MVMNT

In the freight brokerage industry, agility is critical. Markets shift. Rates fluctuate. Customers move on. The brokers who win are not always the biggest - they are the ones who use data more effectively and make better decisions, faster.

If you are not yet using a TMS with advanced analytics, or you are relying on basic tools without built-in intelligence, you can still become more data-driven using practical, tech-agnostic methods.

Drawing on insights from leading logistics sources including DAT Freight & Analytics, Denim, Intellspot, FreightPlus, and others, this article outlines five actionable ways brokers can apply data principles without needing to purchase specialized software.

1. Track and Benchmark Buy/Sell Rate Trends Manually

What to do: Use public load boards such as DAT or Truckstop, along with internal rate history and email records, to log your buy (carrier) and sell (customer) rates for key lanes. Record them consistently using a spreadsheet or shared document.

Why it works: Understanding historical lane performance helps anticipate market shifts and protect your margins. DAT frequently stresses the power of manual benchmarking to inform rate decisions and improve negotiation outcomes.

Pro tip: Include a column to log the reason for any rate anomalies. Whether it was a weather disruption, seasonal volume, or tight capacity. This context is invaluable for trend analysis

2. Analyze Carrier Performance Using Simple Forms

What to do: Create a basic Google Form or use a shared document to capture post-load carrier reviews. Include ratings for communication, timeliness, equipment quality, and issue resolution. Store responses in a Google Sheet and review them monthly.

Why it works: Carrier evaluations often go untracked. Over time, even a basic scoring system helps identify your top-tier providers and spot recurring issues.

Pro tip: Group carriers into performance tiers and route loads accordingly. Use this list when assigning freight during tight capacity weeks.

3. Monitor Customer Profitability by Account

What to do: Export customer billing data and shipment records into a spreadsheet. Calculate margin per load, and track touches per shipment, exceptions, and claims. Roll this up by customer to determine account-level profitability.

Why it works: Not all revenue is equal. Understanding the true cost to serve each account is essential for effective account management. This helps you prioritize your time and pricing strategies.

Pro tip: Highlight low-margin, high-maintenance accounts. Consider whether those clients need to be repriced, restructured, or retired.

4. Forecast Demand with Historical Volume Data

What to do: Organize shipment volume data by customer, mode, and lane. Track it weekly or monthly for at least the past six months. Look for consistent volume spikes, quarter-end surges, or holiday trends.

Why it works: Forecasting does not require AI. Just plotting historical data can help you plan coverage and pricing in advance. Intellspot and other analysts suggest that even basic trend recognition allows smaller brokers to make proactive decisions.

Pro tip: Build simple forecasts for your top three customers and schedule capacity planning reviews around their high-volume periods.

5. Conduct Root Cause Analysis on Late Deliveries

What to do: Log each service failure in a shared document or spreadsheet. Include fields for the issue type, lane, equipment, carrier, and customer. Categorize issues to identify recurring problems.

Why it works: Anecdotal knowledge is not reliable. Root cause tracking reveals patterns in service failures. Coreteka and other freight technology experts point out that this simple discipline enables long-term process improvements.

Pro tip: If late deliveries are often tied to one shipper facility or lane, bring that data into your next customer review to advocate for changes.

The MVMNT Advantage: From Manual Inputs to Real-Time Intelligence

Every tactic listed above can be executed with free tools and internal discipline. But each comes with a cost—time, consistency, and manual effort.

This is where MVMNT changes the game.

MVMNT is built for freight brokers who want all the benefits of data-driven decision-making, but without the operational burden. MVMNT automatically tracks buy and sell rates, evaluates carrier performance, and calculates customer profitability. It integrates seamlessly with load boards and EDI systems to provide real-time tracking and predictive insights.

Instead of managing disconnected spreadsheets and static reports, you gain a centralized platform that delivers the data you need when you need it.

Conclusion:
Data-driven decision-making is within reach for any broker, regardless of software stack or budget. With consistent effort and the right framework, brokers can reduce waste, improve service, and boost profitability. And when the time is right to scale those processes with purpose-built technology, MVMNT is here to deliver efficiency without complexity.