For Freight Shippers

Know what you should be paying your carriers.

clearate builds a zero-based cost floor for every lane in your portfolio — so you know when you're overpaying, when you're at risk, and exactly where to negotiate.

Launch the Tool See how it works ↓
ZBC
Zero-based cost methodology — built from first principles, not market guesses
RFP
Walk into every carrier negotiation with a defensible cost floor, not a gut feel
$/yr
Identify annual overspend across your entire lane portfolio in minutes
AI
One-click PDF report — cost analysis, negotiation targets, risk flags per lane
The Problem

Shippers negotiate blind.

Carriers know their costs. Shippers don't. That information gap costs shippers millions every year in overpaid rates and missed negotiation leverage.

📋
Annual RFP — no cost floor
You receive carrier bids but have no independent reference for what a lane actually costs to operate. You're negotiating on gut feel, not data.
⚡
Spot market — pure chaos
A planner needs a truck in 30 minutes. A spot quote comes in. There's no way to know if it's fair. You accept it because you have to.
📉
Service drops, costs rise
As you cascade from core carriers to spot, service levels decline — but costs often increase. You're paying more for less, with no visibility into why.
✦
clearate closes the gap
Build a zero-based cost floor for every lane from first principles — driver pay, fuel, equipment, HOS cycles. Know what your carrier actually costs to operate before you negotiate.
How It Works

From lane to negotiation in minutes.

Upload your lanes, set your benchmark, get a PDF-ready cost intelligence report.

01 — INPUT
Upload your lane portfolio
Import a CSV of your lanes — origin, destination, distance, route type. Add your current rates or carrier bids in $/mi, $/load, or $/ton. The model handles the conversion.
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02 — ANALYZE
ZBC engine builds cost floors
For each lane, clearate calculates the true carrier cost floor from first principles — labor, fuel, equipment depreciation, HOS cycles, deadhead, overhead, and margin.
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03 — NEGOTIATE
See where to push, where to protect
Lanes above the ZBC floor are overpay opportunities. Lanes below are service risks. Export a PDF cost intelligence report ready for carrier negotiations and RFP prep.
Built For Your Workflow

Every carrier tier, covered.

Whether you're running an annual RFP, a micro-RFP, or making a spot decision — clearate gives you a cost floor before you commit.

Tier 1
SRG — Core Carriers
Your 4-5 best carrier relationships. Negotiate annual rates with a ZBC floor that carriers can't dispute — it's built on their own industry cost data.
Annual RFP
Tier 2
Approved Carrier List
10-20 vetted carriers for when your SRG can't cover. Import their bids directly into the portfolio — instantly see which are above or below the cost floor.
Micro-RFP
Tier 3
Spot Market
Last resort — highest cost, lowest service guarantee. Get a ZBC floor in 30 seconds before accepting a spot quote. Know if it's fair before you commit.
Daily Decisions

Ready to see your cost floors?

Upload your lanes and run your first portfolio analysis in under 5 minutes. No signup required.

Launch clearate → Contact us