Put availability, free time and the return record in one operating conversation
A container move is more than pickup and delivery. Availability changes, appointment constraints, equipment custody and return evidence can all affect the next decision. EXSPEEDITE TMS includes intermodal workflows, Drayage Watch, gate-move TIR records and configured Last Free Day and per-diem rules alongside dispatch, rating and billing.
Evaluate the system with a real terminal scenario and your actual commercial terms. The aim is to see which facts drive the plan, what changes after a corrected event and who owns the exception. A calculated deadline is only as dependable as its source event, rule and calendar.
Stop treating every charge clock as the same clock
Terminal demurrage, container detention, chassis custody and a truck appointment charge can use different agreements and events. Your operating record should preserve those distinctions. A generic elapsed-days field is not enough to explain why a particular charge is proposed or disputed.
Drayage Watch and the configured rules belong in a demonstration that includes source availability, free-time basis, movement, return and relevant document evidence. Review terminal-specific calendar assumptions and changes before relying on a deadline. A corrected source should produce a traceable recalculation, not an unexplained replacement of yesterday's value.
Trace the container from plan to return
- Capture the container, customer order and relevant availability source. Show which observations are confirmed and which need review.
- Apply the approved free-time rule and calendar for the applicable charge type. Retain the selected basis.
- Assign the driver, equipment and planned gate movement. Preserve TIR and custody evidence with the actual move.
- Monitor the operating exception in Drayage Watch. Assign responsibility for missing or revised information.
- Record return evidence and reconcile the event against the applicable charge clock. Keep a disputed return visible.
- Prepare the invoice or dispute-support package with rate, date and document references, then route it for the appropriate authorization.
Build a demurrage review package, not a legal promise
An evidence package can support a dispute by connecting the invoice to the shipment, rule, calendar and events. It does not guarantee waiver, recovery or legal entitlement. Covered maritime billing requirements and their current interpretation should be reviewed for the actual transaction. Do not assume every inland truck charge falls under the same maritime rule.
The best pilot includes a corrected availability event, an unknown calendar, a late return upload and an invoice with incomplete supporting information. Ask the operator to resolve the case using the proposed interface. The system should expose the basis for the answer and the next responsible person.
Make the next container decision easier to explain
Request an intermodal workflow review with Scott Elliott. Bring a redacted invoice, terminal event sequence and free-time agreement. We can build the demonstration around the cost clock your team needs to understand, without assuming a universal daily charge or guaranteed recovery.
Questions from drayage operators
Does Last Free Day automation eliminate rule review?
No. Confirm source availability, effective agreement, calendar and any terminal-specific conditions. The demonstration should show which inputs support the calculation and what happens when they change.
Are demurrage and detention the same charge?
They are related operating concerns but should not be collapsed into one unnamed clock. Identify the charged asset, space or service, the billing party, rule and relevant event interval.
Can TIR and return documents support a dispute?
They can form part of the evidence package. Their relevance depends on the actual charge and facts. Preserve the source document and its relationship to the container and movement rather than implying that a document alone guarantees a waiver.
Is every delay worth $500 per day?
No. Use the actual tariff or agreement, dates, free time and evidence. A universal daily figure would misstate many transactions. The economic model should use buyer-entered values and distinguish exposure from collectible amounts.
Can we include chassis substitutions?
Make substitutions and custody intervals part of the demonstration. Confirm how the configured workflow preserves equipment identity, the change event and any separately applicable charge basis.
What evidence should we prepare?
A redacted container event sequence, availability notice, applicable agreement, calendar, gate/TIR record, return evidence and disputed invoice give the review a practical starting point.