Pricing/CIS is the integration of the TCG Cost Information System with a rating capability, to calculate the revenue that each shipment being costed would receive, from a specified carrier tariff. This provides a more automated method of shipment profitability analysis, particularly when costing prospective freight and when costing files containing large amounts of traffic.
This add-on segment to the Cost Information System keys off of a rating window in the CIS shipment entry program. The rating window includes fields for shipment class, discounts, fuel surcharge, accessorial revenue, and loading allowances, to be used in shipment revenue calculation. With the ability to store this additional data, entered in the same manner as other shipment input data (either via the CIS template, if constant amounts for the entire file, or entered for each specific shipment), the CIS can both cost and rate the shipment file.
The rating interface can be accomplished in a number of ways:
· Via third party rating engines ( SMC³ - Southern Motor Carriers, Middlewest Motor Freight Bureau, North American Transportation Council, and/or Freight Carrier's Association of Canada),
· Via interface with the carrier's own mainframe rating program,
· Via the carrier's PC diskrater files,
· Via a custom module written by TCG,
· or any combination of the above.
A separate rating engine for pallet-basis, instead of weight and class basis, rates is available as well.
Once installed, the user simply supplies ZIP Codes and/or Postal Codes for origin and destination Locations, and opens the Rate Data Window, on the CIS entry screen, for entry of class, discount and other rating information.
Rating with Pricing/CIS is accomplished at the time that one or more shipment files are selected for costing by the CIS user. An on-screen window with an option to rate appears when the costing is initiated. If selected, the system displays a menu of tariff choices and then, when the tariff is selected, rates the freight, prior to activation of the cost program.
The system can also calculate divisions and reduce revenue accordingly for freight specified as interline to/from a connecting carrier.
TCG charges separately for the Pricing/CIS module. Charges, set up alternatives and instructions are provided in TCG's Pricing/CIS Startup Kit, available upon request from TCG.