Case Study
How GOJO saves an average of $3.4 million annually with Uber Freight
Solution
Opportunity
Customer
Akron, OH
Customer Profile
Known for producing one of the largest hand sanitizer brands in the world, GOJO Industries knew they needed a better way to operate. “What we did in procurement was very primitive. Everything we did was on pen and paper and spreadsheets,” says Tony Guardado, Logistics Network Director at GOJO. “From bid events to routing to transportation planning and warehouse fulfillment, everything was very manual.” These manual processes put pressure on their small team, as they lacked the efficiency, visibility, and scalability that modern logistics demands.
And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, their processes couldn’t keep up with the rapid demand and growth they were experiencing. The inflexible, hard-coded system GOJO was using made it challenging to manage increasing production and expanding shipping sites, adapt to changing market dynamics, and integrate more diverse shipping needs and modes. Their manual customer pick-up processes—which involved entering order information into customer portals to obtain routing instructions—were also inefficient, slowing the team down.
Without an adaptable system and real-time visibility into rates and costs, the team constantly struggled with balancing rising transportation costs and meeting urgent customer demands. To keep their goods moving, GOJO knew they needed a managed transportation partner with the expertise and tools to optimize and automate their operations, reduce costs, and help them gain control over their supply chain.
Opportunity: Modernizing operations to meet global demand
The need for a managed transportation system (TMS) and an expert partner with advanced capabilities and comprehensive offerings made Uber Freight an easy choice. But from the beginning, it was clear the partnership wasn’t just about software; it was about deeply integrating with GOJO’s transportation team to transform operations, drive continuous improvement, and consistently meet customer demand.
One of the first steps the Uber Freight team took was adapting Uber Freight’s TMS to seamlessly integrate with GOJO’s existing system. After listening to GOJO’s specific needs, the Uber Freight team was able to customize the TMS to handle GOJO’s mix of shipments and costs as a parcel, LTL, and truckload shipper. The Uber Freight team also unlocked automation for GOJO to streamline their customer pick-up orders and routing instructions with AI.
Additionally, the end-to-end, real-time visibility and insights Uber Freight’s TMS provides are invaluable. Now, GOJO can proactively see the cost impact of decisions, while identifying opportunities for processes, such as freight audits and routing guides, to save time and money.
As the partnership evolves, the Uber Freight team continues to introduce additional solutions to help reduce freight spend and enhance efficiency. By implementing Uber Freight Exchange, GOJO ensures they are always getting the best rates without resorting to inefficient, oversized LTL or full truckload pricing. “We've been able to create a user group within the auction tool that allows us to go to market with those 10 to 20 pallet orders and get a rate that is much more economical than if we had to send a full truckload,” says Tony.
They’ve also started using the OptiPro and Powerloop programs. OptiPro is a shipment collaboration program that works within Uber Freight’s network, helping shippers create multi-stop truckload shipments and consolidating LTL freight. Similarly, Powerloop helps secure flexible, nationwide coverage with drop-and-hook capacity across Uber Freight’s network. Both programs have enabled GOJO to further reduce costs, optimize operations, and expand their network and capacity without additional work.
Solution: A strategic partnership to increase efficiency
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Results
Industry
Chemical, Consumer goods, Manufacturing
Size
2,500 employees
Solution: End-to-end transportation management
Blue Bird needed a logistics partner they could trust—one that would provide both enhanced insights and opportunities to reduce costs. After frustration with their previous provider, they turned to Uber Freight for a smarter, more reliable solution.
With Uber Freight’s end-to-end Transportation Management System (TMS), Blue Bird gained the visibility they were missing across their entire supply chain. The all-in-one platform allows them to plan, execute, and manage shipments seamlessly across different modes and regions. Thanks to real-time tracking with MacroPoint, they always know exactly where their shipments are at the load level—no more guessing or hidden costs.
Sophisticated data analysis by Uber Freight’s transportation experts has enabled Blue Bird to access optimization insights that have transformed their operations. This dedicated team has helped Blue Bird centralize their procurement management, execution, business intelligence, and call-ahead standardization, driving continuous improvement and maximizing their supply chain performance.
“Before, I didn’t have access to my data and now I have access and visibility to the information I need,” Holland says. “Any reports I want to see, I’m able to get those quickly. If there’s anything I can’t find, my operations team jumps right in and gets those to me. They’re always in the weeds every day, getting our loads to execute.”
With this holistic approach, Blue Bird can ensure materials arrive on time, keeping production lines moving and avoiding delays — which can be particularly costly in the automotive sector. Uber Freight helped Blue Bird take control of their entire supply chain, including Ocean and Air freight.
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Because GOJO has always been willing to try new things and collaborate with the Uber Freight team, they’re able to continually transform their processes for the better. Since the partnership began four years ago, GOJO has seen over $15 million in total savings.
But some of the most significant value extends outside of these numbers, as Uber Freight has become an extension of GOJO’s internal transportation team. “The Uber Freight team knows our business inside out and what we’re trying to achieve,” says Tony. “It has made all the difference in understanding opportunities and driving results.” He adds, “We’ve gained a lot of synergy with Uber Freight.”
With this deep collaboration and partnership, GOJO is well-equipped to navigate market shifts and challenges with confidence, knowing operations are managed by a team as invested as their own.
Results: Deep collaboration and millions in savings
Uber Freight is a trusted and expert managed transportation partner, with $3.8B+ in managed freight for bulk and chemical shippers. By working with Uber Freight, chemical shippers gain end-to-end visibility, expert insights, access to strategic planning, modern tooling, and a growing number of capabilities—from Insights AI to Uber Freight Exchange—to successfully mitigate risk and evolve with the industry.
Headquarters
As a critical supplier of hand sanitizer during a global pandemic, GOJO Industries needed a way to effectively manage its supply chain as demand surged. By partnering with Uber Freight, GOJO was able to shift from manual, time-consuming processes to streamlined and centralized operations. This has led to significant cost savings, enhanced supply chain visibility, and agile operations that can dynamically adjust to market demands.
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