SmartFreightWare provided URB a framework to renegotiate their carrier rates leveraging the shipping volumes across their three distribution centers.…
SmartFreightWare FAQs
Please select a question to reveal the answer.
Q: Can your system handle multiple modes (parcel, LTL or full truck load)?
A: Yes. From LTL and parcel to airfreight and truckload SmartFreightWare’s TMS can calculate any and all of your North American carrier contracted rates with precision and accuracy. Contracted rates with LTL, TL, and airfreight carriers are inherent to the system, meaning we upload them for you; whereas the system calls out to UPS and FedEx directly to retrieve your client specific small pack pricing. We can set up various service types to compare modes and/or combine modes to generate combination rates or compare LTL pricing to expedited and guaranteed parcel pricing.
Q: Is SmartFreightWare a 3PL?
A: No. SmartFreightWare is purely a software company that specializes in providing shippers the tools to manage their own transportation. Carrier relationships remain between you and the carrier.
Q: Does SmartFreightWare calculate the entire cost of the shipment including all accessorials and fuel surcharge?
A: Yes. SmartFreightWare has a robust accessorial rate engine allowing users to add extra charges known in advance of shipments such as residential delivery, lift gate services, delivery notification and hazardous materials. Fuel surcharge is automatically updated based on your specified agreement with each of your carriers.
Q: Does SmartFreightWare pull in transit time information?
A: Yes. SmartFreightWare displays advertised transit time and whether a point is direct or indirect.
Q: Why is it important to compare shipping rates?
A: Freight carriers price their services using many types of formats. Formats can include per piece, per pound, flat rates, per mile, using LTL tariffs, dimensional factors, density-based and per stop. LTL carriers price using discounts but don’t readily reveal the net charge. SmartFreightWare calculates the net (to-the-penny) charge so you can make the most intelligent routing decision possible?
Q: I have pallet pricing in place with several of my carriers. Can SmartFreightWare’s rate engine handle pallet pricing?
A: Yes. SmartFreightWare’s rate engine can handle any type of rating format no matter what mode being used for shipments.
Q: Can my vendors use SmartFreightWare to book shipments themselves with my approved carrier network?
A: Yes. SmartFreightWare’s TMS can easily be configured to manage and control inbound vendor’s routing, booking and tracking of shipments to you. We like to think of it as a dynamic routing guide.
Q: I work with several carriers that are not EDI capable. Is there a way to communicate with them to tender loads, track shipments and receive invoices?
A: Yes. When booking a shipment with a carrier that is not EDI capable, our system has the ability to send a Load Tender email that is automatically sent to them which they can choose to accept or reject the shipment. If the carrier provides compatible tracking links on their website, SmartFreightWare can provide a link directly to the carrier’s site. Using our carrier portal, carriers can update shipment tracking information and invoice you electronically.
Q: Is SmartFreightWare priced on a per-seat license basis?
A: No. SmartFreightWare’s Software as a Service (SaaS) model is priced based on the amount of usage (number of quotes and/or Bills of Lading generated) via the software.
Q: Is SmartFreightWare a client-server application?
A: No. SmartFreightWare is a hosted web-based application, available for anyone with a computer and access to the internet. We host our software and dedicated servers at a state-of-the-art datacenter located in Overland Park, KS.
Q: Is there a way to use SmartFreightWare to audit my carrier invoices?
A: Yes. When a carrier sends an invoice electronically via EDI, it is automatically matched with the original shipment created in SmartFreightWare’s TMS. If the amounts match, or fall within a specified tolerance, the shipment is approved for payment. Invoices amounts that do not match estimated costs in SmartFreightWare’s TMS enter into a rejected status for further investigation.
Q: Does SmartFreightWare have a way to export all the data I’ve input into the system for reporting purposes?
A: Yes. All information input on the bill of lading, along with carrier and rate information, is captured for analytical purposes, and available for download on demand.
Q: Does SmartFreightWare integrate with ERP and accounting software systems?
A: Yes. SmartFreightWare has experience integrating into a wide variety of systems, such as QuickBooks®, QuickBooks Online®, Microsoft Dynamics®, Oracle® and many others. We will work directly with you to exchange with SmartFreightWare’s TMS so that all of your application work together seamlessly, or we can send you our standard web service specifications and you can use your internal company resources to execute the integration.
Q: If SmartFreightWare doesn’t provide specific functionality that I need “out of the box”, are you willing to make customizations?
A: Absolutely! We are a Microsoft Certified Partner, and have several Microsoft Certified Developers in house that can customize our software any way you like!
Q: I’ve been using a broker to ship my freight and don’t have contracted rates with carriers of my own. Do you have rates that I can use, or “piggy back”?
A: No. We are a software company, not a broker. However, we would be glad to assist you in negotiating your own contracted rates with carriers.