Logistics technology startup Transfix has introduced online load booking and rate-negotiation capabilities for carriers into its suite of digital logistics services for the truckload freight sector.

The new features allow truckers and carriers to rapidly find desirable loads and either book them instantly or negotiate a better rate, the company said Tuesday.

As a result, carriers or their dispatchers can now accept and book a load, or counter-offer to negotiate a higher rate, all from their mobile phone, tablet, or laptop through the Transfix website. The new booking system enables carriers to reduce deadhead miles, wait times, and time spent searching and negotiating for a load, Transfix said.

New York City-based Transfix is a digital on-demand freight marketplace that provides mobile technologies and location-based job offers for independent, over-the-road truck drivers, as well as cloud-based management platforms for small carriers and shippers.

Transfix uses data and technology to match carriers to loads based on factors such as frequently driven routes, equipment type, or the carrier's current or headquarters position, enabling them to reduce business inefficiencies. Carriers that work with Transfix receive daily email notifications on available loads that match their profile, the company says. And dispatchers and booking representatives who use Transfix can streamline workflows by booking loads that are relevant for drivers, negotiating loads in a few steps, and working in advance in order to optimize time and revenue.

"The traditional process of finding, negotiating, and booking loads is extremely time-consuming and frustrating for carriers, and there's little transparency built into the process," Transfix CEO and co-founder Drew McElroy said in a release. "Since trucking is part of our team's identity, we're able to provide the answers to the questions we know all carriers ask up front, simplifying the booking process and helping them to make the load and rate decisions that are best for their business."