A useful procurement shortlist starts with a specific freight need. Carrier preferences help identify who to talk to; direct confirmation establishes what they can actually cover.
Define the work you need to cover.
Start with the selected customer lanes, origins, destinations and equipment. Add volume and its time period when available. Review how those lanes connect to your existing network so the sourcing request reflects the broader opportunity, not just an isolated move.
Distinguish a network gap from a confirmed truck shortage. LaneFlo may show no compatible next pickup within your chosen radius, or an imbalance between arriving and departing freight. Neither measure alone establishes how many trucks a market has available.
Bring your existing carrier relationships into view.
Collect preferred lanes from carriers your team already works with. In LaneFlo, private carrier preferences remain part of your team’s network. Invitations help bring that information into the review without publishing those carriers in the shared directory.
Compare preferences with the freight under consideration. A preferred origin or destination gives procurement a more specific starting point than a general carrier list. Ask why the lane fits, what equipment the carrier wants to run, and what commitments would make the work practical.
Use the directory to open relevant conversations.
The shared Carrier Directory contains lane preferences and business contacts that participating carriers chose to share with LaneFlo customer teams. Use those listings to find possible connections beyond your private relationships, then contact carriers directly.
Directory coverage grows as carriers join and varies by market and equipment. A listing expresses interest in lanes, not confirmed capacity, a committed rate or a completed qualification review. Your carrier qualification and operating checks still belong in the procurement process.
Connect the carrier conversation to the pricing decision.
Confirm available volume, equipment, service requirements, pickup windows and pricing with the carrier. Those answers help you distinguish an opportunity you can compete for confidently from one that requires more sourcing or a different quote.
Enter the carrier costs and customer quotes you choose in LaneFlo, review margins and save a bid version. When sharing a customer-facing network report, internal costs, margins, benchmarks and notes are excluded. The customer can see the selected picture without receiving your internal procurement economics.
From an open lane to a focused conversation.
Illustrative sourcing review. These are decision prompts, not live carrier listings or confirmed capacity.
| What you know | What remains open | Next conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming Chicago → Dallas freight | Weekly volume and service windows | Confirm the customer’s operating requirements. |
| An existing network connection | How much volume could pair | Review the limiting leg and remaining freight. |
| A carrier prefers the lane | Equipment, availability and cost | Discuss the exact work directly with the carrier. |
| Some freight still lacks coverage | A credible cost and service plan | Continue targeted sourcing before committing. |
A matching preference makes outreach more relevant. Procurement turns that initial match into an informed coverage and pricing decision through direct confirmation.
Your next step.
- Define lanes, equipment, volumes and service needs.
- Review private preferences and relevant directory listings.
- Confirm availability, qualifications and commercial terms directly.
- Use confirmed costs and coverage context in the customer quote.