Understanding tender time-out

Tender time-out is a process where TM monitors the time allotted to a particular carrier for a tender response. The tender time-out time is calculated upon tender, and the response timer begins based on the carrier's hours profile definition and defined tender time-out time. When the time period expires, the carrier loses the opportunity to move the route, resulting in a tender rejection. The carrier is sent a tender cancellation e-mail notification or a notification via EDI that the route is no longer available to move. TM also evaluates the configuration rules to determine if the carrier route should be placed in a status of Tender Rejected or attempt to tender the route sequentially.

The calculated tender time-out time is visible in the Alternate Carrier list. If the carrier is returned as a result of the rating and routing process, the value reflects the tender time-out value defined in the carrier's rate contract. If the carrier is manually selected or assigned, the value reflects the definition in the default tender time-out in the sequential tendering configuration rules.

To take advantage of tender time out functionality, you must set up this information:

• TM configuration rules:
  • Enable Tender Timeout

    Specifying yes activates the tender time-out process. If no is selected, the route stays in Tendered status until the carrier responds or until a user intervenes by canceling the tender.

  • Default Tender Timeout (minutes)

    This value is used if a user manually assigns a carrier to the route by using either the Create Carrier Route or Assign Carrier actions. If either of those actions is taken, there is no ranked carrier list from the rating and routing process and, therefore, no tender time-out value because these values are obtained from the carrier contracts. If left blank, routes created by using Create Carrier Route or Assign Carrier do not time out and remain in Tendered status until a manually assigned carrier rejects the tender or a user intervenes.

• Tender time-out value defined in the carrier contracts

  This value is the length of time a carrier has to review a route tender offer for carrier routes that use the rating and routing process. The value is contract-specific, so a single carrier with multiple rate contracts can have different time-out values defined.

• Carrier hours of operation definition
  The hours profile, exception profile, and time zone defined in the Carrier Configuration option allows TM to base the tender time-out period on the carrier's hours of operation.

  • The hours profile defines a carrier's normal daily operating hours.
  • An exception profile is defined for any dates where the carrier hours of operation deviate from what is defined in the hours profile, such as for holidays and partial work days.
  • Time zone represents the time zone of the user responding to the load tenders so that the correct tender time-out time is calculated.