(Photo: FreightWaves SONAR)
FreightWaves SONAR is dedicated to creating a fair and transparent marketplace so that all transportation stakeholders can effectively and efficiently manage their businesses. To build that bright future, we need to establish clear market signals where all players can agree to act fairly and equitably. This builds stronger relationships and increases levels of service and compliance.
For brokers and carriers in particular, these relationships depend on fair and transparent rate negotiations. Trucker Tools and SONAR have been partnering for some time to provide real-time dry van pricing directly within Trucker Tools' Smart Load Board. While this integration was a step forward in rate transparency, it did not address the complexities of flatbed freight, an important area for both Trucker Tools and the industry. To take this partnership a step further, the companies have added real-time flatbed pricing to the Trucker Tools Smart Load Board.
“Last year, we added dozens of flatbed-specific brokers, and we also heard from flatbed carriers that they wanted SONAR’s flatbed rates included in their smart load boards. is definitely a customer-driven request and we are very excited about it,” said Kary Jablonski, Trucker Tools CEO. “In the market, we feel like dry van and reefer rates are pretty standard. Everyone says flatbed rates are more complicated, so we're offering this solution to both the broker side and the carrier side. We know that when it comes to flatbeds, it's very difficult to match in the market.”
Unlike van and reefer pricing methods, which include market calculations based on radius from the ZIP3 location, flatbed pricing is calculated at the primary market area level. This expands the capabilities of Trucker Tools users, allowing them to set accurate freight prices in real-time, and builds a layer of trust between carriers and intermediaries using the system.
“The SONAR team is very excited to partner with Trucker Tools,” said Spencer Piland, SONAR CFO. “The ability to provide transparency to the market through such a premier freight matching provider is tremendous. Our goal is to build on this partnership and continue to deliver further value to the platform’s countless users.” That’s the thing.”
Benefits for users include:
- Instant access to lane-specific rate data: Negotiations are fairer and more efficient because both sides can rely on the same data.
- Market temperature check: Visualizing which lanes are hot and which lanes are cold can simplify strategic decision-making.
- Automation to improve broker efficiency: Brokers can use this integration to quickly evaluate carrier rates according to current market trends and leverage automated tools to respond more efficiently to offers.
- Free tools for carriers: Trucker Tools is dedicated to helping truckers grow their business by providing them with a free Smart Load Board. The new flatbed fares will be available to you with confidence, just like your existing dry van fares.
New modes and powerful data are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to possibilities. As both companies continue to innovate and deliver powerful solutions to the freight industry, you can expect to see innovative updates in the near future.
