Most brokers and shippers do apply their own tracking system to monitor the progress of a given shipment and offer their customers updates as and when needed. Through proactively monitoring the status of the shipments, brokers or shippers can identify issues in advance and take corrective action to ensure issues on a given load is addressed promptly.
The visibility and benefits offered through load tracking far exceeds the cost of establishing this practice. It offers a piece of mind to brokers and shippers and allows for both warehouses and plants to adjust their schedule in advance in anticipation of a delay.
To the carrier, load tracking can help informed plants and warehouse to be ready to load or unload the trailer. The close communication between the carrier, brokers, shipper and the personnel at the warehouse and plant will certainly help increase the level of efficiency in coordinating the appointment times for both pick up and delivery.
Load tracking is usually through either one of the following methods:
- Tracking via the carrier ELD (Electronic Logging Device) system
- Mobile application tracking on drivers’ mobile phone
- Tracking via phone calls to the driver or carrier’s dispatch personnel
An effective established tracking system can help brokers offer good customer service, and a sense of security to their customers. It helps build better relationship and will brokers retain and secure more customers. It also helps brokers maximize capacity of the carriers they work with.
By having clear visibility on likely time of arrival and departure of a given unit, brokers can work with carrier and plan their schedule better. Waiting times in between appointments can be significantly reduced which will save both carrier and drivers precious time and money
How your assigned Freight Analytics Associate can help you manage this process better for both brokers and shippers:
- Confirm appointment times with carriers prior to pick up. Ensure driver and carrier are well informed about the requirements of the load. These checks hours before appointment can help mitigate risk of no show at the plant or warehouse.
- Secure tracking information and constantly update these onto the broker/shipper portal or spreadsheet. Identify loads that are behind schedule and secure updated arrival or delivery time from carrier.
- Highlight identified issues to management and notify customers of potential delays. Evaluate, if it is feasible to change the appointment time in advance if a delay is anticipated.
- Maintain close communication with all parties, carriers and customers and help facilitate effective and prompt resolution to issues based on customer’s standard operating procedures and requirements.
