Intermodal Logistics Software Solution Offered as In House Option to Multimodal Freight Clients

UK – FreightArranger, the group dedicated to optimising multimodal transport for shippers looking to utilise a larger percentage of rail freight has launched a new piece of software designed to assist intermodal logistics operators organise their rail routes more efficiently, and increase income, by selling leftover capacity. The booking system has been designed and produced by the company which developed the UK intermodal brokerage system linking road, water and rail freight to make journeys more financially and environmentally efficient.

Now that same thinking has been packaged and put onto the market for rail and logistic operators to take in-house. The system, which is backed by a triple-linked server system providing 99.99% availability, is claimed to be one of the most accurate and efficient systems available. It is designed to cut response times and maximise train fill while freeing up staff time. FreightArranger Managing Director Nick Radcliffe said:

"FreightArranger software solves the most important profitability problem faced by operators of intermodal train space, the speed of allocating train space between block train and open train customers. This problem is also faced by 3PLs and logistics companies who have purchased train space and are retailing it.

"We speak to rail firms on a regular basis and looked closely at their booking systems whilst we developed our product, and we found that we could improve the focus on sales and customer service. We also included a tracker which the customer can access. The FreightArranger system was developed to improve the attraction of rail freight through better customer service and faster processes."

FreightArranger claims the system is fully safe and secure with all functions firewalled so they can only be accessed by appointed users, and never by outside organisations. FreightArranger software is hosted by Rockshore, one of the founding partners of the company and which also provides infrastructure to Heathrow and many other airports.

Part funded by the Technology Strategy Board through the Informed Logistics programme, FreightArranger is a consortium of Rockshore, TruckTrain Brokerage, John G Russell (Transport) and Coventry University and was designed to integrate with other rail freight services and with road and water freight transport modes, enabling long distance freight to be moved door-to-door by the optimum means from just one booking.