Transport tenders: Define your objectives before getting started

The first step to a successful transport tender: strategic planning and clear objectives

A well-structured transport tender starts with a strong strategic framework and clearly defined objectives.

When properly managed, a tender process enables companies to select the best providers in terms of cost, service quality, and reliability. It also promotes transparency and fairness, ensuring that all proposals are evaluated based on the same set of criteria.

Key challenges in the tender launch phase

• Defining the company’s strategic objectives: Assess pricing position, change providers, expand the network, support international growth, etc.
• Considering current market dynamics: Understanding trends and industry shifts to better position within a competitive market.
  
  

Defining company objectives

1. Financial objectives

Setting clear cost-reduction and ROI goals. This may include targets for lower transport costs, optimized routes, and shipment consolidation.

2. Operational objectives

Defining key performance indicators such as improved delivery times, fewer delays, and enhanced provider reliability. These objectives should be measurable and aligned with the company’s needs.

3. Environmental objectives

Incorporating sustainability goals, such as reducing CO2 emissions and adopting eco-friendly transport solutions.

Freight transport: a constantly evolving market

The evolution of freight transport prices is influenced by multiple factors:

• Supply and demand balance: Transport demand is driven by economic conditions and seasonal trends. Meanwhile, transport capacity fluctuates, directly impacting pricing.
• Costs: Transport providers face rising costs, with fuel and labor expenses being the most significant, along with tolls and maintenance fees.
• Regulations: The transport sector must continually adapt to new regulations, particularly CO2 reduction targets. Sustainability efforts now play a critical role in provider selection. The EU Mobility Package, for example, affects operational costs.
• Technological innovation: The industry is undergoing major transformations, from AI-driven supply chain optimization to new propulsion technologies for trucks and ships. Data-driven solutions improve overall efficiency.

How Upply helps you define your transport objectives

Market insights to understand and anticipate trends

To provide a clear view of transport pricing trends, Upply offers Market Insights—expert reports and white papers that break down key industry challenges, including:

• Economic outlook
• Regulatory changes
• Decarbonization strategies
• Digital transformation in transport

Our key resources for preparing your transport tender

1. European Road Freight Rate Development Benchmark

This quarterly report, created by Upply, Ti Insights, and IRU, is an essential resource for understanding market dynamics in European road freight transport. It provides an analysis of freight rates, economic trends, and key cost factors such as fuel prices, driver shortages, and geopolitical impacts.

2. Monthly freight barometers

In addition to the quarterly report, Upply provides a monthly barometer of the French freight market, offering a detailed analysis of transport price trends and key market drivers.

3. Price indexes to monitor and anticipate cost trends before launching your tender

Upply Freight Index (UFI)
The UFI allows you to track macro trends and transport pricing (including fuel costs) on major corridors over the past 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.

• Based on 750 million price data points from 4,000+ partners and clients (shippers, carriers, and freight forwarders).
• The €/km average price is calculated monthly, with underlying data updated daily.
• Covers both spot and contract markets, with historical data dating back to January 2019.
• The most reliable and representative price index for the French transport market.

With UFI, you can:
✅ Analyze price dispersion on major corridors over the past 24 months
✅ Compare up to 3 corridors simultaneously
✅ View future trend estimates up to 6 weeks ahead to anticipate market volatility
✅ Support your transport procurement strategy with 59 European price indexes and 17 global indexes

Find all the articles from our transport tender special report here:

2- Transport Tenders : Audit your current carriers' prices and identify potential new providers

3- Transport Tender: analyze and evaluate received offers

4- After the tender process: track your transport activities over time