Shipper and Carrier Interaction Optimization Platform

Abstract

A shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can include an internet based web page, application for a handheld device, a dedicated device with a graphical user interface, or any combination thereof for one or more shipper to enter shipment requirements and/or bids for use of a carrier's equipment. One or more carriers can enter equipment specifications, such as equipment type, availability, and minimum payment amount accepted, as well as bids for employment to ship goods via the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform. The platform can automate matching shippers and carriers for each shipment, provide information regarding shipment status, and help carriers to maximize the amount of time their vehicles carry cargo. Systems may include a shipper interface, a carrier interface, one or more handheld devices running the interaction optimization platform, and positioning software and/or hardware to indicate the location of the one or more handheld devices used by shipment carriers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for optimizing selection of a carrier for a shipment, the system comprising:
 an interaction optimization platform comprising:
 a shipper interface configured for receiving information input from a shipper regarding shipment requirements; 
 a carrier interface configured for receiving information input from a carrier regarding equipment capabilities and/or availability; and 
 a progress interface configured to display shipment information; 
   a server configured to:
 accept input from the shipper interface and the carrier interface; 
 execute one or more programs to match a carrier with one or more shipment; 
 accept information regarding the location of one or more mobile devices that execute the carrier interface; and 
 generate graphical representations of shipment information for viewing using the progress interface; and 
   one or more mobile computing devices for displaying one or more of the shipper interface, carrier interface, and/or progress interface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mobile computing devices comprise a mobile phone, a smart phone, a wearable computing device, a tablet computer, and/or a laptop computer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more mobile computing devices comprises positioning software and/or hardware configured to locate the device using one or more of cellular phone signaling, wireless internet (Wi-Fi) signals, and satellite positioning. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more mobile computing devices displays the carrier interface and is used by a carrier's driver to at least provide shipment information to the server, the shipment information comprising shipment location. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the progress interface comprises one or more displays showing a location of the shipment on a map; an estimated time until shipment pick-up; an estimated time until shipment delivery; an estimated time until a check-point is reached; a shipment exception; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipper interface is configured to accept information for each shipment of a shipper that is seeking a carrier, the information for each shipment comprising: a load type, insurance requirements, a contact person for the shipment, a shipment origin, a shipment destination, a desired time for delivery, a proposed payment for carrying the shipment, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier interface is configured to accept information for a carrier, the carrier information comprising: carrier corporate information, equipment available, equipment capability, insurance information, information for one or more drivers employed by the carrier, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the equipment capability comprises refrigeration ability, hazardous material (hazmat) compatibility, size limitations, weight limitations, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein insurance information comprises information regarding coverage under the following types of insurance: general liability, auto liability, cargo liability, workman's compensation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
 creating a shipper profile for a shipper using an interaction optimization platform;   uploading a set of business rules associated with the shipper to a server, using the interaction optimization platform;   uploading a contract associated with a shipment belonging to the shipper to a server, using the interaction optimization platform; and   selecting a carrier from one or more carriers presented by the interaction optimization platform as a potential suitable carrier, wherein each potential suitable carrier agrees, via a carrier interface of the interaction optimization platform, to conform to the set of business rules and contract associated with the shipment and each potential suitable carrier is confirmed by the interaction optimization platform to meet a set of shipment requirements defined by the shipper.   
     
     
         11 . A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
 creating a carrier profile using an interaction optimization platform;   installing, downloading, or activating a carrier interface on a mobile computing device associated with a driver, the driver associated with the carrier;   accepting, via the carrier interface, a set of business rules and a contract for a shipment; and   associating, via the carrier interface, the shipment with the mobile computing device associated with the driver, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to accept and/or generate location information for the mobile computing device and relay that location information to a server according to the interaction optimization platform.   
     
     
         12 . A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
 accepting a shipper profile submitted via a shipper interface;   accepting a carrier profile submitted via a carrier interface;   accepting a set of business rules from a shipper submitted via the shipper interface;   accepting a contract for a shipment from the shipper submitted via the shipper interface;   displaying one or more potential suitable carriers to the shipper via the shipper interface, each of the one or more potential suitable carriers meeting a set of shipment requirements defined by the shipper;   accepting a selection from the shipper of one of the one or more potential suitable carriers to deliver the shipment, the selection made via the shipper interface;   displaying information regarding the shipment to a selected potential suitable carrier for acceptance, the information regarding the shipment comprising the set of business rules, the contract, and the shipment requirements;   associating the shipment with a mobile computing device associated with a selected driver, the mobile computing device configured to present information to and accept input from the selected driver via the carrier interface, wherein the selected driver is associated with the selected potential suitable carrier;   accepting location information from the mobile computing device; and   displaying, via a progress interface, a location of the shipment on a map; an estimated time until shipment pick-up; an estimated time until shipment delivery; an estimated time until a check-point is reached; a shipment exception; and any combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the progress interface is accessible from the shipper and/or carrier interfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising defining one or more geo-fences, wherein each geo-fence comprises a defined distance from a check-point, origin, destination, or other significant location along a shipment route. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating and/or displaying an alert when the selected driver breaches any of the one or more geo-fences. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving, from the selected driver, confirmation of delivery of the shipment and sending notification of delivery in real-time to the shipper and/or carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising displaying to the shipper, via the shipper interface, estimated time for one or more of: arrival of driver for pick-up of the shipment; acceptance of the shipment; confirmation of the shipment details; departure of the shipment; and arrival of shipment at destination. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising accepting an electronic version of a shipment manifest from the shipper, and delivering the shipment manifest to the selected driver. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sending a message to one or more drivers associated with the carrier, the message instructing each of the one or more drivers to install an interface platform comprising the carrier interface to a mobile computing device that accompanies him/her during shipments. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the location information from the mobile computing device comprises:
 GPS information;   cellular phone signal information;   wireless internet (Wi-Fi) signal information;   information derived from GPS, cellular phone signals, and/or wireless internet signals; or any combination thereof.