Wreaths Across America and FourKites team up to pay tribute to fallen veterans

Interactive map lets public follow 1.5 million wreaths traveling to veterans' gravesites

CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As hundreds of donated Wreaths Across America trucks deliver 1.5 million wreaths to veterans' gravesites across the country, a new interactive map allows anyone in the world to follow the trucks online.

The map, powered by real-time tracking and predictive analytics company FourKites, shows the real-time locations of trucks headed to cemeteries in every part of the United States, from California to Maine.

From waa.fourkites.com, site visitors can see which truck is delivering to any given cemetery, and can follow any truck as it gets closer. Site visitors can also get a sense of the initiative's massive scale in real-time, viewing the full convoy of trucks as they wind toward their destinations.

"We started Wreaths Across America to remind veterans and their families that this entire nation honors their sacrifices," said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. "We also use this as an opportunity to teach. Through this interactive map, we can broaden the number of people both paying tribute to our veterans and learning about their sacrifice."

What began as a pilgrimage by founder Morrill Worcester in 1992, traveling in a single truck to deliver 5,000 wreaths he donated to Arlington National Cemetery, has become a national mission to remember, honor, and teach. National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event and open to all people.

Carriers that participate donate their vehicles and drivers' time. Volunteers at cemetery locations across the country receive the wreaths and coordinate each local wreath-laying effort.

NFI, a leading domestic and international third-party logistics provider, manages the transportation process for free. This year, NFI selected FourKites to provide real-time, predictive visibility.

In addition to the public-facing website, FourKites is providing more granular load tracking for NFI and local volunteer coordinators on the ground, so that they can manage the distribution of wreaths most effectively.

"As a company dedicated to visibility, we are honored to partner with Wreaths Across America to shine a light on the service of our veterans," said Craig Fiander, FourKites' Senior Vice President of Global Business Development. "We hope our services will help maximize the recognition these men and women and their families so rightly deserve."

"We are grateful for the opportunity to combine our purpose driven culture with our industry expertise for this great cause," said David Broering, NFI's Senior Vice President of Integrated Solutions. "As a supporter and employer of those who have served and protected our country, we are honored to partner with Wreaths Across America, FourKites, and an incredible carrier and driver network to help honor America's veterans."

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission ? Remember, Honor, Teach ? is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at more than 1,300 veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

About FourKites

FourKites is the real-time supply chain visibility and predictive analytics platform that Fortune 500 companies and 3PLs trust to track shipment location and temperature and proactively manage exceptions. Using a proprietary predictive algorithm to calculate shipment arrival times, FourKites enables customers to lower their operating costs, improve on-time performance, and strengthen their end-customer relationships.

With a network of more than four million GPS/ELD devices, FourKites covers all modes, including ocean, rail, parcel, and over-the-road. The platform is optimized for mobile and equipped with market-leading end-to-end security. To learn more, visit www.fourkites.com.

About NFI

NFI is a fully integrated supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. Privately held by the Brown family since its inception in 1932, NFI generates more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 8,400 associates. NFI owns facilities globally and operates more than 33.5 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Its company-owned fleet consists of over 2,400 tractors and 8,300 trailers, operated by more than 2,600 company drivers and 325 owner operators. Its business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing, intermodal, brokerage, transportation management, global logistics, and real estate services. For more information about NFI, visit www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777.

CONTACT:  Dan Baker, [email protected], 312 329 3980

SOURCE FourKites