There is definitely a learning curve when it comes to working in operations and dispatch for a transportation carrier or broker. There are many laws and transaction factors to take into consideration.
Perhaps you’re a startup transportation company and not be prepared to invest in an experienced operations/dispatch professional leaving you to book your own shipments. This can be tough when you are also the one doing all the sales, accounting, and customer service as well.
It’s near impossible to focus on growth when you are single handedly taking on all the functions of your company. Or perhaps you are an established transportation company with an effective team but you just want to add someone to the team to take care of low profit shipments while your team focuses on the high profit shipments. In either of these situations, a MFS Operations VA may be the most practical solution. Here’s what you MFS Operations VA is trained to do:
Quote Shipments: Whether you’re a broker or carrier, your VA can handle quotes to customers based on pre-provided guidelines increasing the speed and level of service in each transaction. If calling carriers to retrieve quotes applies to your company, your VA can handle that as well.
Book Shipments: Your VA is able to schedule shipments that were accepted by the customer in the method that is acceptable by your company’s standards. Whether it’s calling in a pickup with an LTL carrier, or sending/receiving a rate confirmation, you VA can be a valuable solution.
Classify Freight: Your VA is able to classify pallets based on density as well as search the NMFTA Database for suitable NMFC numbers for various commodities locating any changes in class that may occur. This of course helps to reduce the potential for re-classes.
Load Boards: It’s important to be versed in all the tools at your disposal when it comes to the transportation industry. Matching Loads and trucks together is key. Your MFS virtual assistant is familiar with the Key Load Boards like DAT and Internet Truck Stop. In a short time you VA will be able to post you loads or trucks and call on available loads and trucks to negotiate desired rates.
TMS Systems: Although our VAs may not be trained in your specific transportation management system (TMS), they are versed in its concept and the required data to be entered and thus it will be a very short learning curve to get him/her using the TMS System you have in place effectively.
Shipment Accessorials – Along with standard shipping services, there are other services that can be utilized per shipper/consignee need. Your Operations VA has been familiarized with all of the most common accessorials and is versed in when to suspect that they may be required.
Trailer Space – Your Operations VA has been taught to verify the amount of space that will be required on a trailer based on pallet dimension details provided by customers
My Freight Staff Operations VAs have been given additional training specifically focused on operations and dispatch. Our objective is to ensure that the training time and its associated costs to our Clients are minimal.
Are you ready to get help from pre-trained Freight Virtual Assistants?
Check out our service tiers for options starting at $7/hour