Feature, Freight News, IT Suppliers, Logistics, Road

Herschel Automates Parcel, LTL Shipping

[ October 30, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Herschel Parts has consolidated parcel and less-than-truckload shipping within an enterprise resource planning-integrated system, eliminating about 10 hours of weekly manual data entry.

The agricultural replacement-parts manufacturer and distributor is processing 98 percent of its shipments through a single workflow using Descartes Systems Group’s Pacejet multicarrier shipping platform.

Previously, employees managed parcel, regional-delivery and LTL shipments through separate systems and carrier portals. Staff manually entered tracking numbers, freight costs, weights and other shipment information, while some data did not reach Herschel’s former ERP system until an overnight update.

“Two members of our shipping team each used to spend about an hour each day re-entering shipping data; now, there is no manual entry,” said Lori Archibold, enterprise systems manager at Herschel Parts.

Tracking information, freight costs and shipping documents now move between Pacejet and Herschel’s ERP system. The connection also gives customer-service employees immediate access to shipment information.

About 70 percent of Herschel’s shipments move by LTL, with parcel accounting for the balance. Its freight includes long, irregularly shaped agricultural components such as 7- and 9-foot sickles, making dimensions and accessorial charges important when selecting a carrier and mode.

The system allows Herschel to compare parcel and LTL options using shipment characteristics and current carrier rates. The company said it has identified carrier options costing 5 percent to 10 percent less for individual shipments.

In one case, Herschel selected an $85 LTL service for a shipment that would have cost about $200 to send by parcel.

The platform automates packing, shipping, labeling, customer notifications and the exchange of shipment data. Rate comparisons can incorporate dimensions, residential delivery and accessorial charges for nonstandard freight before a shipment is tendered.

Herschel, founded in 1887, manufactures and distributes aftermarket agricultural replacement parts to distributors, dealers and farmers in the United States, Canada and other markets.

Tags: Descartes Systems Group, Herschel Parts