{"id":6074,"date":"2023-01-03T11:09:13","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T11:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demos.pagifly.com\/cargo-chief\/?p=6074"},"modified":"2023-08-21T12:03:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T12:03:16","slug":"digital-freight-matching-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demos.pagifly.com\/cargo-chief\/technology\/digital-freight-matching-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Freight Matching: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a world facing unstable economic conditions and supply chain volatility with an increasing demand for more products at quicker rates than ever before, freight brokers need to save time, save money, and be as efficient as possible. 

We have seen the advent of many digital tools for freight brokers and one strategy that continues to grow in popularity is digital freight matching, or DFM. 

Let\u2019s look at what digital freight matching is, the many benefits of digital freight matching, and how you can get started with DFM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


What is Digital Freight Matching?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Freight Matching is an automated and predictive platform that streamlines the process of capacity fulfillment by directing freight to the right match. At a high level, DFM makes booking loads as easy as clicking a button. It has the power to scale booking efficiency<\/strong> and help firms build strong relationships<\/strong> within the industry while cutting down risk, time, and cost.

DFM uses the desired parameters for a load, including lanes, dates of pickup and drop off, weight, and cargo type, to match loads with trucks that best fit the bill. Using machine learning, process algorithms, and API-based technology, DFM can rapidly and accurately find the ideal carrier<\/strong> and truck for a shipper\u2019s load. <\/p>\n\n\n\n



The Benefits of Digital Freight Matching<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital freight matching has many benefits, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time Savings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before DFM, a broker\u2019s posted load might circulate for a couple of days on traditional load boards before getting responses. Then, the broker must individually reply and investigate each proposal before finding one that works. This \u201cpost and pray\u201d process<\/a> is time-consuming and inefficient. 

DFM does all of this in a matter of minutes.<\/strong> It offers brokers and carriers one access point for bookings, eliminating the need for multiple phone calls or open tabs on a computer. DFM fully replaces the job of a salaried employee, eliminating costs while booking more loads than a human could in the same period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Risk Mitigation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional load boards also involve a high-risk factor. In the past, anyone could see a broker\u2019s posted loads or offer to carry them. With DFM, only known, approved, and trusted carriers are listed, mitigating many difficulties in the logistics industry. 

Using machine learning and API-based technology, the best and most viable carriers are shown first to brokers, including carriers the broker has already worked with. In today\u2019s world of excess choice and questionable quality, DFM gives you the right options.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost Savings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Episode 3 of our podcast Get Freight to It<\/a>,<\/strong> we sat down with Matt Wright from Logistically to talk about the future of DFM. Cost savings became a hot topic because with DFM, you\u2019re automating a human task that eliminates the need to watch the load boards and cold call. 

One of our clients created a digital team dedicated to only sending and receiving emails. Scott Steele, VP of Operations at HTS Logistics<\/a>,<\/strong> says that carriers \u201cseem to be more inclined to transact or negotiate via email than traditional methods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Relationship Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skeptics may be concerned with the automation of digital freight matching<\/a>.<\/strong> They take comfort in the human touch and oversight found in traditional load boards. But the human component is not lost in DFM. 

DFM is not just about matching freight to a truck. It\u2019s about combining machine learning and data to connect brokers and carriers. Cargo Chief\u2019s digital freight matching platform C4<\/a> <\/strong>focuses on building relationships between the two entities \u2014 removing the transactional nature and keeping the human touch. 

C4 enables brokers to get to know trusted carriers and access data detailing different lanes from the same carrier they could utilize in the future. So the next time they want to book a load, they have the power to see the available lanes for carriers they have already worked with. 

Increasing connections and familiarity within the industry increases trust, efficiency, and service,<\/strong> leading to greater chances of growth. Without DFM, this would not be possible.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cargo

How Does Digital Freight Matching Impact Pre-bookings?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DFM has the power to make prebookings easier<\/a> <\/strong>and more efficient than ever before. In the past, prebooking was challenging: one needed to understand the patterns within their freight and know the appropriate carriers for their lanes. Brokers spent much of their time booking same-day freight, leaving 3PLs playing catch-up rather than focusing on growth.  

But Cargo Chief\u2019s DFM simplifies pre-booking<\/strong> by automating the load negotiation process. As loads are built, Cargo Chief will send offers to carriers matching our unique database, improving carrier retention and lining you up to pre-book more freight with more options. 

Within 30 days of using Cargo Chief DFM, you can experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n