System and Method for Coordinating Transport of Cargo

• US 20120078743A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epona LLC
• Original Assignee: Epona LLC
• Inventors: Betancourt, Ernest Blas
• Granted Patent: US 9,830,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A marketplace may be provided to allow posting of transport jobs and bidding on various aspects of the transport jobs. For example, a carrier may bid on transportation of cargo while fuel providers may bid on the fuel provision. In some arrangements, the carriers may solicit bids for a fueling portion of a transport job that they wish to bid on, have already bid on or have won. Transport may correspond to the physical conveyance of cargo from origin to destination and may include vehicle costs, driver costs, carrier fees and the like. Fuel costs may refer to the cost of fuel and/or pumping fees. A system may automatically generate suggested routes for transport and determine a projected amount of fuel needed for the trip. Additionally, the system may automatically identify potential or projected refueling locations and select refueling stations or providers based thereon.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a fuel bidding system, information identifying fueling needs for a transport job to be performed by a carrier for a shipping entity, wherein the transport job includes transporting cargo from an origin to a destination;

receiving, by the fuel bidding system, a first bid comprising a first fuel cost from a first fuel provider;

receiving, by the fuel bidding system, a second bid comprising a second fuel cost from a second fuel provider; and

determining a winning fuel provider based on the first and second bids.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the winning fuel provider includes:

providing the first and second bids to the carrier; and

receiving a selection of the first fuel provider or the second fuel provider from the carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating the shipping entity for paying fuel costs associated with the transport job.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes a shipping route and identification of one or more fueling points along the shipping route.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying one or more fuel providers at the one or more fueling points; and

transmitting a bid solicitation notification to the identified one or more fuel providers.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a pre-authorization code for fueling a vehicle associated with the carrier to the carrier, wherein the pre-authorization code corresponds to a pre-authorized fuel transaction at one or more fueling stations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the fuel bidding system, a shipping route for transporting the load from the origin to the destination;

determining, by the fuel bidding system, a projected fuel cost associated with transporting the load following the shipping route; and

identifying one or more fueling locations along the shipping route.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the one or more fueling locations includes determining locations along the shipping route where a carrier is likely to need refueling based on a fuel efficiency of a transport vehicle.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a transport planning system, shipping specifications for transporting cargo from an origin to a destination;

automatically generating, by the transport planning system, a route for transporting the cargo;

automatically determining, by the transport planning system, one or more locations for refueling a vehicle transporting the cargo; and

receiving, by the transport planning system, one or more bids for refueling the vehicle at the one or more locations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein automatically determining one or more locations for refueling a vehicle transporting the cargo includes:

determining a fuel efficiency of the vehicle and a fuel capacity of the vehicle; and

determining the one or more locations based on a location at which the vehicle is projected to reach a predefined threshold of fuel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the one or more bids includes receiving a plurality of bids for refueling the vehicle at the one or more locations from a plurality of fuel providers.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a transport schedule including identification of at least one fueling location; and

transmitting the transport schedule to a carrier system associated with the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a bid for refueling the vehicle from a first fuel provider for a first location along the route; and

pre-authorizing a fuel transaction for refueling the vehicle at the first fuel provider, wherein pre-authorizing the fuel transaction includes pre-authorization of payment for refueling the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a pre-authorization code for the pre-authorized fuel transaction; and

transmitting the pre-authorization code to a carrier associated with the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the pre-authorization code to the carrier includes scheduling transmission of the pre-authorization code to correspond to a predefined amount time prior to the vehicle arriving at the first fuel provider.

16. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive information identifying fueling needs for a transport job to be performed by a carrier for a shipping entity, wherein the transport job includes transporting cargo from an origin to a destination;

receive a first bid comprising a first fuel cost from a first fuel provider;

receive a second bid comprising a second fuel cost from a second fuel provider; and

determine a winning fuel provider based on the first and second bids.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:

determine a shipping route for transporting the load from the origin to the destination;

determine a projected fuel cost associated with transporting the load following the shipping route;

identify one or more fueling locations along the shipping route; and

receive at least one bid for at least one fuel transaction along the shipping route from a fueling station.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 17, wherein identifying the one or more fueling locations includes determining locations along the shipping route where a vehicle is likely to need refueling.

19. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive shipping specifications for transporting a cargo from an origin to a destination;

automatically generate a route for transporting the cargo;

automatically determine one or more locations for refueling a vehicle transporting the cargo; and

receive one or more bids for refueling the vehicle at the one or more locations.

20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 19, wherein automatically determining one or more locations for refueling a vehicle transporting the cargo includes:

determining a fuel efficiency of the vehicle and a fuel capacity of the vehicle; and

determining the one or more locations based on a location at which the vehicle is projected to reach a predefined threshold of fuel.

21. The one or more computer readable media of claim 19, wherein receiving the one or more bids includes receiving a plurality of bids for refueling the vehicle at the one or more locations from a plurality of fuel providers.