Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “get freight quotes and book carriers”

Here is the best way to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

45 min
typically, every day
50%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 1

Software feature

Get freight quotes and book in your TMS or freight platform

A transport management system or digital freight platform pulls rates from many carriers at once and books with a click, instead of phoning and emailing for each load.

Typically saves about 45% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1Check whether you already have a TMS (or one built into your ERP or shipping software).
  2. 2Connect your regular carriers and their rates.
  3. 3Quote and book loads there, and send documents from it.
  4. 4Use spot platforms (Uber Freight, Loadsmart, Freightos) for one-off loads.

Tools: Your TMS (e.g. MercuryGate, Descartes, Oracle TMS) · Uber Freight, Loadsmart or Freightos · ShipStation or EasyPost for parcel

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Fleet / transport dispatcher

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Other common tasks for Fleet / transport dispatchers