Dispatch and Load Status with Online Trucking Solutions TMS
Trucking is something that does not exactly begin with the movement of the truck. It begins when the trailer gets loaded. The dispatch and load status starts as a trucker accepts the loads and also plans the trip. Again, most of the shippers will not be able to realize the fact that truckers have to make some specific plans for meeting the logistics needs. Here, the truckers refer to both, the fleet managers as well as the owner or operators.
Now, there are plenty of truckers who do the planning all by themselves, without a proper and accurate means, that is, by the seat of their pants. That is why they generally end up with bad results, that are the unpaid invoices. So we come to the question — how to manage the trucking business dispatch as well as load status? Let us discuss the same — the owner-operator trucking software.
Planning the trip: Dispatch as well as load status
This planning is not all about LTL planning and loading. Any trucker will need all basic information before he pulls out of the parking lot for going and picking up the shipment.
So a lot of questions then arise, such as who the shipper is or where it is going. The questions also include knowing the pick-up time, delivery date and freight weight and size.
Here we the following:
1. For the solo owner or operator: They may be feeling the need to accept a load. Here the dispatch for the trucker is automatic and they have also got all the information, including agreeing to the load. They’ll just create a route with the use of a mapping program and then get on the road to arrive at the pick-up location within time. They will make sure that they have enough time off the road to drive as well as deliver.
2. For a fleet manager: In this case, they may even need to consider deadhead miles for getting the driver and the truck. This will be where the load is to be picked up. They have to consider the driver’s HOS.
We need to know about the trucking software solutions.
Dispatch your trip
Every shipper is waiting to know where his load is. That is in every shipper’s mind. The shippers need to ensure the goods are safe and in transit, getting to the correct delivery location as asked.
Now, for a trucker, dispatch is this — the time when the truck is moving the freight. The dispatch of the truck will finish when the trailer gets empty, from the pickup to the delivery. Even when we talk of the LTL shipments, a trip normally begins with an empty truck while it ends with an empty truck again. A fleet manager will want to know the status of the load, as does the broker. They’ll want to know about the movement and location as well as the time of the scheduled delivery.
The interesting thing here is that with the power from the internet, smartphones and GPS systems (owner operator trucking software), we can now expect to get the means to find the location of the truck easily.
ELD, TMS together
It can be a complicated task to find the status of the load in case the trucker uses a load board, but does not use a service reporting locations. Owner/operators as well as the fleet managers want to be aware of the locations of the trucks. It is simpler to understand than to know the answer.
But now a solution is available. Using a system that makes it possible to link the trucking business management system (TMS or trucking management software) with the electronic logging devices (ELD) will give them most of the information. Opposite to this, if we use different systems, it will also make us do double/duplicate entries. This can certainly cause serious problems.
For example, suppose the delivery appointment is nicely entered into one of the two systems, but it is not done in the other one. This will bring the driver into trouble. So go ahead choosing one single system that can do it all for you to be on the right side. Here is where the TMS (trucking management software) pro and ELD together.
One system to do it all
With this new system of trucking software, you will have no such trouble mentioned above in the example. While you create a dispatch, you will also be entering the required data for the invoice. You will have no requirement to fill the data again into a separate invoice or an accounting program. Here the important benefit to note is — you will save yourself from losing time and will gain enough confidence about the accuracy of the invoice.
Again, coming to the ELD, when you will be using it for the tracking of the equipment, you will also get your mileage tracked for the required maintenance records. This will also make you confident about getting done the preventive maintenance for preventing on-the-road emergencies. These records will further help with your protection in a DOT audit.
The Next thing to know
The next thing is more about knowing your worth with the trucking software. You should know if you need to decline a load and say a no to it. There can be a huge number of loads out there. And you will find yourself in a position where you will find loads to haul. But you will need to know which loads you should be taking. So, know the numbers with the Trucking Office reports which show where you make money and where you lose it. Such tracking will help you increase your profits.
Tracking taxes is another essential part of this discussion. It does not matter whether it is the quarterly filing or the semi-annual IRP. You will in both cases have the numbers that you need from the ELD. You will not have to remain dependent upon the guessing if you instead wrote down the mileage after crossing the state border. Ultimately, there will be no space for worrying about getting your taxes underpaid or overpaid.
Conclusion
Hence, this system of trucking software solutions helps you with more accuracy and you can simply depend upon it for exact numbers. It will be a single system to do the job of two at once. It will be quick and easy, making things profitable for you.
