Ensure compatibility with a tendency checklist (+template)

Price is important, but a tender checklist looks beyond that. A tender checklist is essential for finding the right freight solution. It focuses on soft values, helps align expectations and reveals the strengths and weaknesses of carriers.
André Lundberg

Posted

26. July 2024

 - 

Read in

Table of contents

What is a tender checklist?

A tender checklist is an extension of your tender letter that you send with the tender letter and your shipment statistics.

 

The trend checklist is designed to help compare the softer values across the surveyed carriers.

Focus on the soft values when tendering

. The most important part of your tender process is that you make sure you find and choose the right freight composition for your specific needs.

 

It's therefore all about getting Clarification and alignment of expectations with carriers to get the best collaboration - and one way you can do this is with a tender checklist.

 

Are there areas where your freight suppliers are strong or weak? Are your customers satisfied with the delivery they receive? It's not always the price of transport alone that determines the customer experience of a delivery.

By looking at the soft values with a trend checklist, you can get a better idea of which carriers are taking your logistics to the next level.

What does a tender checklist contain?

A tender checklist can contain everything you want to know about whether the carrier can offer it.

 

We've divided our tendency checklist into four super-categories to ensure that all necessary points are included:

  1. Prices and fees

  2. Deadlines, transit times and departure frequency

  3. Track and Trace and system compatibility

  4. Carbon accounting, CSR policy and CPI prices and fees

Under each category, you select the parameters that are most important to you and your freight setup.

 

We have written down a lot of examples of what these parameters could be in our example. These should, of course, be customised to your needs and what provides the greatest value for you.

 

Download our example tender checklist below.

How do carriers complete the checklist?

You send the checklist with your tender letter and shipment statistics.

 

Here you ask the carriers to also fill out the checklist where they have the option to answer yes/no to the different services.

 

There is also the option for them to write a comment to elaborate on their answer.

 

Why use a trend checklist?

Use the trend checklist to get an overview of the soft values so you can compare carriers on their service and not just their prices.

 

The tender checklist can be crucial in ensuring the best collaboration with your carrier by uncovering the soft values.

We often see a correlation between more expensive freight quotes and better service and shorter transport times.

Price is essential in your shipping agreement, but The right carrier can take your logistics and competitiveness to the next level.

Be the first to know what's happening with your freight costs.

The freight market moves fast — new surcharges, shifting rates and signals you should act on before they hit your budget. Our specialists track freight data from 340+ carriers across 18+ markets and share the insights in our newsletter, so you always know what to do. You'll get:


  • An overview of what's moving the freight market right now — and why
  • Benchmarks: where you stand against the market
  • Concrete recommendations on what to do now