BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software Monday released version 19.1 of its LoadMaster Enterprise, LoadMaster LTL and PowerBroker software solutions.
With the release of Version 19.1, McLeod Software has introduced LoadMaster Driver Choice, a tool fleets can use to give drivers the ability to record their load preferences, effectively requesting the loads that are the best match for those preferences, according to Kristan Hill, marketing manager.
LoadMaster Driver Choice also gives carriers the ability to offer drivers choices about available loads when possible, all while ensuring their success with any load offered to them, she said.
For owner operators in those fleets using Driver Choice, it means their carrier is giving the driver better tools to “run their business” successfully within the fleet, especially when paired with the McLeod Driver Mobile App and the information that app provides about pay, and the ways it expedites the entire settlement process.
LoadMaster Trip Management is also being introduced as part of McLeod’s Version 19.1 release. The new Trip Management module gives carriers the tools to interactively plan details of trips with the driver’s input, and actively manage those trips while they are under way.
“Using a driver’s current Hours of Service and position information, a trip plan is created and displayed in LoadMaster,” Hill said. “Taking into account road conditions, live and historical traffic patterns, and driver breaks provides better visibility for customers to enhance the accuracy of real-time estimated time of arrival at customer stops and actual arrival time at locations, giving planners and driver managers the ability to proactively deal with potential service incidents at future stops.”
The trip plan feeds McLeod’s ETA/out-of-route module to let the carrier’s staff know when trucks are late for scheduled stops or out of their recommended routes. It also interacts with McLeod’s existing driver feasibility functions to enhance the accuracy of planning.
McLeod’s driver feasibility function determines whether or not a driver can physically pick up and deliver the load on time based on their current position, the distances involved, the appointment windows for pick-up and delivery, and their available HOS to accomplish the trip. Hill said using all of this information to account for events, rest breaks, delays, detention, changing situations in weather, and even rerouting when necessary, allows planners to generate a significantly better dispatch trip plan. The interactive nature of McLeod’s new Trip Management module gives the driver the opportunity to be part of the planning process.
The delivery routing optimization module in LoadMaster LTL now optimizes the sequence of deliveries routed on a local movement. Route Optimization takes a set of routed deliveries and optimizes the stops based on minimal drive time, while also considering appointment commitment freight, a location’s open and close times, and the time spent unloading per stop. This module also considers potential turn time
McLeod Software offers PowerBroker users a new integration with HubTran to quickly process incoming carrier documents and invoices. Powerbroker communicates load and carrier data to HubTran and returns approved invoice data and documents to PowerBroker. When the carrier sends in invoices and supporting documents for billing, the audit process is completed more quickly to allow brokers to bill faster with less cost and effort from the back office.
Hill also said McLeod Software is also introducing expanded integration solutions with Manhattan Associates. A new interface offers visibility to Manhattan’s Load Analyzer scoring metrics upon receiving an EDI load tender. Tenders can be accepted and orders created automatically based upon predetermined score criteria. Another key interface introduced in version 19.1 is Manhattan Profit Analyzer. LoadMaster general ledger revenue and expense information is sent to analyze the key factors affecting profitability and target problem areas with poor utilization. With the Manhattan Fuel & Route interface, LoadMaster version 19.1 will automatically communicate movement data and current fuel levels to Fuel & Route during dispatch to determine optimal door-to-door routing and fuel recommendations while balancing driver requests and preferences.
For more information, visit www.McLeodSoftware.com.
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