SCI, LLC
The Go-To 3PA for Streamlining Logistics Operators

The science of moving things from point A to B is more complex than it looks and requires a symphony of tiny little actions to complete each delivery without a catch. The customer/consignee calls up the shipper, who then contacts the freight/logistics broker, who will then reach out to the ideal carrier that can facilitate the transport. The process is hard enough without bringing in the costly complications involved within the various back-office services to businesses, such as acquiring the necessary coverages, processing payments, and managing an independent workforce. The smarter operators, however, can choose to outsource these tasks to third-party administrators or 3PAs, who will allow the business to perform its core functions without having to worry about logistical nuances and overheads. In the logistics industry specifically, a 3PA supports the delivery service provider’s relationship with the shipping broker. The independent contractor performing deliveries for many brokers can operate more efficiently when a shipping broker outsources the payment processing and administrative tasks to a 3PA. To this end, one of the leading 3PAs in the logistics space with a 25-year track record of excellence is SCI, LLC.

The company is an administrative powerhouse when it comes to leveraging technology tools to unburden the lives of its clients, who consist of independent contractors, i.e., the owner operators and the logistics brokers. On the owner operator front, SCI deals with thousands of drivers, covering the whole United States, primarily in the last mile courier industries.
The fundamental requirement for these players includes access to conveniently sourced insurance coverages and other programs to meet their business needs. Insurances, such as work injury or cargo coverages are attainable in the wider-public markets, but not with the convenience of pay-as-you go features that SCI can provide. Other coverages like auto liability include larger truck discounts and SCI also partners with vendors that can supply different types of vehicles. As an added feature to SCI’s value to this marketplace, owner operators can receive discounts on items that will enable their business to grow -- from creating their own LLC to purchasing discounts for tires.
Brokers also require convenient solutions to administrative problems. Before brokering freight to any delivery business, they need assurance the owner operator has the right credentials, including valid driver’s licenses, the proper level of auto liability coverage, and vehicle registration papers. If there are certain states that require special licensing or credentials, brokers need to be aware the owner operator has those qualifications. Additionally, many owner operators need to provide background checks or MVRs. SCI puts all these services in an easy-to-use portal for brokers and owner operators to use.

Via its highly intuitive and feature-rich software suite, SCI can provide these verification/ compliance services, as well as handle payment settlements, access to insurance coverages, customer service, platform integration, and onboarding. The company has processed over a billion dollars in payments and is set to surpass its previous amounts of payments processed in 2021.

SCI meets the diverse needs of both brokers and owner operators through two different platforms.

The broker’s platform helps its users view certain documents and allows easy access to order background, drug screens, or MVRs, and onboard additional owner operators. The broker platform also provides API integration that can let owner operators sign up and find either additional work or other owner operators they might need to perform delivery work. It will even inform them when critical licensing or insurances expire while messaging the broker and SCI to get the updated information.

On the owner operator’s side, the user can log in and see all the payments he or she received, all the documents that they signed, and can upload any new documents. Owner operators can conveniently upload and update their records including adding a new vehicle to a fleet and insurance coverages.

We bring together market-leading products, with advanced technology, to deliver a best-in-class user experience, with a human touch

SCI achieves even greater efficiency for these market-players by integrating with a number of third-party platforms to make its portal a one-stop-shop. SCI is able to do this because it has a number of in-house developers ready to customize SCI’s proprietary software systems to fit a client’s needs.

As is the case with generally, clients have different technological capabilities. For those that lack the technological knowledge or skill to integrate fully with SCI’s systems, SCI is spending a lot of resources to enhance its ease-of-use, but spending human resources in training so that customers can enjoy the full functionality of the systems SCI has built for its client’s benefit. SCI will soon be releasing an API for customers that would like to automate payment processing and post payment functions. That training will help SCI’s clients get the full benefit of SCI systems. As Ryan L Wise, CIO/Executive VP of SCI, states, “We want to make sure we not only bring program offerings at the prices only a company like SCI can bring them, but to ensure an ease and functionality to the technological side of our business that will ensure our clients can take full advantage of everything SCI offers.”

SCI first and foremost a customer-centric company. Along with great transportation-focused products and intuitive technology, it has the human resources to give each client a much-needed human-face to help with their customer experience. SCI takes the complexity of the marketplace and simplifies it for independent b usinesses.