Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone:
GR8FR8.com is a web based or "cloud-based" platform where Shippers are connected directly with Carriers. It incorporates live bidding, direct tendering, report generating and more. One of the main features is the TMS functionality built in but without the cost of traditional TMS software.
We would love to learn more about your process. We're not trying to change what you do, just make it more efficient in a controlled environment while potentially generating significant savings.
Because GR8FR8 is cloud-based, there is no "set-up" time involved. You will be up and running moments after your initial sign-up. To ensure that things run smoothly for all community members, we offer live technical assistance as well as several short support videos.
Each account is allowed up to 5 users at no additional charge. If you feel you will need more users than this, you can add 5-user bundles for $50 each. Therefore if you need a total of 15 users, you would add 2 more user bundles for $100.
We accept VISA/MC for payments of annual and processing fees via our secure web interface through our preferred Merchant Service provider. For your protection, we do not take payments over the phone, nor do we collect, store, or have access to your credit card information. A complete account overview including current balance will be able to be viewed when logged in. Payment of freight services happen between carrier and shipper outside of the system.
Shippers:
We take the risk out of bidding shipments in a number of ways. We provide you with a great deal of data to compare costs of moving similar commodities in a particular lane. We also provide historical information on what you have shipped yourself. Sometimes you are still not sure how to address a shipment. Maybe this is a new commodity or new destination. Or maybe you were just unsuccessful in getting carriers to bid.
Our members have access to live, dedicated logistic experts who are assigned to you. These professionals can help you work through nearly any issue you may encounter or guide you through using GR8FR8. Automation is great, but frankly sometimes it helps to have live help.
FR8Mart™ also features our GR8Rating™ Community Support System so that both shippers and carriers can make informed decisions on which companies they choose to do business with. In this community, neighbors are important. Together we help each other, and carriers and shippers both win.
Finally, if using FR8Mart™ does not result in moving your time-sensitive freight by your deadline, our FR8Guard™ service is your solution.
So, in essence, there is no risk in using GR8FR8 - we ALWAYS have your back!
No. In fact, shippers are encouraged to bring their carriers on board with them and continue doing "business as usual" to take full advantage of the TMS and reporting features available. Fr8Mart™ is an added feature offered which can assist in getting you fresh quotes which reflect the current market.
If you can't wait to save money, you've come to the right place. If you can wait to save money, you've come to the right place. Let's break this down.
Using instant freight quote sites that offer up to 85% savings aren't telling you everything. These websites use pre-loaded negotiated rates with carriers and attach their brokerage fees prior to displaying your rate. In an ever-changing market of fuel surcharges, and supply and demand fluctuations, you need fresh quotes-- not inflated ones. That's why at GR8FR8, we link the shipper and carrier together, and show you the exact booking fees you will pay. No hidden fees. No inflated rates.
Are you willing to pay more for instant gratification?
GR8FR8.com was made for small to midsized shippers and carriers. Whether you're a shipper who does 5 truckloads a week or 100+ every day, GR8FR8 can support you. The large shippers often have expensive server-based TMS systems and negotiated contracts with carriers, meaning that GR8FR8.com may be considered redundant. What we provide is an inexpensive platform to accomplish the same thing that the large companies do.
Freight Payment processes occur outside of the system. GR8FR8 is not a party to the transaction, but rather supplies the conduit to transact. While you will pay the carrier directly, you can use system features to negotiate rates, accessorials, finalize settlement, and print and store documentation.
No. However, Shipper customers can generate their own bill of lading through the system. Its management is done from the 'Profile' menu item "Manage Bill of Lading". Bills of Lading are created from the Checklist in Active Shipments, and from Reports menu item.
We encourage all shippers to invite their preferred carriers to join, and carry on business as usual with the added benefits of TMS. This will provide value, and soft savings by increasing efficiency and centralizing freight management. FR8Mart is a tool for shippers to use as an additional way to find carriers to create relationships with.
Carriers:
What differentiates GR8FR8 from the hundreds of simple freight boards that pepper the web, is the fact that we care about the shipping process. We understand the need for communication between all of the parties that participate in a logistic transaction. We have all experienced those times when information has made the difference in getting a shipment to its destination and those times when a lack of information has affected performance.
The development of GR8FR8 originated with the idea of providing all of the participants in a shipping transaction, the ability to get real-time, updated information on their shipments. GR8FR8 becomes the central repository for communications on a shipment as well as the historical record of these updates with end-to-end tracking.
The ability to post status updates, shipment changes, as well as simple comments on progress or potential problems can forestall if not eliminate performance charges from consignees that can affect both shippers and carriers. Not having to get on the phone and chase down the right person that needs this information or not having a record of the update you did perform, saves time, arguments and costs.
GR8FR8 proactively moves the information to those parties that need it. No need to go looking for updates, it comes to you either within your Personal Information Center or can optionally be sent to you via email without the sender even knowing your email.
As is common with freight matching sites and freight bidding boards, the number of loads "available" on a site may not be grounded in real data. What you can rely on in GR8FR8, is that on the other side of a Posted Shipment is a real shipper, a real shipment, and a potential business partner, as well as a community member in good standing.
Shipper's credit ratings are not available on GR8FR8. However, credit scores are accessible through standard reporting services like www.onecreditsource.com and D & B. In addition, our GR8Rating system will also help you identify the business practices of your partners based on real feedback from other GR8FR8 members.
Freight Payment processes occur outside of the system. GR8FR8 is not a party to the transaction, but rather supplies the conduit to transact. It is suggested that standard operating procedures for freight payment be performed by Carrier members.
This is a market place, GR8FR8 does not ‘do all the work’ to find you a backhaul for every outbound truck. However, if you have created a lane profile in GR8Lanes that is defined as TX to IN (for example), you will be notified automatically by the system whenever a matching shipment is made available in FR8Mart. This will allow you to place a bid but you may or may not be awarded the shipment.
You may also be on the Preferred/Favorite Carriers list for a Shipper member who has freight in that lane, in which case they can include you in a Closed Bid, where you are invited to an exclusive group of carriers, to Bid and state availability on a TX to IN shipment.
Also keep in mind that this is an environment where, over time, you have exposure to Shippers and Freight that you may never have had access to before. Developing relationships takes time, and requires interaction with other community members, which means YOU must create visibility in the community and open marketplace.
