Freight Contract RFP Prep: How Brokers and Shippers Are Changing RFP Strategies

Adaptability has always been crucial for truckload carriers, but never more so than today, with market disruptions still impacting freight contract RFP procedures. The call for a carrier to answer a shipper's need for capacity assistance is known as the request for proposal (RFP). Shippers can review the proposals to determine if the carrier can meet their specific needs and requirements for that contract. Now the idea of digital freight matching systems and platforms makes it easier than ever to secure capacity and reach optimal performance with an optimized carrier network in place. Brokers and shippers alike can benefit greatly from these improvements to the traditional freight contract RFP.

Brokers and Shippers Are Leveraging More Tools to Unlock Freight Contract RFP Prep

At the heart of effecting RFPs are a clear message and an advanced dashboard setup. According to the Commercial Carrier Journal, creating clear and concise requests for proposals is only part of the puzzle. Brokers and shippers realize the power of digital freight tools and inactive technology. Shippers traditionally conduct RFPs in annual or even bi-annual waves, focusing on securely a year's worth of contacts at the start of every new year. 

Brokers Are Using Digital Matching Capabilities to Reduce Risk in the Spot Market

 The success of a freight contract RFP all comes down to the small details of the bid. Before they award a contract, a shipper needs to be confident in the carrier's capabilities. They need proof that the truckload freight carrier can successfully adhere to the terms of the agreement. Several factors can govern the selection process and help reduce the risk of disruptions and issues when dealing with spot market contracts. They are all tied up in the willingness of brokers and shippers to embrace the new digital trends that are quickly becoming the norm when dealing with freight loads.

Increased Access to Capacity Amounts to Lower Stress in RFP Strategies

To secure accurate and effective bids from carriers, freight contract RFP must remain focused on utilizing the tools and technology of today. A great fit takes much more than a low proposed price on the bid. A carrier's expertise in the industry, their proficiency with modern tools and technology, and their track record of services are naturally critical pieces of the puzzle. Utilizing digital freight matching platforms and automated bid reviews can help brokerage providers and shippers increase access to capacity and streamline the bid review and selection process. 

Freight Management Parties Are Using Automation to Reduce Delays Too

Many rounds of bids and lengthy proposals, slow one-on-one communications, and restrictive contractual agreements made the process difficult for all involved parties. The freight contract RFP process has changed significantly in recent years as modern tools, automated data systems, real-time communication methods, and state-of-the-art platforms and dashboards allow for more efficient bidding. Reduced idle time, streamlined bidding processes, faster response times, automated systems, and digital freight matching tools reduce delays and keep everything moving smoothly.

More Digital Processes Create Additional Data-Stream Potential That Can Inform Freight Contract RFP Processes Too

The current shift toward digital freight contract RFP processes highlights the overall transformation that has been seen and felt market-wide the past year. According to the transportation experts at Inbound Logistics, all successful RFPs share a common factor: the ability to embrace and effectively utilize modern advances in technology, automation, and data-sharing. New methods and processes, combined with enhanced tools and technology, make it easier than ever to create data and dashboards that speed up processing bids. Access to data and a complete onboarding of digital processes provides a competitive advantage that is hard to beat.

Enhance Your RFP Strategies by Realizing That It All Amounts to Increased Throughput and Less Hassle When Scaling the Network

Improving freight contract RFP processes has become a primary focus for the industry today. Brokers and shippers alike can benefit from fast and easy scalability by embracing modern digital trends and implementing new processes for RFP review and processing. Reduce delays and say goodbye to annoying hassles with an innovative approach that takes advantage of today's innovative tools and game-changing technology within the digital freight market. Connect with newtrul to get started.