When the processLoadCompositionUpdate API is not viable for replacing forecast shipments on a load with firm shipments, the pre-booked capacity workflow provides an alternative. At a rudimentary level, the Pre-booked Capacity workflow involves the following steps. Actual steps may occur simultaneously or in different order.
Note: Using this workflow requires pre-configuration.
Shipments generated from a forecast system are input to TM. These shipments may or may not use a shipment type having the Planning option enabled to prevent them from advancing to confirmation and payment workflows. Regardless, the shipper knows how to identify these shipments as forecast.
Loads are built from available shipments (both forecast and firm), and reviewed by operational planners. Dock commitments may be set against stops at this stage.
The planners advance satisfactory loads to the Tendered operational status. Assigned carriers accept or reject loads based on available capacity.
At a regular interval (perhaps nightly), forecast shipments due for replacement by firm shipments are deleted from TM (for example, through the processShipmentOrderCancel API), and firm shipments (that is, replacements for the forecast) are input. Assuming the system is configured to support pre-booked capacity loads TM preserves the load assignment, load-stops and stop-related information such as dock commitments, memos or reference numbers even if the stop has become empty (that is, has no shipments attached) for loads in the tender workflow. For loads not in the tender workflow, stops are removed when all shipment legs for a stop are removed.
Pre-booked capacity loads are input to optimization requests along with available shipments. Available shipments may include newly input firm shipments or more forecast shipments. Shipments that sufficiently match preserved empty or partly filled stops, or where the applicable carrier tariff service is configured to permit the addition of stops, may be added to refill or extend a pre-booked capacity load.
Pre-booked capacity loads are again reviewed by planners and may be manipulated much like any load in these operational statuses. Manipulation includes an operation to remove empty stops that are no longer expected to be filled as the required dispatch date nears. After all empty stops for a load are filled or removed, the load is handled same as any other load in the same operational status, including the ability to confirm, dispatch and advance to financial workflows.