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Dive Summary:
- Sheetz has partnered with software company Gravitate to implement one Fueling with artificial intelligence and shipping solution, according to a Tuesday press release.
- Transports CLI, of Sheetz The dedicated fuel carrier will use Gravitate’s technology for “supply optimization, logistics automation, automated shipping and order generation,” according to the press release.
- With this new agreement, Sheetz it will be able to automatically generate orders for site replenishment, source orders in real-time and automatically allocate loads to drivers in a bid to boost efficiency.
Dive Insight:
With Sheetz looking to grow up on 1,000 sitesstreamlining its operations — including fuel transportation — is becoming increasingly vital to support this growth and keep costs low
Sheetz began looking for new shipping solutions several years ago, noted Eamonn Clarke, director of oil distribution at CLI. They began looking at Gravitate in 2023 and ran what was ultimately a successful pilot of the software before making this deal.
“As our operation approaches the 1,000-store milestone, the roles of automation and optimization become increasingly critical,” Clarke said in the release.
Gravitate did not respond to requests for more information about the pilot by press time.
Tom Hunt, Gravitate’s vice president of sales, said in the release that the company believes the new technology could reduce deadhead miles, or the miles a truck travels without a load, by 2% to 5%.
The solution should be fully implemented by this fall, according to the announcement.
Based in Altoona, Pennsylvania Sheetz operates more than 710 convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland, with terminals in the first three of those states.
Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Gravitate says it’s the only AI-powered sourcing and shipping system currently available.