other providers. He said that the Middle Mile Network is making significant cycle time improvements for some of the world’s largest and most discerning supply chain clients, with an impressive 98.7% on-time performance for deliveries between hubs.
The service is also scalable and flexible, as it can adapt seamlessly to customer demand and redistribute resources as needed to align with shippers’ demands.
The Middle Mile Network is especially effective for transporting heavy, dense freight across various sectors, including automotive parts, healthcare equipment, industrial machinery components, and technology hardware like server racks.
In the near future, AIT plans to expand the Middle Mile Network with new hubs in additional strategic locations across the U.S. The company also expects to extend the network into Canada and Mexico to better support cross-border demand from customers who are increasingly relying on nearshoring as part of their sourcing strategy.