Echo Global Logistics, a transportation and supply chain management company with over 35,000 clients, announced August 14 it had added an automated carrier negotiations feature to its online web portal EchoDrive.

The negotiation tool allows carriers to submit a bid on available shipments and receive real-time notifications letting them know if their bid is denied, accepted, or if a counteroffer has been made on the selected load. Echo Global said this feature will accelerate the bidding process for carriers and streamline companies’ freight booking capabilities.

"Echo continues to pursue innovative transportation technology with our automated carrier negotiation system," said Dave Menzel, president and chief operating officer of Echo. "This new process, combined with our advanced load-matching algorithm, allows carriers to now find available freight and book it in an automated manner within seconds, eliminating inefficiencies associated with the time carriers spend gaining access to freight."