The Private Load Board allows you to create quote requests and receive competitive quotes from your linked carriers. This guide walks you through reviewing, comparing, and managing quotes once they're submitted by carriers.
1. Quote Request List View
After creating quote requests, navigate to your quote request list to monitor their progress. From this view, you can:
- Monitor quote activity: See at a glance how many quotes you've received for each request
- Check request status: Identify whether requests are Active, Completed, Expired, or Cancelled
- Track expiry dates: Ensure you don't miss important deadlines
Status Indicators
- 🔵 Active: Request is live and visible to your linked carriers
- 🟢 Completed: You've accepted a quote and a booking has been created
- 🔴 Expired: Request has passed its expiry date
- ⚪ Cancelled: Request was cancelled before completion
2. Accessing Quote Request Details
Click the eye icon 👀 next to any quote request to view comprehensive details including:
- Route information (pickup and delivery locations)
- Vehicle details and requirements
- Service specifications
- Timeline requirements
- Current request status
3. Quick Navigation to Quotes
At the top of the quote request details page, you'll find a blue information section with direct navigation links. Click "Review it below" or similar link text to jump directly to the quotes section without scrolling.
4. Quote Comparison Table
In the quotes section, you'll see all submitted quotes in a structured comparison table showing:
Key Information at a Glance:
- Carrier Name: Which carrier submitted the quote
- Price per Vehicle: Individual vehicle pricing
- Timeline: Proposed pickup and delivery dates/times
- Total Price: Complete quote value
- Expiry Date: When the quote expires
- Additional Notes: Any special conditions or comments from carriers
5. Quote Actions
For each quote, you have three primary options:
View Details
Click "View Details" to see comprehensive quote information including:
- Detailed service breakdown and pricing
- Specific timeline proposals
- Carrier-specific terms and conditions
- Complete cost analysis
Accept Quote ✅
Important: Accepting a quote will:
- Automatically reject all other quotes for this request
- Create a booking immediately using the selected quote's details
- Transfer all quote specifications (pricing, timeline, service details) to the new booking
- Set the booking status to "Booked" (ready for carrier dispatch)
- Change your quote request status to "Completed"
Decline Quote ❌
- Individual action: Only rejects the selected quote
- Other quotes remain active: Doesn't affect other carrier submissions
- Request stays active: Quote request continues until you accept a quote or it expires
6. Booking Creation
Once you accept a quote:
- Immediate booking creation: The system automatically generates a booking
- Status transition: Quote request moves to "Completed"
- Booking reference: A green success banner appears at the top of the page with a direct link to the new booking
- Ready for dispatch: The booking enters "Booked" status, allowing the carrier to assign drivers immediately
7. What Gets Transferred
The booking inherits specific details from both your quote request and the accepted quote:
From the accepted quote:
- Vehicle details
- Services and pricing structure
- Proposed timeline (collection and delivery dates and times)
From the original quote request:
- Pickup and delivery locations and contacts
- Special instructions and notes
- External reference (same as the quote request reference)
8. Setting Up Quote Notifications
To stay informed about new quotes:
- Navigate to Settings → Notifications
- Enable "Quote Submitted" notifications
- Receive immediate email alerts when carriers submit quotes to your requests
Recommended: Enable notifications to respond quickly to quotes and maintain competitive bidding among your carriers.
Best Practices
Timing Management
- Monitor expiry dates: Both quote requests and individual quotes can expire
- Respond promptly: Quick responses encourage competitive pricing
- Set reasonable deadlines: Allow carriers sufficient time to prepare competitive quotes
Quote Comparison
- Compare total costs: Look beyond per-vehicle pricing to total job cost
- Consider timelines: Evaluate if proposed schedules meet your requirements
- Review carrier notes: Additional services or restrictions may affect value
Decision Making
- Accept quickly: Once you've identified your preferred quote, accept promptly
- Communicate: Use the comments feature if you need clarification before accepting
Troubleshooting
No quotes received?
- Check that your quote request is in "Active" status
- Verify your linked carriers can see the request (correct carrier groups)
- Ensure the expiry date hasn't passed
Can't see quote details?
- Refresh the page - new quotes may need a browser refresh to display
- Check your internet connection
- Contact support if the issue persists
Need to modify a quote request after quotes are submitted?
- Quote editing is restricted once carriers have submitted their first quote
- If you need significant changes that cannot be addressed through the comments section, cancel the current request and use the "Rebook" function to regenerate a new request from the same template
For additional support with quote management or the Private Load Board, use the chat bubble in the bottom corner of your screen to contact the Blink support team.