Understanding the bidding process

Understanding the Bidding Process

EZShip's bidding system helps you find the best carrier at the right price for your shipment.

How It Works

1. You post a load with your freight details and target rate
2. Carriers submit bids — You'll receive bids from verified carriers
3. You compare offers — Review each carrier's price, rating, and equipment
4. You accept or negotiate — Accept a bid or send a counter-offer
5. Load is booked — The winning carrier is notified and pickup is scheduled

Reviewing Bids

For each bid, you'll see:

• Bid amount — The carrier's proposed rate
• Carrier rating — Star rating based on past performance
• On-time percentage — Their delivery reliability
• Completed loads — Total shipments completed on EZShip
• Equipment details — Truck and trailer information
• Estimated transit time — How long the delivery will take
• Carrier notes — Any special conditions or notes

Comparing Multiple Bids

Use the Compare feature to view bids side-by-side:

• Sort by price (lowest first)
• Sort by rating (highest first)
• Sort by transit time (fastest first)
• Filter by equipment type

Bid Expiration

• Bids are valid for 24 hours by default
• Carriers can set custom expiration times
• Expired bids are automatically removed

Accepting a Bid

When you accept a bid:

1. The carrier receives an instant notification
2. A shipping contract is generated automatically
3. Both parties receive confirmation emails
4. The load moves from "Active" to "Booked" status
5. Other carriers are notified that the load is no longer available

Best Practices

• Don't always go with the lowest bid — consider carrier ratings and reliability
• Respond to bids quickly — good carriers get booked fast
• Use counter-offers to negotiate rather than rejecting outright
• Build relationships with reliable carriers for future loads