Partnership offers traffic management with routing
A new strategic partnership between MicroAnalytics Inc, provider of TruckStops routing and scheduling software, and Next Generation Logistics, a third party provider of logistics services and software, including FreightMaster for traffic management, now offers users an interface between their systems to provide the ability to consolidate loads and optimize routes in a single operation.
MicroAnalytics has been producing PC-based routing software since 1984 and has more than 2,400 systems installed worldwide. The company is based in Arlington, Virginia, and has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Next Generation Logistics is in Inverness, Illinois.
FreightMaster runs with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows '98, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP. It is available for wide area networks as well as desktop versions for single users or server versions for multiple users. It allows users to assign carriers to traffic lanes so that loads are tendered to selected carriers automatically. In addition it handles consolidated loads and pool trucks, arranging multiple stops in the optimal sequence as well as coordinating inbound and outbound routings. The system provides automated costing by freight type and traffic lane and maintains an analysis of inbound and outbound traffic for benchmarking purposes. It also manages carrier delivery appointments and collects claims data for automated claim filing.
FreightMaster processes freight costs by company or by division as well as by lane or by carrier. In addition, the system analyzes prices by bracket, producing more than 300 possible standard reports available to users by email or on the Internet. It calculates commissions and carrier rebates and tracks carrier charges for multiple stops as well as monitoring on-time performance for carriers. It also tracks on-time performance for customers. As a part of the pricing function, the system manages carrier fuel surcharges by state and maintains a historical fuel surcharge record by carrier. Pricing is lane and carrier specific.
In addition to managing transportation activity, FreightMaster also provides an automated carrier bid management system that allows carriers to review all available traffic lanes on the Internet and to select the lanes and customer divisions they want to serve. Bids can be submitted for rates measured by mile, weight, pallet, or cube. The system automatically updates the company database with each new carrier bid and notifies carriers of the updates.
The new interface allows FreightMaster to perform all its functions as well as routing vehicles according to customer delivery preferences, delivery time windows, and other factors such as vehicle capacity. The partnership between Next Generation Logistics and MicroAnalytics produces an easy way to consolidate orders while streamlining the transportation process for any size company, says Ari Smith, NGL president.
“The link with FreightMaster provides a logical and useful extension of each system's functions that can have a major impact on customer profit,” says Mike Hooban, president of MicroAnalytics.
For more information about the new partnership, visit MicroAnalytics at bestroutes.com. Information about Next Generation Logistics can be found at nextgeneration.com.