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labs@atheron:~/industries/logistics$ dispatch --loads --drivers --pod

Freight software

Loads that move with the paperwork already done.

Your loads live in phone calls, on a whiteboard and in scanned bills of lading, so they are hard to find when a customer asks where theirs is. We build a board for dispatch, an app for the cab and agents for the inbox, so loads, drivers and paperwork stay in one place.

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

01

Dispatch on a whiteboard

Loads are assigned by phone and text, the board is the only picture of the day, and when a dispatcher is off sick nobody knows who is carrying what.

02

Where is my load?

Customers call for status because they cannot see it, and the answer means calling a driver who is on the highway.

03

Paperwork behind the truck

Proof of delivery is a photo in a driver's camera roll or a crumpled bill of lading in the cab, so invoicing waits until it turns up.

04

An inbox full of tenders

Load tenders and rate requests arrive as emails and PDFs in every layout, and someone retypes each one into the TMS.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Dispatch board and driver app

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A regional carrier dispatches by phone and a shared spreadsheet, so customers call for status and proof of delivery reaches billing long after the drop.

// What we would build

A web dispatch board that plans and assigns loads, with an iOS and Android driver app for stops, status updates, signatures and photos, and a tracking link the customer opens instead of calling.

// What is in it

  • Load board with drag-to-assign, by driver, truck and trailer
  • Driver app with stops, navigation hand-off and offline status updates
  • Proof of delivery captured as a signature and photos at the dock
  • Customer tracking link with live position and estimated arrival
  • Position and hours of service read from your ELD and telematics provider
  • Billing notified the moment proof of delivery lands

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • React Native
  • PostgreSQL with PostGIS
  • ELD and telematics APIs
  • AWS

// estimate

Build
≈ US$143,000 to US$219,000, delivered within 30 weeksCAD 203,900 to 311,800
Hosting
≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
6.9 to 11.9 weeks
Core features
1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Full build
1.4 to 2.4 weeks
First build on devices
3.9 to 6.9 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Store submission
0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review
1 week
API access from your telematics provider
1 to 4 weeks
Partner EDI testing and certification
2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 40,780 to 62,360
Discovery 9.2%
CAD 18,758.80 to 28,685.60
Design approved 9.2%
CAD 18,758.80 to 28,685.60
Core features 7.6%
CAD 15,496.40 to 23,696.80
Full build 5%
CAD 10,195 to 15,590
First build on devices 20.1%
CAD 40,983.90 to 62,671.80
Testing and fixes 2.5%
CAD 5,097.50 to 7,795.00
Store submission 6.7%
CAD 13,661.30 to 20,890.60
Launch 9.7%
CAD 19,778.30 to 30,244.60
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 20,390 to 31,180
Example projectWeb appAIFrontier model

Shipper inbox booking agent

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Load tenders and rate requests arrive as emails, spreadsheets and PDFs in every layout, and a coordinator retypes each one into the TMS before anyone can quote.

// What we would build

An agent that reads each tender, pulls out origin, destination, dates, weights and references, checks them against the customer's lanes and prepares the load in the TMS for a coordinator to approve. It runs on a frontier model through its API, the fastest way to start, because tenders are routine commercial data the provider handles under its business terms.

// What is in it

  • Inbox watched for tenders, rate requests and changes to existing loads
  • Fields read from emails, PDFs and spreadsheets, with the source line shown
  • Checks against customer lanes, accessorials and the rate sheet
  • Load created in the TMS only after a coordinator approves it
  • Evaluation set of past tenders, run before every prompt or model change

// Stack

  • Frontier model API
  • Python
  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • TMS API
  • DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build
≈ US$113,000 to US$173,000, delivered within 21 weeksCAD 160,800 to 245,800
Hosting
≈ US$558 a monthCAD 795 a month
Support
≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route
Frontier model
Model running cost
≈ US$383 a monthCAD 545 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan
0.4 weeks
Design approved
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot
3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Partner EDI testing and certification
2 to 6 weeks
Test access to your TMS or WMS
1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 32,160 to 49,160
Discovery 2%
CAD 3,216 to 4,916
Specification and evaluation plan 10.2%
CAD 16,401.60 to 25,071.60
Design approved 2%
CAD 3,216 to 4,916
Core features 6.2%
CAD 9,969.60 to 15,239.60
Full build 4.1%
CAD 6,592.80 to 10,077.80
Working pilot 30.7%
CAD 49,365.60 to 75,460.60
Testing and fixes 2%
CAD 3,216 to 4,916
Launch 2%
CAD 3,216 to 4,916
Production 10.8%
CAD 17,366.40 to 26,546.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 16,080 to 24,580
Example projectWeb appBlockchain

Private-ledger bills of lading

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Shipper, carrier and consignee each keep their own copy of the bill of lading and the delivery record, so a claim for a short or damaged load becomes an argument over whose copy is right.

// What we would build

An electronic bill of lading recorded on a private permissioned ledger where the shipper, the carrier and the consignee each run a node, so pickup, hand-offs and the signed delivery are one record none of them can change alone. If one company already runs the system and everyone trusts it, a shared database does the same job for less, and we will say so.

// What is in it

  • Electronic bill of lading created by the shipper and signed at pickup
  • Each hand-off and exception recorded with time, place and photos
  • Delivery signed by the consignee on the driver's phone
  • A node per company, so no single party holds the only copy
  • Claims export with the full record for the insurer

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • Hyperledger Fabric (private, permissioned)
  • PostgreSQL
  • S3-compatible storage
  • AWS

// estimate

Build
≈ US$136,000 to US$208,000, delivered within 29 weeksCAD 193,400 to 295,800
Hosting
≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Architecture
0.4 weeks
Design approved
2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Core features
1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Devnet
3.4 to 5.9 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.4 weeks
Testnet
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Partner EDI certified
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Partner EDI testing and certification
2 to 6 weeks
Test access to your TMS or WMS
1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 38,680 to 59,160
Discovery 2.2%
CAD 4,254.80 to 6,507.60
Architecture 5.9%
CAD 11,410.60 to 17,452.20
Design approved 2.2%
CAD 4,254.80 to 6,507.60
Core features 6.6%
CAD 12,764.40 to 19,522.80
Full build 4.4%
CAD 8,509.60 to 13,015.20
Devnet 17.7%
CAD 34,231.80 to 52,356.60
Testing and fixes 2.2%
CAD 4,254.80 to 6,507.60
Testnet 11.8%
CAD 22,821.20 to 34,904.40
Partner EDI certified 8.7%
CAD 16,825.80 to 25,734.60
Launch 2.2%
CAD 4,254.80 to 6,507.60
Mainnet 6.1%
CAD 11,797.40 to 18,043.80
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 19,340 to 29,580
Example projectBot with a web dashboard

Owner-operator Telegram load bot

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A broker offers loads to owner-operators by text message, the first reply wins, and nobody can see later who was offered which load and when.

// What we would build

A Telegram bot that posts loads to approved owner-operators, takes the first confirmed acceptance, sends the rate confirmation and asks for delivery photos at the drop, with a small admin screen for the broker.

// What is in it

  • Loads posted to approved carriers by lane and equipment type
  • Accept with one tap, with a record of who was offered what and when
  • Rate confirmation sent and acknowledged in the chat
  • Pickup and delivery photos collected in the chat and filed against the load
  • Messages in English and French

// Stack

  • Telegram Bot API
  • Node.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build
≈ US$27,700 to US$42,300, delivered within 9 weeksCAD 39,400 to 60,200
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Commands agreed
1.9 to 2.4 weeks
Working in a test server
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Hardening and testing
0.5 to 1 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%
CAD 11,820 to 18,060
Commands agreed 15%
CAD 5,910 to 9,030
Working in a test server 30%
CAD 11,820 to 18,060
Launch 15%
CAD 5,910 to 9,030
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 3,940 to 6,020
Example projectAPI

Shipment tracking API

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Shippers and marketplaces ask for status by email and phone, and each large customer wants a feed in its own format.

// What we would build

A partner API that gives each shipper keys, a sandbox and the same shipment, status and proof-of-delivery data your team sees, with webhooks when a load moves. A developer portal and two SDKs let a shipper's developers connect without a call.

// What is in it

  • Shipments, stops, status, documents and invoices as REST resources
  • API keys for partners, and OAuth 2.0 for apps acting for a shipper
  • Webhooks on pickup, delay and delivery, signed and retried
  • Rate limits for each shipper, so one busy feed never slows the rest
  • Developer portal with keys, guides and a status page
  • SDKs for TypeScript and Python, fed from your TMS and ELD data

// Stack

  • OpenAPI 3.1
  • TypeScript on Node.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Redis
  • TMS and ELD APIs
  • DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build
≈ US$78,700 to US$120,000, delivered within 16 weeksCAD 112,100 to 171,400
Hosting
≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

API contract agreed
2.9 to 3.9 weeks
Core resources built
3.4 to 5.4 weeks
Security, gateway and connections
1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Docs, SDKs and load tests
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Launch and first callers
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

API access from your telematics provider
1 to 4 weeks
Partner EDI testing and certification
2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 22,420 to 34,280
API contract agreed 8.7%
CAD 9,752.70 to 14,911.80
Core resources built 26.2%
CAD 29,370.20 to 44,906.80
Security, gateway and connections 17.5%
CAD 19,617.50 to 29,995.00
Docs, SDKs and load tests 8.7%
CAD 9,752.70 to 14,911.80
Launch and first callers 8.9%
CAD 9,976.90 to 15,254.60
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 11,210 to 17,140
Example projectWeb app

Lane cost and service analytics

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A carrier quotes lanes from memory and a few spreadsheets, without knowing which lanes and customers actually cover their costs once empty miles, fuel and wait time are counted.

// What we would build

An analytics store that joins loads, fuel, driver pay and telematics every night, showing cost per mile by lane and customer including empty miles and detention, on-time delivery by shipper, and the lanes that consistently run thin.

// What is in it

  • Loads, fuel, pay and telematics joined every night
  • Cost per mile by lane and customer, empty miles included
  • Detention and on-time delivery by shipper
  • Lanes that consistently run thin, listed

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • dbt
  • Metabase
  • DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build
≈ US$63,300 to US$96,800, delivered within 15 weeksCAD 90,100 to 137,800
Hosting
≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support
≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Full build
1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

API access from your telematics provider
1 to 4 weeks
Partner EDI testing and certification
2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 18,020 to 27,560
Discovery 7.7%
CAD 6,937.70 to 10,610.60
Design approved 7.7%
CAD 6,937.70 to 10,610.60
Core features 23.3%
CAD 20,993.30 to 32,107.40
Full build 15.5%
CAD 13,965.50 to 21,359.00
Testing and fixes 7.7%
CAD 6,937.70 to 10,610.60
Launch 8.1%
CAD 7,298.10 to 11,161.80
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 9,010 to 13,780

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you build for cross-border freight?

Yes. We are in British Columbia and work with carriers, brokers and 3PLs anywhere; prices are in Canadian dollars, and the apps can run in English and French.

Can you connect to our TMS?

Usually. Most TMS products have an API or scheduled exports. We look at yours before quoting and say plainly if a connection would be fragile.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the code?

You do, once the work is paid for, including the apps, the bots and any models or prompts built for you.

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Software for logistics: dispatch, driver apps and freight tools | Atheron Network Labs