PrivateFleets.com

In a previous article, I wrote about a new tool from Intelek Technologies called StripMiner. If you work directly with shippers for third party backhaul freight, chances are that some of your customers require you to use their website to accept load offerings, to submit load status updates, and file invoices. Fleets can use the StripMiner tool to automate these functions without using electronic data interchange (EDI). Many shippers require carriers to use their websites rather than EDI. Carriers can automatically receive loads into their dispatch system from shippers’ websites, instead of wasting time visiting websites throughout the day to check for new load postings. They can also automate other manual keystrokes.

Recently, I spoke with another vendor that has developed a very similar product. EBE Technologies has released Internet Data Interchange (IDI). The product was developed with input from Heartland Express, which had been manually entering a large amount of information into WalMart’s website. IDI uses the data contained in fleet’s accounting and dispatch systems to populate the related fields in the shipper’s website. IDI is also able to receive data from an internet site to update the fleet’s dispatch and accounting systems. For example, if a load confirmation number is needed in order for a shipment to be dispatched, the data needed to create it is entered into the shipper’s site, and then automatically captured and placed in the dispatch system. It can then be automatically sent to the driver via mobile communications.

With these emerging load automation tools for the Internet, it seems that private fleets might be able to increase the efficiency of their backhaul programs, leaving more time to concentrate on fleet performance.