PCS Software unveils Cortex AI-powered tools to optimize dispatch and backhaul processes

The Load Opportunity Manager crawls emails, documents, and other business exchange documents to sort them based on the fleet’s custom priorities or profitability.  

Once an order is accepted, the Dispatch Manager automatically assigns a driver after analyzing real-time data points on available drivers, assets, and lanes.

The Backlog Booster then automatically searches the network for a potential backhaul load, minimizing empty miles.

Finally, with AI assistance, Cortex automatically generates and sends emails to the shipper. If calls are preferred, the system’s AI voice agent, Cora, can help with that, too.

These new offerings from PCS Software enable fleet operators to shrink their workflows from hours to minutes.

A detailed breakdown of PCS Software's AI-powered offerings

Danielle Villegas, chief product officer at PCS Software, broke down the modules even further.

Load Opportunity

The Load Opportunity module is essentially a “freight inbox” that sorts potential loads and scores them by “the right loads, revenue, and freight,” Danielle said. Customers can upload these freight opportunities via PDF or even an image, and the system crawls the document for necessary information. Once the information is read, the potential order is loaded into the system as an “opportunity.”

Opportunities are scored from 1 to 100, ranking revenue per mile, margin per loaded mile, and other factors. While scoring loads by profitability is the default metric, fleet customers can customize the metrics that receive their highest priority—even down to ensuring the driver can go home at the end of the night.

Dispatch Manager

The Dispatch Manager helps dispatch assign a load to a driver. The system, which analyzes dozens of data points, can automatically suggest the best driver for the load based on location, hours of service, and more. Dispatch Manager also houses historical data and can identify drivers that were previously assigned to similar loads—it's these metrics that carry the most weight with the AI’s suggestions.

The dispatch screen also allows dispatchers to add or remove certain equipment that the load does or does not require.

The system’s AI “learns” with every click and decision the dispatchers make. This means that if the dispatcher assigned a driver that the system didn’t suggest, the Dispatch Manager would “remember” that driver selection to help it build out the best solution in the future.

The system is also updated in real time, ensuring that no drivers or equipment are double-booked. If multiple people are working within the system and another opportunity comes into the application, the real-time updates allow these operators to see “how many drivers are available and what trucks are available,” Villegas said.

Backhaul Booster

Instead of running empty miles, the Backhaul Booster allows dispatchers to assign backhauls seamlessly. Using data from load boards, the system makes a list of backhaul opportunities and presents them to dispatchers.

Because the system houses historical data, it knows which hauls the fleet has hauled in the past and can suggest backhaul loads based on that data. If a dispatcher finds a favorable load, the system can then display the rates of similar loads along similar routes for an accurate rate comparison.  

Backhaul Booster also provides prefilled templates that dispatchers can use to reach out to potential customers via email. And even more helpful, dispatchers and fleet operators can use PCS Software’s AI assistant, Cora, to make calls on behalf of the fleet, gathering information and automatically negotiating terms and rates. The transcripts of these calls is also saved in the system.

Field tested, fleet approved

The new AI-powered system has been in beta testing by a group of real fleet customers since March, and PCS Software had one of those testers share their experience.

Royal Logistics, a trucking company that operates local, regional, and long-haul, was part of that test group. Kaleb Groce, Royal Logistics’ director of operations, said he appreciates PCS Software’s new offerings because AI helps his team work smarter, not harder, “which is the ultimate goal, especially when the market is what it is,” he said.

Groce also appreciates that all the information he needs to book a load is in one place, specifically when dispatching drivers.

“There's a lot of factors that go into [dispatching drivers]—hours of service, drivers that have run that lane previously—that, normally, a dispatcher would have to go and look at manually, piece by piece. But with [Dispatch Manager], it's all right there.”

Royal Logistics has also taken advantage of the AI voice agent, Cora, but not without testing it first. Groce admitted he intentionally “tried to break” it, using short responses and without annunciating his words. Once the agent proved itself, Groce said Royal Logistics uses the agent to its benefit.  

Royal Logistics lets Cora take care of deals with trucks that will be empty “three days from now,” while their human employee chases deals for trucks that will be empty “tomorrow.” 

“Go ahead and let Cora make that phone call,” he said. “You can chase the deals.”

PCS Software’s new Cortex AI-powered solutions have the potential to change the industry, Groce said.

“This is a very reactive industry, not proactive,” he explained. “With the Backhaul [Booster] and the [Dispatch Manager], it changes your philosophy, too. Now, you have just become a proactive company, not a reactive company.”

PCS Software customers have access to these new offerings today.