Skip to main content

Beyond the Bid: Rethinking Truckload Procurement in North America | Trimble eBook

Published Date

For decades, the North American truckload market has relied on long-term, fixed-price contracts as its backbone. But in today's complex environment, this one-size-fits-all solution is becoming increasingly misaligned with reality. Shippers and carriers are grappling with unpredictable demand swings, inconsistent shipment volumes and the persistent challenge of "ghost lanes" — contracted lanes that never materialize.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the limitations of rigid contracting, prompting industry leaders to ask: Is there a better way? Check out our eBook, Beyond the Bid: Rethinking Truckload Procurement in North America, to learn more. 

Trimble eBook: Beyond the Bid: Rethinking Truckload Procurement in North America

The advantages of new technologies and best practices in procurement

Based on extensive research from MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics, this eBook explores how dynamic pricing models, such as index-based contracts and API-driven pricing, are emerging to blend the stability of contracts with the flexibility of the spot market. These approaches harness real-time data and adaptive pricing mechanisms to offer a new and strategic option that is truly win-win.

Inside this eBook, you'll learn about:

    • Rise of strategic spot use: Explore how shippers are increasingly willing to use the spot market more strategically, particularly for traditionally difficult lanes.
    • Cost of "ghost lanes": See how lanes contracted but never used lead to higher rejection rates and can increase your future contract prices by an average of 7%.
    • Benefits of dynamic pricing: Discover how dynamic-priced contracts for low-volume, high-variability lanes can lead to:
        • 1-5% reduction in shipper costs
        • 2-4% increase in carrier acceptance rates
        • 1-9% higher revenues for carriers
    • Practical Implications: Understand the technological and behavioral challenges, and how solutions like Transporeon's Autonomous Procurement and Freight Marketplace are helping to bridge the gap.


Continue the conversation at Trimble Insight Tech Conference

Trimble Insight is the transportation and logistics industry’s premier event, and this year, we’re shining a spotlight on shippers. Join us in New Orleans, from November 16-18, to engage with industry pioneers, analysts and seasoned professionals—including this eBook’s author, Dr. Angi Acocella, Research Scientist, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics—who are shaping the future of our industry. 

Gain a deeper understanding of macro trends, regulatory changes and emerging best practices that can directly influence your strategic planning. Look into the future of last-mile delivery, understand the impact of sustainability initiatives on your supply chain or learn how to leverage data analytics to make more informed decisions.

Check out this article to discover why Insight is the essential event for every forward-thinking shipper. Or, register now to attend and start proactively shaping your success.

Trimble Dispatch Newsletter Sign-Up