Transportation management remains an exhaustive process for companies around the globe. Transportation includes inbound freight management, transfers, deliveries, returns, freight auditing, and much more. These processes vary by segment. Regardless, Accenture Research found that average transportation costs comprise up to $60 million for every $1 billion in materials costs within product-based industries. And maximizing the resources available is critical to keeping total freight costs in check. While there are numerous opportunities to apply digital transformation to conserve resources, it’s essential to isolate the opportunities within carrier sourcing and scheduling and how they benefit from SONAR data.

SONAR data affords real-time rate comparisons

The most significant opportunity to use SONAR data goes back to how real-time rate comparisons and visibility enable more proactive carrier sourcing. Remember that average carrier sourcing with emails can waste up to 30 minutes or more, assuming carriers respond within five minutes. While a few minutes may seem minor, it adds up to a weekly limit on submitting truckload RFPs.

For example, if a user could submit one tender every 30 minutes and secure capacity with a freight management partner, that amounts to 16 total tenders per day. And that assumes the carrier accepts the tender in the first place. However, if the same process were to be based on the most competitive rates, it almost guarantees a booking at the initial cost.

Identification of market trends within custom dashboards streamline truckload RFPs

Custom dashboards further improve carrier sourcing by giving all users, ranging from shippers through carriers, the ability to streamline RFP processes. In today’s age, a digital quoting process is a gold standard. And as more companies amplify tenders through digital means, offering the most competitive rates and embedding them within digital quoting systems will be crucial to growth. That leads to new ways to plan for trucking capacity, adjust rates based on the market, accept, refuse loads based on data, and much more.

INFOGRAPHIC: Using SONAR data to Improve Truckload RFPs and Carrier Sourcing