System and method of selecting freight forwarding companies

• US 20050060244A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cartus Corporation (Anywhere Real Estate Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cendant Mobility Services Corp. (Canada) (Anywhere Real Estate Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelleher, Kevin, Goolkasian, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method for selecting freight forwarding companies is provided wherein bids for shipping lanes and the like are received well in advance of a freight move. Bids are submitted on shipping lanes and other move associated transactions by pre-approved freight forwarding companies. This information is stored in a database. Selection of the freight forwarding company or companies occurs in connection with evaluating the bid information submitted and historical data stored on the database.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company comprising:

receiving bid information from a plurality of freight forwarding companies, the bid information identifying a traffic lane, a moving requirement, and a price rate associated with the moving requirement,

receiving a move request associated with a traffic lane, a moving requirement and a quantity value associated with the moving requirement,

identifying at least one freight forwarding company based on the freight forwarding company'"'"'s bid information wherein the traffic lane and a moving requirement of the bid information relates to the traffic lane and a moving requirement of the move request,

calculating a cost for each of the identified freight forwarding companies dependant on the price rate and quantity value.

2. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of freight forwarding companies meet approval criteria prior to submitting bid information.

3. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 1 wherein said freight forwarding companies submit bids pursuant to a contract for providing services.

4. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 1 wherein said bid information is subject to being invalidated after a predetermined time.

5. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 1 wherein said method is implemented using a computer.

6. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 5 wherein freight forwarding performance feedback information is maintained using said computer.

7. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 6 wherein said freight forwarding company is selected using a criteria which includes cost and past performance based on said performance feedback information.

8. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company comprising:

identifying a freight forwarding company to participate as a provider of services;

subjecting said freight forwarding company to an approval process;

approving said freight forwarding company for execution of a contract for providing services;

providing a database of approved freight forwarding companies under contract;

providing traffic lanes for submission of bids by freight forwarding companies under contract;

providing a database of traffic lane bids from freight forwarding companies; and

selecting a freight forwarding company using said database of traffic lane bids, said bids having been collected in advance of an order received for freight forwarding.

9. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 8 wherein said approval process includes performing a background check on said freight forwarding company.

10. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 8 wherein said approval process includes an on-site visit to said freight forwarding company by the entity conducting the approval process.

11. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 8 wherein said contract is executed between a relocation company and said freight forwarding company.

12. A method of selecting a freight forwarding company as recited in claim 8 wherein said database is implemented using a computer.

19. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a freight forwarding company audit system for use in ensuring freight forwarding company compliance with rate rules, contractual requirements and industry rules.

22. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 12 wherein said freight forwarding company bid procedure requires compliance with predefined bid procedure rules.

13. A method of conducting a relocation business comprising:

receiving an order from a client for the transfer of property of a transferee;

consulting with said transferee;

scheduling a move of said property;

compiling information pertaining to said move;

accessing a database containing preexisting information including traffic lane bid prices from freight forwarding companies; and

selecting a freight forwarding company in conjunction with using said database.

14. A method of conducting a relocation business as recited in claim 13 wherein said database is a computer database capable of providing search information based on a search criteria.

15. A method of conducting a relocation business as recited in claim 13 wherein said search criteria includes parameters consisting of information pertaining to shipment origin, shipment destination, shipment weight, shipping dates, shipping costs, storage service costs, assessorial service costs and a combination thereof.

16. A method of conducting a relocation business as recited in claim 13 wherein said database includes background information on freight forwarding companies entered in said database.

17. A method of conducting business as recited in claim 16 wherein said background information includes information relating to the quality of services provided by said freight forwarding companies.

18. A freight forwarding company selection system comprising:

a freight forwarding company approval procedure;

a database including names of and information pertaining to approved freight forwarding companies;

a freight forwarding company bid procedure; and

a program providing a graphic user interface used in connection with viewing said database for use in selecting a freight forwarding company in connection with ranking database information according to a search criteria.

20. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a survey system whereby a transferee in a move carried out by a freight forwarding company is queried about the move.

21. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 18 wherein said freight forwarding company bid procedure allows freight forwarding companies to submit bids for moves meeting predefined criteria at prices based on predefined rate structures.

23. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 18 wherein said system is capable of being implemented and accessed on the Internet.

24. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 23 wherein said freight forwarding company bid procedure is implemented by providing approved freight forwarding companies with access to said database via a web page, said web page containing information on traffic lanes open for bid.

25. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 23 wherein said freight forwarding company bid procedure includes providing approved freight forwarding companies with web-based controls for entering bid information.

26. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 25 wherein said bid information includes rate amounts.

27. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 18 wherein said approved freight forwarding companies are provided access to a plurality of graphic images for entering bid information.

28. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 27 wherein said graphic images include a screen for bidding on moves that allows selection of the manner in which goods will be shipped.

29. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 28 wherein said manner in which goods will be shipped includes land and air.

30. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 29 wherein said air screen allows input of bids by weight classification.

31. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 29 wherein said air screen allows input of bids by volume.

32. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 18 wherein said freight forwarding bid procedures permits entry of accessorial and storage bids.

33. A freight forwarding company selection system as recited in claim 32 wherein said bids for accessorial and storage may be include bids based on charges types consisting of flat fee, weight, volume, cost plus a percentage surcharge, some other unit of measure and a combination thereof.

34. A freight forwarding company selection system comprising:

a freight forwarding company approval procedure;

a database including names of and information pertaining to approved freight forwarding companies; and

a freight forwarding company bid procedure wherein selection of said freight forwarding company is based off of bid information stored in said database for compilation in connection with a search for a freight forwarding company.