6 Reasons why a Routing Guide is crucial for effective Transportation Management

What is a Routing Guide?

A Routing Guide is a document whose purpose is to outline the rules that govern how a company’s shipments should be handled. This could include any shipment ranging from small package, airfreight, import/export, to full truckloads of product. The goal is provide a document with straight forward instructions detailing what carrier and account numbers are to be used for any given shipment when the cost will be paid for by that company.

To illustrate, a Routing Guide would specify the correct way to send a shipment in the following sample situations:

• What company to use for sending office correspondence (Fed Ex or UPS?) and what account number to use: the best answer may be different depending on service required such as over-night or ground.
• The correct Less-than- Truckload carrier to use when a buyer has purchased product from a supplier and the order needs to be delivered to one of your locations: LTL tariffs are complicated and certain carries may be cheaper depending on the origin and destination for a given shipment.

Any time a shipment is being routed on behalf of your company, and the cost is hitting your bottom line, it is important to make sure the correct routing decision gets made. A good Routing Guide ensures that happens.

What happens without an effective Routing Guide?

Having a clear, concise Routing Guide is of particular importance when a company is decentralized geographically, has multiple locations, or a large supplier/ vendor base.
When the correct routing is not followed several negative things can happen.

• Product is routed with the wrong carrier resulting in potentially bad service and higher cost
• Product arrives at the wrong location
• Packaging may be incorrect or sub-standard
• Bill of Lading, filled out incorrectly or shipments will have incomplete documentation , interrupting the receiving process at your facility
• Freight Invoices are incorrectly rated or sent to the wrong address for payment, delaying payment
• Shipping volume will not be recognized when volume discounts are part of a contract

As part of a Routing Guide, specific packaging and paperwork requirements you need suppliers and vendors to be mindful of can be spelled out. For instance – do you need pallets to be stacked less than a certain height to fit in your facility’s racks? Do you require an Advanced Shipping Notification or Purchase Order number noted on the Bill of Lading for the product to be received properly? There are many low cost and free Transportation Software solutions offering tools for helping to create and distribute your Routing Guide.

Routing Guides are intended to be dynamic documents. Make sure you have a process to update and distribute the Routing Guide to your entire vendor base and across internal departments as updates are made. If the updates are not disseminated effectively then the instructions will become quickly outdated and miss-routed and/ or miss-rated shipments will occur.

Not having an up to date Routing Guide creates extra cost and hassles for a company, so make sure your Routing Guide document is current and widely distributed.

Transportation Management Software - Beta Testers Needed! (part #2)

Not one to let good content go to waste - the following is a portion of the instructions we are working on for the Routing Guide functionality.

Feedback is always appreciated.

We are looking for companies to beta test the new parts of our new transportation management software so get in touch if you are interested.

Thanks.

eRoutingGuide is built to allow flexibility with how you create your company’s Routing Guide. You are able to include as much information as you feel is necessary, and in any format. Remember, the idea is to firmly set the ground rules up front for all vendors, suppliers or anyone shipping product on your company’s behalf – so include any information you feel is important. Think how easy it will be to get your up to date Routing Guide into the people’s hands that need it. You’ll save time, energy and cost when your freight is routed right the first time.

eRoutingGuide allows you to upload an existing .pdf file to your personalized Routing Guide website that can be accessed by whomever you choose. There is also a large free-form area to add text with additional information for users to be aware of. Click Here for an example of a completed profile.

You’ll want to include basic information such as key logistics contacts with Names, Phone Numbers, Company Locations, etc.

Most importantly, make sure you spell out the specific routing instructions for any supplier, vendor or person within your own company shipping to you, or on your company’s behalf. Below are a few ideas to get you started or click here to see a sample eRouting Guide.

- Who are your preferred carriers? As an example, if there is a supplier routing an LTL shipment moving from Georgia to a location in New Jersey – the supplier needs to know the best carrier to use is X, and it needs to be billed to your correct account number which is XXXX.
- Do you have a national account with Fed Ex or UPS? People within your company need to know what account numbers to use to make sure the correct discount is applied.
- Do you utilize a 3rd Party Logistics company to handle all your truckload routing – make sure their contact information is easily accessible.
- Are appointments required at your facilities? Who do they contact for an appointment?
- Do you require an Advanced Shipping Notification (ASN) number? Make sure vendors and suppliers know that is a requirement and the procedures to follow.

All these points should help give you the idea. Once updated, eRoutingGuide allows you to easily send companies a link to your personalized webpage.

Click Here for an example of a completed profile. We welcome your questions and feedback: questions@eroutingguide.com

Thank you for choosing eRoutingGuide. Supply Chain Software made easy.

http://knol.google.com/k/anonymous/transportation-management-software-what/4ilw4vkwik1x/1#

Transportation Management Software - Part # 1 for ShipAssist - Beta Testers Needed

Not one to let good content go to waste - the following is a portion of the instructions we are working on for the ShipAssist functionality. Routing Guide to follow in part #2.

Feedback is always appreciated.

We are looking for companies to beta test the new parts of our new transportation management software so get in touch if you are interested.

Thanks.





ShipAssist is built to allow flexibility with how your facility’s Shipping Dock information is displayed on your personalized ShipAssist website. You are able to include as much information as you feel is necessary, and in any format. Remember, the idea is to firmly set the ground rules up front for any trucking company coming into your shipping dock – so include any and all information you feel is important. Think of the phone calls and hassles you can avoid by the carriers getting this information in advance!

Click Here for an example of a completed profile.

Here are some recommendations:
You’ll want to include basic information such as Phone, Address, Directions, and Hours.
Most importantly, make sure you include the specific Rules and Regulations at your shipping dock. Here are a few ideas to get you started or click here for an example.
- Are appointments required? Who do they contact for an appointment?
- Upon arrival, drivers must Auto- Check In by texting their load number to xxx-xxxx (*if your facility has eRoutingGuide Auto-Check-In service)
- Is a lumper service required? What is the rate?
- Is a lift-gate required?
- How many hours of wait time should a driver expect before you will approve detention?
- Will a delivery be refused without an Advanced Shipping Notification number?
- Is a pick up or some type of load number required?
- Are drivers allowed on the dock? Are you a shipper load and count (SLC) facility?
- How are OS&D issues handled?

Those points should give you the idea. Once updated, ShipAssist allows you to easily send companies a link to your personalized webpage and require that all carriers and vendors confirm their understanding of the rules and regulations on your ShipAssist website. Your Shipping Department will thank you.

Click Here for an example of a completed profile.

We welcome your questions and feedback: questions@eroutingguide.com

Thank you for choosing ShipAssist. Transportation Management Software can be simple!

Ship products? eRoutingGuide is looking for companies to beta test a new product, no cost or obligation

If you ship anything, you should check out http://www.eroutingguide.com/ - any new user who signs up by 9/1/10 will be given free access to the new ShipAssist and Routing Guide products. All that is asked is feedback on how the system is working and ideas for improvements.

Here is an overview of the system:

Executive Summary:
eROUTINGguide.com is easyTMS. The eROUTINGguide vision is to offer on-line tools that give small and medium size companies access to transportation management technology that was previously only affordable to large companies. Each module within the system is designed to save time, protect information, and improve decision making for the logistics professionals in that organization.

• ShipAssist - Provides tools that help companies by preventing accessorial charges and improving communication with carriers.
• Online Routing Guide - Improves inbound and outbound routing guide compliance, reducing costly errors and service issues.
• easy TMS - Helps businesses reduce freight costs through ensuring better carrier rate management, shipment routing decisions, and carrier communication.

Each tool is simple to implement and has an ROI of days, not months or years.

ShipAssist:
ShipAssist provides easy access to an online location for shipping department to post facility rules and regulations, maps/directions to their facility, or any other information a shipper wants to communicate to carriers. As a standard procedure, the shipper directs carriers to their personalized site to review the facility’s regulations and provide a documented acknowledgment of acceptance of the rules. The main benefits of the service are to set clear guidelines and expectations for carriers to prevent disagreements over detention or other accessorial charges, as well as eliminate calls to the shipping department asking for directions or other requests for basic information. There is ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) functionality available as well.

The target market for the service is a manufacturer with one location, or a national retail chain with multiple locations, each having unique receiving requirements.

Online Routing Guide:
eRouting Guide provides an online location for companies to post their corporate routing guide in an open or password protected environment. The routing guide information is posted on a personalized site for the business and can be customized with any relevant content. Instead of sending out hard copies of routing guides, potential users can reference the information online. Updates can be made instantly and notification of any changes are sent immediately. Routing compliance is improved, therefore reducing time and expenses incurred to the business resulting from misrouted shipments. The goal is to make sure each shipment is routed the right way every time. There is ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) functionality available as well.

The target markets for the service are any manufacturer with vendors or suppliers sending inbound product or companies with de-centralized shipping origin point.

A new type of TMS (Transportation Management System)

May 21, 2010 – eROUTINGguide.com announces plans for the July 2010 launch of its innovative new online transportation management system (TMS). Its TMS 2.0 – an easyTMS solution in the cloud.

The simple application represents a new way for companies to manage and control their logistics process from start to finish. Each module within the system is designed to save time, protect information, control costs and improve decision making for the logistics professionals in that organization.

easyTMS – Organized, secure carrier contract management with Tools for Carrier Selection, Route Optimization, Load Tendering, and Invoice Audit is what is does. Just as importantly, easyTMS provides services in a SaaS, or on-demand environment making implementation and upkeep simpler for users and per user costs a fractional of traditional TMS systems.

Ship Assist – Resolve disputes over Detention and other accessorials before they happen. With Ship Assist, all carriers delivering or picking up shipments from your facility sign off on the procedures at your shipping dock via a customized online webpage – creating a clear understanding of the rules and preventing future disputes.

Routing Guide – Reduce your headaches and transportation costs at the same time by improving compliance to your company’s Routing Guide. This on-line tool provides a simple, clean process for updating and distributing your Routing Guide.



Inquiries: kkowal@eroutingguide.com or call 717.889.8509 or visit: www.eroutingguide.com

eROUTINGguide provides order fulfillment services for e-commerce businesses.

eROUTINGguide - a new "easy TMS" SaaS Offering for Logistics

Here is an overview of a new system we have in development that can perform many Transportation Management System functions at lower price points that tradition TMS Systems, and with easier implementation.

Our targeted go live date is July 1, 2010 and are looking for shippers interested in beta testing any of the functionality.

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Executive Summary:



eROUTINGguide.com is easyTMS. The eROUTINGguide vision is to offer on-line tools that give small and medium size companies access to transportation management technology that was previously only affordable to large companies. Each module within the system is designed to save time, protect information, and improve decision making for the logistics professionals in that organization.

• ShipAssist - Provides tools that help companies by preventing accessorial charges and improving communication with carriers.
• Online Routing Guide - Improves inbound and outbound routing guide compliance, reducing costly errors and service issues.
• easy TMS - Helps businesses reduce freight costs through ensuring better carrier rate management, shipment routing decisions, and carrier communication.

Each tool is simple to implement and has an ROI of days, not months or years.

ShipAssist:
ShipAssist provides easy access to an online location for shippers to post facility rules and regulations, maps/directions to their facility, or any other information a shipper wants to communicate to carriers. As a standard procedure, the shipper directs carriers to their personalized site to review the facility’s regulations and provide a documented acknowledgment of acceptance of the rules. The main benefits of the service are to set clear guidelines and expectations for carriers to prevent disagreements over detention or other accessorial charges, as well as eliminate calls to the shipping department asking for directions or other requests for basic information. There is ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) functionality available as well.

The target market for the service is a manufacturer with one location, or a national retail chain with multiple locations, each having unique receiving requirements.

Online Routing Guide:
eRouting Guide provides an online location for companies to post their corporate routing guide in an open or password protected environment. The routing guide information is posted on a personalized site for the business and can be customized with any relevant content. Instead of sending out hard copies of routing guides, potential users can reference the information online. Updates can be made instantly and notification of any changes are sent immediately. Routing compliance is improved, therefore reducing time and expenses incurred to the business resulting from misrouted shipments. The goal is to make sure each shipment is routed the right way every time. There is ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) functionality available as well.

The target markets for the service are any manufacturer with vendors or suppliers sending inbound product or companies with de-centralized shipping origin point.
easy TMS:
easy TMS provides simple, easy to implement Transportation Management System functionality for truckload volume shipments at a low monthly rate. The system is web-based, or a SaaS.

eTMS Functionality:

• Tool for organizing and securely storing carrier rate contracts in a central location, allowing companies to make sure the correct routing decisions are made on every truckload shipment. Rate sheets that in the past were buried in a drawer or non-existent are now in one location so in the event of employee turnover or a need cross train additional employees the information is accessible to the right people.
• The Rate Quote tool identifies the top 3 low cost carriers for a given shipment, calculating and presenting the mileage, line haul and fuel surcharge costs.
• The system eliminates time consuming phone calls and manual processes by facilitating communication with carriers through automatic load tendering functionality, appointment confirmations, and Bill of Lading generation.
• Freight invoice pre-audit is integrated into the tool, automating the audit process for shippers – saving time or the need for a costly third party invoice audit company.
• The Sales Quote tool allows parties outside logistics to calculate costs for sales or budgeting in a controlled environment, taking this burden off the shoulders of the logistics group.


The target market for the service are small to medium size shippers currently reliant on manual processes for managing their carrier rate contracts and carrier communication processes.

Order Management, Shopping Cart Software, Ecommerce Platform, Order Fulfillment for Startup

What is a TMS?

Transportation Management System or Logistics Management (TMS) – What is it?

A Transportation Management System is software that helps businesses manage the execution of its logistics supply chain, in particular coordinating and optimizing the movement of products and materials.

The general functions and benefits of a Transportation Management System (Logistics Software) include the following:

Shipment Load Planning and Shipment Routing Optimization – This functionality helps in areas such as determining the most cost effective mode to ship an order (truckload, ltl, air freight, intermodal, etc.), or the optimal way to combine multiple orders together into larger shipments. Carrier rate agreements and contracts are often housed within this area as well.

Routing Guide – Helping to ensuring vendor compliance to inbound routing guides is crucial to cost management.

Execution Management and Carrier Communication – This includes tools for assisting with carrier selection, calculating shipments costs (including line-haul, fuel surcharges, and accessorial charges), tendering loads and facilitating carrier communication (bills of lading and proof of delivery).

Visibility/ Shipment Tracking – Providing delivery status updates and alerts, this tool allows proactive program management and notice of potential delivery problems in advance.

Freight Bill Audit & Payment – Automating the freight audit and payment process, saving time and improving accuracy, or ending reliance on an outside third party.

Other functions:
Business Intelligence/ Reporting
Claims Management
Order Fulfillment Returns Management
Appointment Scheduling

Transportation Management Systems can be deployed on client’s systems or on-demand SaaS (Software as a Service).

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visit our other blog: Truckload Pricing Trends and for more information on ecommerce order fulfillment services for ecommerce retailers and fulfillment for startup online retailers.