CLI Transport, the dedicated fuel hauler for Sheetz convenience stores, recently selected Gravitate’s artificial intelligence-powered supply and dispatch solution for supply optimization, logistics automation, and auto-dispatch and -generation.
“For several years, we’ve been exploring options for alternative dispatch solutions to satisfy our dynamic needs as a growing company,” Eamonn Clarke, CLI director of petroleum distribution, said in a news release. “The market lacked compelling choices until Gravitate emerged. It was in 2023 that we began to seriously consider their offering. Following a successful software pilot, we confirmed that their solution not only meets our business needs but also delivers significant value.
“As our operation nears the milestone of 1,000 stores, the roles of automation and optimization become ever more critical.”
Sheetz today boasts more than 700 sites across the U.S. It plans to hit 1,000 stores within the next five years, making Gravitate’s breadth of capabilities, including best buy optimization, inventory management, and in-cab application, an attractive option for scaling its in-house fleet operations, the company said.
With Gravitate’s AI-powered supply and dispatch system, Sheetz will be able to auto-generate optimal orders for site replenishment, source orders in real-time, and automatically allocate loads for in-house drivers, saving dispatchers time and minimizing deadhead miles and the overall costs of trucks and drivers.
The single-phase project is projected to be completed this fall, Sheetz said, and as it considers future strategies, the company is looking to Gravitate as a partner to exceed its needs today while establishing a relationship that can continue to evolve through open communication of feedback and ideas for mutual success.
“We are already seeing indicators that Gravitate will help reduce CLI Transport’s deadhead miles by 2-5%, help to make more dynamic supply decisions, and increase the efficiency of dispatchers,” said Tom Hunt, Gravitate vice president of sales.
“We are extremely proud that a best-in-class operator like CLI Transport selected Gravitate to power their business into the future.”