Create a Multi-Lane Customer Quote

Before You Use This Article

• Access needed: Load Manager login and permission to use this screen, report, setting, or workflow.
• Use this article when: you are working with billing, customer records, accounting, settlements, reports, or dashboard results inside the Load Manager account your company already uses.
• Use a different article when: you need document or dispatch direction for a specific company type; brokers should use Rate Confirmation Layout and Features, dispatch services should use Dispatch Report Overview for Dispatch Services, and trucking companies should use Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies. For full setup order, start with Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services.

Use this workflow when you need one customer quote to show several lane options or several quoted lane charges on the same PDF. In Load Manager, each quoted lane is entered as a separate row in the Commodities and Accessorials table, and the customer quote pulls those rows into the quote totals.

This workflow is best for quoting multiple lanes before the customer chooses or approves the work. After the customer accepts a lane, create or update the actual load record your team will dispatch and bill.

How This Workflow Works

The customer quote calculates from the saved load amounts. For a multi-lane quote, you usually leave the main load flat rate and miles charge at 0.00, then enter each lane as its own customer-facing commodity or accessorial row.

Each lane row can show a description, quantity, rate, and calculated amount. This lets the quote PDF show several lane lines while still producing one customer-facing quote total.

Before You Start

Create a reusable Commodity or Accessorial Type for the lane rows if your company does not already have one.

1. Go to All Loads >> Commodity Type.
2. Click Add New.
3. Enter a short code such as LANE.
4. Use a clear description, such as Quoted lane or Lane option.
5. Set the type to Commodity or the customer-facing type your company uses for quote lines.
6. Make sure the type is Active.
7. Do not select Hide on Customer Invoice if the lane line should print on the quote.
8. Save the type.

For more detail on setting up commodity and accessorial types, see All Loads >> Commodity Type Overview.

Create the Quote Load

1. Create a new load.
2. Select the customer or payer for the quote.
3. Set the load status to Quote.
4. Enter the pickup and delivery information needed for the quote header. If the quote covers several lane options, use the first pickup and final delivery or another representative lane your team recognizes.
5. Enter 0.00 for the main customer flat rate and customer miles charge when all lane pricing will be entered in the Commodities and Accessorials table.
6. Save the load.

Enter Each Lane on the Load

1. Open the saved quote load.
2. Scroll to the Commodities and Accessorials table.
3. Add one row for each lane you want to show on the quote.
4. In Qty, enter the number of miles or enter 1 if you want to quote the lane as a single flat amount.
5. In Type, select the lane type you created, such as LANE.
6. In Description, enter the lane details the customer should see, such as origin, destination, mileage, equipment, or any lane-specific note.
7. In Customer Rate, enter the rate for the row.
8. Review the calculated Customer Charges.
9. Save the load.

Choose Mileage Rate or Flat Lane Amount

You can price each lane in either of these common ways:

• Mileage rate: Enter the lane miles in Qty and the rate per mile in Customer Rate. Load Manager calculates the customer charge for the row.
• Flat lane amount: Enter 1 in Qty and enter the total lane amount in Customer Rate.

Use the method that makes the quote easiest for the customer to read. The important part is that the calculated Customer Charges for each row match the amount you want on the quote.

Open or Email the Customer Quote

1. After the load is saved, click the customer Quote button on the load.
2. Review the PDF before sending it to the customer.
3. Confirm each lane appears with the correct description and amount.
4. Confirm the total is correct.
5. Use the email option beside the quote button if you want to send the quote directly from Load Manager.

Tips

• Use clear lane descriptions so the customer can tell each quoted lane apart without calling your office for clarification.
• Keep the main customer flat rate at 0.00 when the lane rows already contain the quoted amounts.
• Do not hide the lane type from the customer invoice or quote if the lane rows should print.
• If the quote includes a deposit or partial payment, enter that separately as a Payment Advance row so the quote can show the remaining balance due.
• After the customer accepts the quote, make sure the final booked load matches the lane, pricing, customer, carrier or driver, and dispatch details your team will use operationally.

Troubleshooting

• A lane does not appear on the quote: Check that the row has a customer amount or weight and that the selected type is not hidden from the customer invoice.
• The quote total is too high: Check whether the main customer flat rate or miles charge was left in place while the same amounts were also entered as lane rows.
• The row amount is wrong: Review the Qty, Customer Rate, and calculated Customer Charges.
• The quote email wording is wrong: Review the default customer quote email subject and body in Settings >> Configuration Options.

Related Articles

• Customer Invoice and Quote Layout
• All Loads >> Commodity Type Overview
• Show a Partial Customer Payment on an Invoice or Quote
• Load Screen Overview