Tabi Connect, Kleinschmidt partner to automate freight quoting

Tabi Connect and Kleinschmidt have partnered to automate freight quoting through Kleinschmidt's Intelligence Network, the companies announced Sept. 14.

The integration sends freight quote requests moving through Kleinschmidt's network directly into Tabi, where a brokerage's pricing rules are automatically applied before the quote is returned to the shipper.

The companies said the integration can reduce the time brokers spend responding to quote requests while giving them a consistent way to apply pricing strategies across their teams.

Tabi's Pricing Logic Engine allows brokerages to set rules based on factors including customer, lane, equipment type and market conditions. The system then applies those rules to incoming requests instead of requiring a broker to manually determine each rate.

"Freight brokerage is more crowded than it's ever been, and margins keep getting thinner, so speed and consistency are what actually separate the brokers who win from the ones who don't," said Ricky Gonzalez, CEO of Tabi Connect.

The partnership also connects Tabi with Capacity IQ , Kleinschmidt's predictive freight-capacity platform.

Capacity IQ analyzes more than 150,000 loads moving across North America each day to predict where trucks are likely to become available. Capacity IQ analyzes more than 150,000 loads moving across North America each day to predict where trucks are likely to become available. Kleinschmidt says the platform uses tender insights and predictive analytics to identify carriers that are likely to have capacity near a particular pickup location before they unload.

That gives brokers another signal to consider when pricing a load. A broker can factor in expected carrier availability in a particular market before setting a rate, rather than waiting until after the quote has been submitted.

"Tabi helps brokers consistently apply their own pricing strategy to every opportunity," said Dan Heinen, president and CEO of Kleinschmidt. "Combined with the Kleinschmidt Intelligence Network, it can dramatically shorten the time between receiving a quote request and responding."

The partnership adds another connection to Tabi's network of freight platforms. Tabi currently connects with over 88 shipper TMS platforms, bid boards and freight marketplaces, including 17 native API integrations and 71 robotic process automation, or RPA, connections, according to the company.

Tabi says its API connections can return quotes in around three seconds, while its RPA connections, which automate interactions with shipper portals, typically return rates in about 35 to 50 seconds.