RELO Roundtable…a gathering place

Apparently several attendees felt that looming capacity concerns were going to put a damper on peak season service again this year.

 

This feeling developed after participating in a few of the popular breakout sessions where the driver and long-haul equipment shortage was being debated among some of the larger van line reps, fellow agents, and industry colleagues.

 

There is no article I told him.

 

Some time ago I had shared a private list of interstate household goods carriers and freight forwarders who regularly posted their available personal property, special products, freight-all-kinds (FAK), and trade show orders online with his ex-Ops manager. A copy of that list is posted below. 

 

Although a few of these sites require registration or are password protected, most of the information is publicly shared online with other pre-qualified van lines, independent moving companies, military approved 409 carriers and, occasionally, with individual owner-operators who have interstate operating authority issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

 

The 'thank you' note included the suggestion that I publish the info. Evidently his sales and operations managers think using these types of tonnage roundtable agreements can improve both their service levels and driver/equipment productivity more often this summer.

 

Personally I think they're probably right!  That's just based on an experiment that several mavericks in the freight transportation industry started back in 2000 when they collaborated on a new third party logistics venture called Transplace. Today the privately owned 3PL has 600 employees and does $800 million in non-core truckload business. 

 

In addition to the links included below, these "Available Tonnage" exchange lists have been indexed under the Wikis-Research button at the top of the page.  It will be edited as often as new industry resources are added or deleted.  As always, RELO Roundtable makes no claims to the accuracy and/or reliability of information posted by outside sources.

 

Does your household goods moving company or special products motor carrier maintain a tonnage exchange or available loads list online?

If so, and you're company's management is willing to share the information with other industry partners, send the link(s) to your site(s) to: rick[at]reloroundtable.com.

Please include the following:

1. Access Requirements – This should be your protocol for viewing and requesting orders, including required browser settings.
2. Pre-qualifications – Some national van lines, large carrier agents, and independent movers only give away orders to hauling entities that they maintain a pre-arranged commercial or military 409 interline agreement with
3. Format – Explain how your order information is presented and define any unique terms or equipment requirements. For instance, how is your pricing, discount level, or required service parameters expressed.
4. Order Request Procedures – This is the who, what, when, where and how part of the process. Basically your Terms of Service rules
   • Who needs be contacted?
   • What information, forms, or credentials are required to be submitted with the request?
   • When is the best time to contact your company
   • Where should the request be sent?
   • How does your tonnage exchange program operate? This should include restrictions, the type of information shared, payment procedures and claims administration protocols.
5. Program Restrictions – This should include any unique technology specifications, service guidelines, and any vendor, driver or equipment prequaliifers or motor carrier compliance requirements your company has for exchange traffic this way.