In the News
New solution gives trucking companies the ability to automatically send DVIRs straight from Profit Tools.
June 2010- Profit Tools has created an automated solution for trucking companies to submit DVIRs to IEPs electronically, in response to the new FMCSA mandate. Effective June 30th, all drivers that operate intermodal equipment must inspect and log the condition of chassis upon termination of the equipment, and report the condition to the IEP.
Profit Tools' solution sends DVIRs to IEPs directly from Profit Tools trucking software. The new feature ensures that all DVIR submissions and confirmations sent through Profit Tools are saved in case they're needed at a later date for an audit or other reason. Additional capabilities allow users to search pending and sent DVIR histories, and run reports on submissions. This new feature lets office staff review all DVIR forms before they are sent to the IEP.
The way the solution works is the driver will transmit the information needed to complete the DVIR to office staff at the trucking company. Office staff will fill out a simple checklist in Profit Tools and the information is then transferred to the IEP. Confirmation of receipt is sent back to the trucking company from the IEP.
As it currently stands (as of 6/29/10), drivers must report on the condition of ALL chassis, regardless of whether or not there is damage. Please read the FMCSA FAQ page for detailed information. You can also find information on the DVIR requirements here, in a special section of the Intermodal Association of North America's website.
Customers nationwide met to learn best practices and train on Profit Tools trucking software.
May 2010- Profit Tools' hosted their second annual User Conference May 10th-12th in Manchester, NH. Over 15 companies from across the country were in attendance to learn best practices, train on new features, and brush up on their skills in Profit Tools trucking software.
The conference was tailored to meet the individual needs of each company and customer in attendance as much as possible. The training materials and discussion forums were based on suggestions from customers about what they would like to learn. Customers were able to choose which topics and courses they wanted to attend throughout the conference so they could get the most out of the experience. Profit Tools staff from training, technical support, and management teams were in attendance. Some of the sessions offered included discussion forums on the new Roadability and safety regulations, best practices for intermodal operations, and courses on specific modules such as Billing, Settlements, and our EDI process.
The event this year was held at the Highlander Inn in Manchester, NH, instead of Profit Tools' headquarters in Lee, NH, due to the larger number of attendees. Profit Tools plans to continue offering annual User Conferences, along with other regional conferences as demand arises.
Web-based add on to Profit Tools trucking software gives your clients access to shipment information and more online.
March 2010- Profit Tools, Inc. has partnered with W. Interactive, a full service multimedia and software development company, to create a new generation of customer service web applications. activeT.R.A.C., developed by W. Interactive, is a web-based add on to Profit Tools that allows Profit Tools users to give their clients access to shipment information and other Profit Tools data online, in real-time.
Profit Tools developed activeT.R.A.C. after hearing from customers that their clients were demanding access to more comprehensive shipment information online. activeT.R.A.C. not only provides your clients with details on current and historical shipments, but is also a platform to share company news, view important documents online, download reports, request rates, and submit load tenders. This information is available to your customers in real- time, 24 hours a day, simply by logging in to the activeT.R.A.C. portal.
activeT.R.A.C. works in conjunction with other customer service modules from Profit tools, most notably Document Imaging. Customers using Document Imaging can make all shipment documents stored in Profit Tools available to customers online via activeT.R.A.C. for their clients to download, save, or print any time. Customers using the Email Notification module can send an automated email to their customers when the shipment is entered into Profit Tools with a link to activeT.R.A.C.
activeT.R.A.C. is easy to use and the standard package will fit the needs of most companies; however it's also fully customizable to each company's unique needs. The application can be tailored to reflect specific design requirements, graphics, or information that you need to make available to your customers. Additionally the partnership between Profit Tools and W. Interactive provides you, the Profit Tools customer, with a trusted third party for future multimedia and software development needs.
activeT.R.A.C. also provides even the smallest companies with the ability to offer a level of online customer service and convenience that is typically found only in larger companies. The product is available for one low monthly flat rate, independent of the number of users or shipments being tracked. Companies can also monitor which of their customers are using the service, how often, and at what time.
Profit Tools recently wrapped up beta testing and has begun offering the product to all new and existing customers. Customers are finding it to be an added value to their existing customer service tools and strategies. "I'm very excited with the ease of use and the information activeT.R.A.C. is providing," stated Paul Gerou, Operations Manager of BarOle Trucking, Inc. in Centerville, MN. "In the current market, every little thing helps to keep current customers and to attract new ones."
Profit Tools President Brian Widell stated, "Our customers rely on Profit Tools to help them win preferred vendor status with their clients. It's not that there's no freight out there; it's that there's not enough for everyone. Our clients fight hard to earn and keep that business. activeT.R.A.C. is another tool that helps them differentiate through better technology, service, and efficiency."
For more information about activeT.R.A.C. please visit www.activetrac.com or call Jeff Witkowski at 716-759-2170.
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:
Revenue for a specific amount type for a single customer or all customers.
Commission summary by sales rep.
Driver expirations by date range.
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 million 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.comfor 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 Technology 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 carrier 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 significantly reduce the cost of EDI.
Click on the titles below to read some of our older articles in PDF form:
Profit Tools hosts first User Conference
New alliance between Profit Tools and Charter Capital provides software services with factoring
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
