By Maria Kalamatas | August 6, 2025 – Chicago
Echo Global Logistics has been recognized with a 2025 Top Supply Chain Projects Award for its innovative work in retail delivery optimization—a nod to how small operational changes can lead to big impacts across the logistics chain.
The award, announced this morning by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, highlights Echo’s Retail Consolidation Program, which helps major retailers reduce costs and increase reliability by combining shipments from multiple suppliers into fewer, fuller truckloads.
“We’re not just moving freight—we’re rethinking how freight flows,” said Doug Waggoner, Chairman and CEO of Echo. “Retailers need speed and precision. Our model gives them both.”
Fewer trucks, better timing
At the core of Echo’s solution is a simple idea: group smaller supplier shipments into consolidated loads that follow a fixed schedule to retail distribution centers. This not only cuts down on inbound transportation costs but also improves On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) performance and reduces damage from excessive handling.
Since the program’s implementation, Echo reports a double-digit improvement in OTIF rates for participating clients, as well as a 15–25% drop in total transportation spend.
“It’s a win-win,” said Lisa Monroe, Senior VP of Retail Accounts at Echo. “Our clients get leaner logistics, and their customers get stocked shelves—on time.”
Built for flexibility
The solution is especially effective in today’s retail environment, where demand can shift quickly and margins are thin. Echo designed the program to scale across different types of products—from consumer goods to apparel—without overcomplicating the process.
Monroe added that the company’s proprietary TMS (transportation management system) plays a central role in coordinating pickups, managing ETAs, and providing real-time visibility.
“Technology is the enabler,” she explained. “But it’s the human insight behind it that makes it work.”
Recognition comes as industry evolves
The award places Echo among a select group of companies reshaping supply chain strategy through practical innovation. While many logistics firms are betting on futuristic solutions, Echo’s approach is rooted in everyday execution.
“This program proves that meaningful change doesn’t have to be flashy,” said Waggoner. “It just has to work—and scale.”
