Every empty mile home is money your operation never gets back. Backhaul Booster inside Cortex AI automatically identifies return load opportunities near your last delivery — then reaches out on your behalf via email or AI voice call. Watch how PCS dispatchers stop chasing freight and start putting more loaded miles on the board.
Transcript
Hello, this is Chase with PCS Software. Thank you for joining us today. In this video, we’re going to be going over some different tools, tips and tricks that can help you run a more effective, more efficient operation. In today’s video, we’re going to be going through Cortex talking about some of our newer tools, in this case Backhaul Booster.
Backhaul Booster: How It Works
The Backhaul Booster inside Cortex AI is designed to simplify and automate the process of finding profitable return loads. Instead of chasing last-minute freight or wasting time on manual searches, the tool helps fleets reduce deadhead miles, keep drivers moving, and focus on higher-value work.
When a dispatcher opens the Backhaul Booster, Cortex automatically identifies loads that still need a return leg. From there, the tool searches within a customizable radius around the last delivery location and displays available backhaul options pulled from the shipper and broker relationships you’ve worked with in the past.
Dispatchers can refine the search by equipment type—such as flatbed or dry van—to ensure they’re only viewing freight that fits their operation. The system then presents a clean list of potential opportunities, including lane details, customer names, historical rates, and load characteristics. This gives teams fast, data-driven insight into which backhaul option makes the most sense.
Once a dispatcher identifies a viable option, Cortex provides two outreach methods:
Automated Email Outreach
A built-in email template populates relevant details—what you hauled previously, historical pricing, and confirmation that you have a driver in the area. This message can be customized and sent instantly for quick, passive outreach.
AI Voice Call Outreach
For more proactive outreach, the call button activates Cora, our AI voice agent. Unlike traditional phone-tree bots, Cora holds natural conversations, shares your historical lane data, asks about available freight, negotiates when needed, and captures all the information from the call. Every conversation is logged and converted into a new opportunity inside PCS TMS for your team to review and act on.
The result is a faster, automated way to keep trucks loaded and eliminate unnecessary deadhead. By taking the repetitive backhaul hunt off the dispatcher’s plate, Cortex allows teams to spend more time on profitable freight and the operational decisions that matter most.
If you’d like a deeper walkthrough or want to see Backhaul Booster in action, our team can provide a full demo.
