The 2006 Transportation Intermediaries Association Annual Conference in Tucson, Ariz. served as the stage for what McLeod Software describes as a successful launch of its new LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics product. The company says its software product and “Be The Power Broker” theme were well received by a record-breaking crowd of logistics providers and carriers at the April 6-9 event.
Third-party logistics providers, as well as carriers who broker loads, got a first look at the new nonasset-based technology solution and its Agent Access and Private Notification Network modules. Customers who visited McLeod Software’s booth were given the opportunity to “Be a Power Broker” and were handed VIP passes that entitled them to prizes, photo opportunities and more.
“The response we received to the new product was very promising,” says Rick Halbrooks, vice president of sales and marketing at Birmingham, Ala.-based McLeod Software. “At times, the booth was three and four people deep trying to see the product demonstrations. Customers were especially enthused about our Agent Access and Private Notification Network. They appreciated the fact that we have developed a product that accommodates agents and is very proactive. The positive feedback we received at the show helps confirm that we have developed a product that brokers and logistics providers have been looking for — the ability to manage their entire operation with one software solution.”
LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics is designed to be a comprehensive software solution for non-asset-based trucking brokerage and logistics providers. McLeod Software has offered a brokerage solution that carriers and logistics providers have used for many years. However, the company says the new product takes the best from that system and adds or enhances more than 50 features and functions to make it more effective for brokerage. Some of the new features include automatic and real-time carrier insurance renewal notification, Agent Access and the Private Notification Network.
Agent Access is designed to offer a logistics provider who runs LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics the ability to allow their remote brokering agents browser-based controlled access to the LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics system through a specific agent login. Agent Access will allow their agents to see and enter their own orders, carriers, customers and locations, as well as their carriers’ available tractors, McLeod says, and it also allows their broker agents to dispatch their carrier loads and have access to reports on their aged account receivable reports and revenue reports.
The Private Notification Network (PNN), through LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics, is designed to automatically inform the user’s agents and carrier partners of available loads. The PNN system can determine what information to send such as origin, destination, ship date, ship time, order number and equipment based on the agent and carrier profile, according to McLeod, and by using a predefined schedule, one determines which agent or carrier should automatically receive this information and when it is to be sent. In addition, PNN is designed to enable these business partners to respond immediately via fax, e-mail or phone regarding any of the load/tractor postings that were transmitted to them, and it also provides tractor and load posting to DAT, The Internet Truckstop and Getloaded.com.
“This is the software that brokerage and logistics providers have been waiting for,” says Tom McLeod, president and chief executive officer of McLeod Software. “We have had many large and small brokerage and logistics providers as a part of our customer base for years. We have researched the needs and wants of many of these customers to develop this dream system.”
LoadMaster Brokerage/Logistics also offers full integration with McLeod Software’s Document Imaging system, Internet and EDI modules.
