Looking for assets
New freight matching tools increase search speed, usefulness
Fast, efficient dispatch is critical for all types of transportation companies – especially for nonasset brokerage and logistics moves. With truck capacity tightening, companies that hastily select carriers to move loads can be held vicariously liable for accidents or cargo claims. To address both the need for speed and risk management, technology providers continue to develop new tools and services for finding and dispatching someone else’s assets.
Web services
To improve efficiency, some companies that host online load boards and freight matching services let users input and retrieve information without entering a website. Brokerage and logistics companies using Internet Truckstop (www.truckstop.com) can subscribe to its Truck Export Web service to download truck postings into their dispatch systems on a scheduled basis.
Since 2007, TransCore has offered a Web services interface called Connexion for its online 3sixty Freight Match service and DAT Network (www.3sixty.transcore.com). The interface establishes a real-time communications link to 3sixty Freight Match by embedding XML code into companies’ native dispatch and other software systems.
Through the Connexion interface, McLeod Software’s PowerBroker enterprise management system for brokerage and logistics providers lets users search for a particular load – by trailer type, pickup-and-delivery date, etc. – from within the dispatch screen. PowerBroker then can narrow the search results from TransCore by filtering them through a carrier qualifications file. If a truck search returns a list of 10 carriers, the only assets that show up in PowerBroker’s dispatch screen will be those that belong to trusted carriers, says Robert Brothers, manager of product development for McLeod Software.
PCS Software offers the Express and Express Online management systems to both asset and nonasset trucking providers. The Express system includes an interface to the XpressTrax Loadboard hosted by PCS. Express users can post loads and equipment and perform searches through the load board directly from their dispatch screens.
Besides offering a real-time interface to online load boards and freight matching services, TMW Systems offers a “continuous moves” feature. Brokerage and logistics companies using the TMWSuite dispatch and enterprisewide management software can flag assets currently under dispatch. These trucks will show up as available equipment in TMWSuite at the location, date and time after their load delivers.
Getloaded.com plans to take searches on its load board to the next level by incorporating predictive modeling. Instead of typing in search parameters, the system automatically will recommend loads and trucks for users based on past search criteria. The company plans to release a portion of this next-generation platform in August.
Carrier monitoring
To execute freight matches, brokerage and logistics providers require information on carriers such as safety ratings, certificates and insurance coverage. A new safety metric will be added to the carrier selection process when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rolls out Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 later this year.
