TMS Guide

To access the TMS environment, click Home > Transportation. The Transportation page has eight sections.

Overview

Although the user interface on the Transportation page might suggest that each section contains separate functions, in reality, there is a high degree of interconnectedness.

The chart below shows these connections.

Dispatch

Dispatch is the heart of TMS planning and control. It is directly or indirectly connected to six sections:

• Shipments

• Loads

• Rate Tariffs

• Service Lanes

• Pending Quotes

• Driver Settlement

Shipments and Loads

DVU users can access Shipments or Loads as separate sections on the Transportation page or from inside Dispatch. This configuration helps simplify data management and provides speedy access to important settings when working with long lists.

Both sections have a two-way connection with Dispatch. Any change in a Shipments (e.g. delivery or pickup) template appears in the corresponding Dispatch template. The same applies to Loads.

Rate Tariffs

Open the rate tariffs section to specify route rates (city to city or zip code to zip code). When a DVU user creates a shipment/load or quote and specifies a route, the Davinci platform dynamically loads rates from the selected tariff table (if available). DVU users can set FTL and LTL flat rates, CWT rates, and freight class rates.

Service Lanes

A service lane is a geographic zone serviced by a broker or carrier. The service lane tag helps DVU users quickly generate a list of companies that can provide transport services for a shipment or quote.

Pending Quotes

Open the pending quotes section to prepare, submit, and manage bids to provide transport services with in-house equipment or brokered carriers. The workflow template is similar to what you’ll find in Dispatch, so the learning curve is minimal. Specify routes, brokers, equipment, markups, and more. Once a customer accepts a bid, convert the quote into a shipment/load and manage the job inside the TMS environment.

Driver Settlement

Calculate driver settlements for shipments/loads with a Scheduled Post status. Use the tool to list shipments/loads by driver for a specific period of time, review and update modify rates, and email totals to drivers.

Carrier Quote History

This section provides DVU users with useful planning information, though it is not directly connected to Dispatch. The main page of the section displays a log of carrier quotes generated inside the TMS environment. The table format helps DVU users quickly review previous quotes for specific transport services and identify trends. Click a quote to obtain contact information, a handy tool when looking for a spot price.