In the News
Version 5.0 includes new and updated features.
November 2009- Profit Tools recently released Version 5.0 that includes new reports, new dynamic screens in the brokerage module, and new features in the Document Imaging module. Version 5.0 contains is an upgrade from the previous Version 4.3.1. and gives users more functionality in existing modules.
The new shipment based summary screen gives users the ability to drag and drop the carrier name onto the brokerage shipment, or the brokerage shipment onto the carrier. This screen comes with a carrier and watch list for easy monitoring. There is also a trip based summary screen that gives users the ability to click on the trip to view and update the trip summary. This also comes with a watch and carrier list.
New Document Imaging features give you the ability to associate images such as DOT cards, certificates, licensing information, reports, registrations, and more to companies, equipment, and employees. You can retrieve, print, and email these documents right from the company, equipment, or employee.
Additional reports have been added to the reports library, including:
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Revenue for a specific amount type for a single customer or all customers.
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Commission summary by sales rep.
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Driver expirations by date range.
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Hazardous loads by date range.
Current customers are encouraged to upgrade their system, and all new customers automatically receive the newest, most up-to-date version of the software.
Individual companies can get up to $25,000 of Profit Tools software from September 1st- 30th.
September 2009- Profit Tools is offering up to one million dollars in free Profit Tools software from September 1st through 30th.
New and existing customers can take advantage of this offer and get an unlimited amount of user licenses and modules based on their individual needs, up to $25,000 per company. The offer is valid now through September 30th or until one milion dollars in software runs out. Core products of Profit Tools include operations, dispatch, document imaging, and billing software, and additional modules include auto-rating, mobile communication, and more.
The $1 million free software offer is designed to help trucking companies operate more efficiently now and be in a stronger competitive position as recovery begins.
"Profit Tools builds long-term relationships with our customers, and we understand the challenges trucking companies are facing with reduced volumes, narrow margins, and increased services demands," said Brian Widell, President of Profit Tools, Inc. "Our product can help companies meet these challenges, but they are short on cash. By offering free software at this critical time in the market, Profit Tools will help companies not only stay in business, but also gain an edge on their competition and build a more solid foundation for the future. We see that as a great investment in our mutual future."
Companies can take advantage of this offer by calling Profit Tools headquarters at (603)659-3822 or learn more information here.
Updated version includes enhanced trace history, additional rail and terminal sites, and ability to monitor clean truck holding fees.
August 2009- Profit Tools announces the release of new features in Track and Trace™ container tracing service. Track and Trace™ takes the manual work out of tracking containers by monitoring your rail and terminal shipments from multiple websites so you don't have to.
The updated version includes significant improvements in the trace history detail. Users can view details of each trace such as the date and time the container was added or deleted from the system, and the reason for removal (released, manual, etc.) In addition to containers that were successfully traced, you can also view containers that were unable to be traced. You can search trace history by date range or container number, or both, ensuring that you can find the details of that trace. Another new feature is the ability to track clean truck holding fees at ports in Long Beach and Oakland. Track and Trace™ lets you check the status of containers that are being held under the Clean Air rules and monitor the locations of those containers while the truck is being held.
Track and Trace™ works by checking rail and terminal websites that you specify for details on your containers. Just enter your existing tracking account information and container numbers into the system, or add directly from Profit Tools, and Track and Trace™ will monitor the websites for you. Track and Trace™ is always on searching for updates from various websites so you don't have to.
New Equipment Posting feature in Profit Tools automates load posting to popular load board website, LoadMatch.com.
July 2009- Profit Tools customers that implement the Equipment Posting feature will receive a free membership to LoadMatch.com for as long as they are posting to LoadMatch via Profit Tools. This is valued at $600 per year, and is available to Profit Tools customers on our support and upgrade service. LoadMatch.com is an online service for matching empty containers and freight to intermodal loads. Companies are able to make their equipment capacity visible with the goal of optimization, particularly on back-hauls.
The new interface gives Profit Tools users an efficient and cost effective way to connect with buyers in order to reload their containers on back-hauls. This new interface will automatically send data from the Equipment Posting module in Profit Tools to the LoadMatch.com posting board via FTP. The information that is displayed in LoadMatch includes equipment type, date the equipment is available, and location. Users only need to select the equipment lease type(s) they wish to post and the rest is done automatically, saving time as opposed to manually entering each piece of equipment.
Posting on LoadMatch is a good way to promote your company and get name recognition. You might not fill every empty back-haul, but the more buyers see your name, the more your company will be recognized by shippers. If you are interested in this free offer give us a call at (603) 659-3822. For more information on LoadMatch please visit LoadMatch.com
Hanjin Shipping Company receives the 2009 Profit Tools Intermodal Technology Innovation Award for developing EDI for truckers.
May 2009- Profit Tools presented Hanjin Shipping Co. with an award to recognize creating an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) interface for truckers. Brian Walker, Profit Tools Alliance and Partnership Manager, assisted by Chris Wright, President of Affton Trucking presented Hanjin's Sarah Suh with the Intermodal Tehcnology Innovation Award at the 2009 Intermodal Association of North America's Maintenance and Operations Seminar on April 28, 2009.
Hanjin and Profit Tools worked together to create an EDI interface that saves the drayage trucker's back office team up to 15 minutes per Hanjin container handled. The idea of the interface is to increase efficiencies and reduce errors caused by manual processing of data. The EDI interface is running at Affton Trucking of St. Louis and will soon be live at other Profit Tools' customers' facilities.
The way it works is Profit Tools software connects directly with Hanjin's network to receive load tenders (204 EDI transactions) into the Profit Tools system. These files create shipments in Profit Tools' software for users to review and accept or decline. This triggers a response to the load tender (EDI 990 transactions) to be sent back to Hanjin to let them know if the carier has accepted each load. Status updates (EDI 214 transactions) are automatically sent to Hanjin when event times are entered into Profit Tools. These automated processes save time and are most efficient for truckers and back office staff.
"Many of us went to the IANA seminar with the attitude of doom and gloom, and although the long term industry trend is depressed, there is hope and optimism that the economy has already hit bottom and is showing signs of recovery," said Brian Walker, Profit Tools Alliance and Partnership Manager. "Although business is down there are still many shippers who have not discovered Intermodal transportation. If we go out and hit the streets we should be able to sell Intermodal."
Profit Tools continues to work with the Intermodal industry to provide EDI interface options and is working hard to create an industry- standard EDI mapping to significanty reduce the cost of EDI.
Profit Tools hosted its first user conference this spring at main headquarters.
March 2009- Profit Tools held its first User Conference on March 10th and 11th at their main office in Lee, New Hampshire. The two day course covered best practices for using Profit Tools software and demos of new features and functionality. The conference was offered to support and upgrade (SUS) package subscribers at a significant discount off the cost of regular onsite training.
The first day consisted of lessons on new features and functionality that were added to the software in the past year. Customers were also shown best practices in some of the software's modules including order entry, itineraries, routing, and dynamic screens. The second day of training included open discussions and individual analysis of PT best practices based on the types of moves of each attendee's operation.
"In our commitment to become the most responsive software company in the industry, we are proud to hold our first user conference," said John Howes, Account Manager. "We want to insure the conference has a one on one type of environment and we will schedule more user conferences, perhaps on a regional basis, if the demand is high."
Click on the titles below to read some of our older articles in PDF form:
New alliance between Profit Tools and Charter Capital provides software services with factoring
Introducing Mobile Office
Profit Tools releases enhanced fuel and profitability tools
Usergroup meeting gives software users chance to discuss industry concerns
Profit Tools co-hosts ICANA Small Carrier Conferences
Solutions offered by Profit Tools and Trimble change the face of dispatch centers
LoadMatch.com names Profit Tools preferred software partner
