Beyond Just the Freight Rate
(Good pricing is easy!)
Hey shippers, supply chain pros, and anyone tired of the chaos of managing freight! Are you looking for a partner who does more than just give you a rate? The rating part is easy, if we knock out a
custom transportation RFP that alone will typically result in 8-15% of cost savings right off the front end. What strategic shippers are interested in is scalable delegation of their supply chain. Someone who can actually help you gain efficiencies and route freight effectively.
Today, we're diving deep into what makes a full-service freight broker different from the rest. We're talking about a partner like Translogistics, or
TLI, and how they simplify complex logistics into easy shipping.
Many freight brokers focus primarily on getting you a quote – the "front end" of shipping. But a
full-service broker goes much further. They provide high-end service on both the front
and back end of the shipping process. This means they're still there helping you
after the shipment delivers. Their goal isn't just rate savings; it's about strategic transportation solutions that help you gain control of your supply chain.
Technology That Empowers YOU - ViewPoint TMS
A major differentiator is the technology they provide. A full-service broker like TLI uses a proprietary Transportation Management System (TMS) like
ViewPoint TMS. This isn't just any software; it's specifically
built for the shipper and designed to empower various departments in your organization.
Imagine having a single system where you can:
- Route Every Mode: Compare and book shipments across small parcel, Less-than-Truckload (LTL), partial truckload, truckload (dry van, temperature controlled, flatbed), intermodal, and even expedited or international freight –
all in one place!
- Optimize Your Spend: ViewPoint has built-in logic to help you choose the
most economical mode based on your shipment details, ensuring you always know what you should be paying.
- Automate Processes: Schedule LTL shipments that auto-tender to carriers upon booking,
automatically calculate density and freight class for line items to reduce manual work and re-assessment risks.
- Gain Full Visibility: Get real-time shipment tracking by integrating directly with carrier systems. You can access tracking updates, set notifications, and even share public tracking links with your customers. Visibility is power!
- Unlock Business Intelligence: Access crucial freight data and generate reports powered by tools like
Microsoft Power BI. Monitor KPIs like delivery times, costs, and carrier performance to spot patterns and make better strategic decisions.
- Manage Documents: Generate and host all your shipping documents, like Bills of Lading (BOLs) and invoices, right in the system. You can even access PODs after delivery without needing to reach out!
- Integrate ERP Systems: ViewPoint integrates effortlessly with your existing ERP system for real-time data synchronization. Similarly, ViewPoint has other vendors already integrated into it so you gain access to an entire suit of options and services that include
carrier vetting protection,
live tracking of the truck, or
sensor tracking of your shipment!
This level of integrated transportation technology helps streamline operations and provides the clear data and clean billing that visibility-focused shippers value. A full service freight broker is not only trying to provide a rate, but integrate you into a tech stack that will scale your supply chain and provide data-driven decision making tools.
Strength of the Carrier Network
A full-service broker brings access to a massive, vetted carrier network. TLI, for example, has
over 30,000 motor carriers partnered and vetted. What does "vetted" mean? It means they use tools and processes to ensure carriers have their operating authority, pass safety checks, and have been operating for a sufficient amount of time to avoid unreliable partners. Partnering with them connects you to this vast network, often leading to cost-effective services.
The other factor that will be briefly mentioned is that a full-service brokerage needs to provide both multi-modal transportation service and offer specialty equipment type access. So do you need a Conestoga? Double drop? Hotshot flatbed? - TLI has your load covered.
MOST IMPORTANT: Crucial Post-Shipment Support
This is where the "back end" service truly shines. A full-service broker doesn't disappear after the truck pulls away. The fly-by-night brokers are not going to get into the trenches and fight on your behalf if a load is damaged or lost by a motor carrier - this is where someone like TLI shines, and one of the reasons their
managed logistics services have
earned them the highest rating on google out of all freight brokers.
Freight Audit Services: Unexpected freight charges can add up fast! A full-service broker offers detailed auditing of carrier invoices. They review invoices against quoted rates, identify discrepancies like incorrect reclassifications, scale errors, dimension errors, or unjustified accessorial charges. Their experts handle disputes
on your behalf and provide root cause analysis to prevent future errors. This eliminates overcharges and brings transparency.
Freight Claims Support: In the unfortunate event of lost or damaged shipments, they assist you with the freight claims process, including filing claims against the motor carrier. If you have valuable cargo, a system like ViewPoint can even allow you to purchase
additional cargo liability on the fly when needed, complementing the carrier's default coverage.
Data Integrity: TLI also gathers historical data and puts it into idealized templates for custom RFP sourcing to get the best pricing for shippers. This is a solution that typically results in price improvement on the base rate of 8-10%. Data is used as well to investigate shipment consolidation opportunities, measuring the impact of motor carrier's GRIs, among many other useful KPI metrics to drive accountability up while driving down freight costs.
A full-service broker doesn't try to fit your business into their standard "box."
Instead, they build solutions around your unique challenges. This includes things like:
- Customized Carrier Sourcing: Finding carriers specifically for your needs.
- Vendor Compliance Programs: Ensuring consistency across your supply chain, and offering key vendors access to the inbound vendor routing portal.
- Transportation RFP Management: They can help you launch RFPs, taking your historical data to build a shipper profile and get
custom pricing based on your specific lanes, accessorials, freight class, and density, potentially locking in favorable rates based on market conditions.
They offer various contract types, including custom, group/leveraged, density-based, point-to-point, spot, and contract truckload options, lane specific, giving you flexibility and tailored solutions to your unique shipper profile.
Experience, Scale, and Specialized Services
TLI = Trust, Loyalty, and Integrity.
So Why Choose Full-Service?
Choosing a full-service freight broker means gaining control, visibility, and efficiency. It means partnering with experts who use advanced transportation technology, a vast vetted network of elite motor carriers, and providing support throughout and after the shipping process, including crucial audit and cargo claims services.
You're not just getting lower rates; getting you rates that are more economical is easy. You're getting a partner who helps calm the logistics chaos and provides the transport tools and supply chain data you need to make informed decisions.
Ready to see how a full-service freight broker can transform your supply chain?
Partner with TLI today!
Don't just ship freight, Ship TLI.
