Service Description

Online Procurement is an internet-based service for the trucking industry. The service provides a place where Shippers can post detailed information about the loads that they wish to have hauled and Carriers can find loads to haul that match their business needs.

The Service is very flexible permitting the advertising of many different kinds of requiring various types of trucks. A single load of gravel requiring a dump truck for a short haul may be as easily advertised as multiple loads of palletized freight requiring a van going coast-to-coast. Shippers can advertise future (tomorrow or next year) hauling work. As little as 1 load or as many as 10,000 can be economically listed. Every pertinent fact can be noted for each job. Carriers can view each load listing. Carriers can then optimize the routing of their trucks to most efficiently utilize them.

Shippers can post a listing based on "tons" or "loads". The listing can be for 1,000 tons of coal ash or it can be 3 loads of frozen poultry products. Freight rates can be arranged 4 different ways. Shippers can specify a fixed rate or can specify 1 of 3 different forms of competitive bidding: Public, Confidential or Sealed.

• Public bidding, as its name implies, means that all bids are open to the public. Anyone with access to Online Procurement, can view bids for loads with Public bidding.
• Confidential bidding means that the Shipper is only one that can view the bids. Carriers can only see their own bids. Bids entered by other subscribers are hidden.
• Sealed bidding means that the bid cannot be viewed by anyone until the Sealed Bid Open Date and Time has passed. After the Sealed Bid Open Date and Time has expired, the bids are treated like Confidential bids where the Shipper can see all bids for the load but Carriers may only see their own bids.

The bidding process is secure and the Shipper controls the process and form. Online Procurement automatically notifies the Shipper when a bid has been entered for one of their loads.

Carriers who can schedule their work more efficiently will competitively bid to get your business. If you are a carrier, you can use Online Procurement to line up work in advance - often from new customers.

Contact Online Procurement or see the Fax Service page for more information.

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