ebb Logistics
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Modal optimization and mode shift analysis

ebb Logic™ prices every order in the mode it shipped and in the alternatives available, using your own contracted rates. That comparison is what the routing rules are built from, so each change rests on what the shipment would actually have cost.

Free contract reviewTalk it through first
0 lbWhere the parcel limit ends and freight rates begin
0 directionsParcel to freight, freight to parcel, service level down
Your ratesAlternatives priced from your own agreements, never a rate card
$0To find out whether there is room
In shortA brief explanation of the service and what it covers.

What is modal optimization?

The short answer

Modal optimization prices each shipment in the mode it used and in the alternatives available, using your own carrier agreements. It finds where parcel, LTL, a regional carrier or a different service level would cost less and still arrive on time. The result is a set of routing rules by weight, size, zone and service that your shipping system can apply automatically.

Modal optimization compares parcel with LTL, express with ground, and national with regional carriers. ebb Logic™ prices each option from your own rates and shipment history, and our team turns the result into routing rules your shipping system can apply.

The problemThe terms and billing details we review before estimating savings.

Check whether your routing rules still fit your shipments.

Routing rules may have been set for older products, rates or carrier agreements. As those change, your shipping system can keep selecting a service that is no longer the best fit.

For example, a light pallet may cost less as parcel, an oversized parcel may be better suited to LTL, or ground may meet the same delivery deadline as express. The answer depends on the shipment, lane and contracted rates.

We compare the alternatives and recommend routing thresholds that account for cost and delivery requirements.

The leversWe review the specific terms that affect what you pay.

The mode decisions we price.

We compare these options using your shipments, contracted rates and delivery requirements. Recommendations include practical routing thresholds.

Packages past the parcel limits
We identify shipments exceeding parcel weight or size limits and compare suitable freight options, including the effect of over-maximum charges.
Light pallets that belong in parcel
We compare light pallet shipments with parcel and hundredweight options where the goods can be shipped that way.
Express where your own ground arrives in time
We use delivery history to identify routes where ground has met the deadline for an overnight or two-day shipment.
Ground against deferred and economy services
We compare ground with economy and deferred services where the customer's delivery requirement allows a slower option.
Hundredweight and multi-package programs
We compare individual parcel charges with combined pricing for eligible packages going to the same address on the same day.
Regional carriers inside their footprint
We compare regional and national carriers on relevant lanes and check the effect on existing volume commitments.
Zone skipping and injection
We evaluate bulk transport to a destination region followed by local delivery, including linehaul, handling, volume and transit requirements.
Consolidation of same-day, same-address shipments
We estimate whether combining same-day orders to one address could reduce per-package fees and total shipping cost.
Special rate programs and published alternatives
We compare economy, postal-injection and other carrier programs with your current rates before requesting access or new terms.
Residential against commercial networks
We compare networks for residential deliveries and check whether commercial addresses are incorrectly billed as residential.
Why usWe work for shippers and receive no compensation from carriers.

What makes this different.

01

Options compared at your rates

ebb Logic™ calculates the alternative cost of every shipment from your existing agreements, not a published rate card. That shows whether a change would save money at the rates you actually pay.

02

Delivery requirements included

We use your delivery history to check whether a lower-cost service can meet your delivery promise. Express-to-ground recommendations are limited to routes where ground has met the required timing.

03

Rules your team can use

Recommendations specify the weights, dimensions, lanes and destinations where a service or carrier change makes sense. Your team can use these thresholds in the shipping system.

Why this orderWe review your agreement and shipment data before recommending changes.

How this actually runs.

  1. Build the shipment profile

    ebb Logic™ combines twelve months of parcel and freight data, including weights, dimensions, zones, services, accessorials, destination types and costs.

    Week 1

  2. Price every shipment in the alternative

    ebb Logic™ calculates the alternative cost for each shipment using your agreements. Shipments without enough comparable data are identified and left unpriced rather than guessed at.

    Week 2

  3. Check delivery requirements

    We use delivery history by lane and service to check whether the alternative can meet the required timing.

    Week 2

  4. Set the thresholds

    We define routing rules by weight, dimensions, lane, zone and service. Each recommendation includes affected volume and estimated savings.

    Week 3

  5. Implement and verify

    We help apply the rules in your shipping system or TMS. ebb Logic™ then checks the invoices that follow, to confirm the routing changed and the savings appeared.

    Week 4
Common questionsContact us if your question is not listed. We can help you assess whether the service fits your needs.

Questions shippers ask first.

What is modal optimization?
Modal optimization compares the available shipping methods for each shipment using your rates and delivery requirements. The result is a set of routing rules by weight, dimensions, zone and service that your shipping system can apply.
When should a shipment move from parcel to LTL?
Usually the moment it passes the carrier’s parcel limits, roughly 150 pounds or 165 inches of length plus girth. Above those the carrier still delivers it but adds a flat over-maximum charge that dwarfs a normal surcharge, and it frequently arrives as a billing correction weeks later, so nobody connects it to the packing decision. A pallet shipment on the same lane usually costs a fraction of the fee.
When is LTL freight cheaper as parcel?
Most often on single pallets under about 150 pounds, where the LTL minimum charge becomes the entire bill and a parcel or hundredweight program prices the same freight lower. Whether it holds for you depends on your parcel agreement and on whether the freight can leave the pallet, which is a packaging question rather than a rating one.
How do I know if we are overusing express?
Compare actual ground delivery times on each route with the delivery requirement for your express shipments. We use delivery records to identify routes where ground has consistently met that requirement and estimate the savings.
What is zone skipping and is it worth it?
Zone skipping moves shipments in bulk to a destination region before handing them to a local delivery network. It can reduce parcel zone charges when the volume supports the added linehaul and handling costs. We assess volume and transit requirements before recommending it.
Can we use regional carriers without leaving our national carrier?
Often, yes. We compare the volume within a regional carrier's coverage with the effect of moving it away from your national carrier, including any change to discount tiers or volume commitments.
What is hundredweight or multiweight pricing?
A hundredweight program rates eligible packages going to one address on the same day as a combined shipment. We compare its cost with individual parcel charges and LTL where applicable.
Does changing modes hurt delivery times?
It can, so delivery timing is part of the analysis. We recommend an alternative only where the available shipment history supports the delivery requirement.
What data do you need to run a modal analysis?
Shipment-level detail for twelve months across the modes you use: weight, dimensions, zone or destination ZIP, service, accessorials, delivery date where you have it, and what was paid. Carrier invoice files and a TMS export together usually cover it, and your current agreements let us price the alternatives on your rates rather than on published ones.
How do we enforce the rule once we know it?
Routing rules can be applied in your shipping system, TMS or rate-shopping software. We then review invoices to confirm that shipments followed the rules and produced the expected savings.
How much can modal optimization save?
Savings depend on how many shipments have a lower-cost option that still meets delivery requirements. We review heavy parcels, light pallets and express shipments using your data before estimating the opportunity.
Do we have to change carriers?
No. Many changes use your existing carrier agreements differently. An additional carrier may help on selected routes without replacing your current carriers.
Next doorThese related services may also be useful for your business.

Related work.

01

Shipping analytics

ebb Logic™ brings UPS, FedEx, DHL and LTL data into one shipping analytics portal. Track spend, surcharges, cost per package, dimensional weight, freight class and transit. We use that data to recommend changes and notify your team when costs or performance need attention.

For teams making network, packaging or carrier decisions02

LTL contract negotiation

We negotiate LTL base rates, lane and class discounts, minimum charges, freight-all-kinds (FAK) provisions, fuel and accessorials. We use your shipment history to compare terms, then check invoices after the new agreement takes effect.

For shippers moving pallets on one or more LTL carriers03

Contract negotiation

We review twelve months of your shipping invoices and compare your contract terms with those available to similar shippers. This parcel rate benchmarking helps us identify changes worth requesting. We then negotiate directly with your carrier.

For shippers reviewing or renewing carrier agreements

Request a free contract review.

Send your agreement for a written review of potential savings and recommended next steps.

Get a free contract evaluationSee a sample audit firstEmail info@ebblogic.com

Or call 888-356-4421

Free, and no obligation. A written evaluation back inside 48 hours. No fee unless we find documented savings. How we handle your documents

  • Your current agreement, any carrier
  • One recent invoice, if you have one
  • A written evaluation back inside 48 hours