If you run a fleet or an asset-based brokerage, you’ve probably felt the friction of outdated processes—missed tenders, manual re-entry, delays, and rising costs. Whether you’re managing 25 trucks or 250, time and accuracy matter. That’s where smarter EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) comes in.
During our recent live webinar, we teamed up with bitfreighter and Berry Global to talk about how EDI, when paired with the right TMS, isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a competitive edge.
Here’s a recap of the highlights, including a crash course in EDI 101 and the value it’s delivering for real-world operations.
EDI 101: What It Is and Why It Matters
Think of EDI as a digital handshake between your TMS and your customers’ systems. It allows your systems to automatically talk to each other without the back-and-forth emails, spreadsheets, or manual entry. When done right, EDI takes the busy work off your team’s plate and gives your operation room to grow.
Here are the five most common EDI transaction types you’ll find in domestic freight:
- 204 – Load Tender: Shippers send loads to you directly into your TMS.
- 990 – Load Acceptance or Rejection: Accept or decline without jumping into a second system.
- 214 – Load Status Updates: Keep your customers informed without manual follow-up.
- 210 – Invoice: Electronic invoices sent automatically to your shipper’s system.
- 997 – Acknowledgment: Confirms messages were received and processed.
These transactions, when automated, eliminate human error and help your team focus on higher-value work like dispatching and managing exceptions.
The Real-World Impact: From Busy Work to Strategic Growth
Ken Lilly, Director of Transportation at Berry Global, summed it up perfectly:
“This allows the team to refocus their work on the items that generate revenue—not the busy work behind the scenes.”
When Berry implemented PCS TMS and Bitfreighter together, they didn’t just streamline their operations—they slashed their EDI costs by 80%. The onboarding was simple, the support was proactive, and the entire transition was seamless.
For fleets like Berry’s, which manages over 250 commercial vehicles and $250M in annual freight, that kind of efficiency isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Why Seamless Integration Should Be the Standard—Not the Exception
Let’s be real—EDI integrations have a reputation for being painful. Long timelines. Confusing tech jargon. Too many cooks in the kitchen. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The combination of PCS and Bitfreighter is changing the game with a smarter, faster, and more reliable approach to integration—one that puts you in the driver’s seat without overwhelming your team.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Pre-Built Shipper Connections: Bitfreighter has already mapped thousands of shipper integrations. Chances are, your partners are already on their network—making setup faster and smoother.
- Real-Time Visibility: From day one, you can track progress, spot issues, and see what’s working. No guesswork, no surprises.
- Hands-Off, High-Touch Support: Bitfreighter and PCS work together behind the scenes to solve issues—often before you even know there’s a problem.
- No Disruption to Your Workflow: Your drivers, dispatchers, and back office won’t feel the switch. But they will notice things running faster, smoother, and with fewer headaches.
As Ken Lilly of Berry Global put it,
“It was an 80% reduction month over month of what I was currently paying— As a businessperson, it’s hard to step away from these potential savings.”
When the integration process is handled by experts who know freight, the results speak for themselves: streamlined operations, stronger partnerships, and more time to focus on growing your business—not untangling your systems.
Bottom Line
If you’re still rekeying loads, chasing down updates, or paying too much for outdated EDI infrastructure, it’s time to explore alternatives. Technology has changed. Pricing has changed. And most importantly, the level of service and flexibility has changed.
You don’t need to settle for “good enough.” Your fleet deserves tools that work as hard as you do. Brad confirms, “if you don’t have EDI today and you implement it, your people will never let you go back to doing it manually again.”
Want to see how it works?
Check out the full on-demand webinar recording to see a demo in action and hear how Berry Global made the switch.
