What Is ShipperGuide Instant Rates? 

ShipperGuide Instant Rates is a free freight rate platform. It lets you see instant prices from Loadsmart and your connected brokers and carriers in one place, compare them against a live market benchmark, and book in two clicks. No emails, no phone calls, no waiting.

You bring your existing providers, and ShipperGuide surfaces their rates automatically the moment you enter a lane. Loadsmart is always included as a provider, so you have instant pricing available from the moment you sign up, even before adding your own brokers.

If your team is currently emailing multiple brokers for every load, logging into separate portals, and comparing rates in a spreadsheet, ShipperGuide Instant Rates eliminates all of that.

How to Use

Getting Started:

1. Get your quote at rates.shipperguide.com
2. Verify your email to see all the prices from our partner brokers.
3. Choose your starting path: move freight through Loadsmart directly, or connect your existing providers to get instant quotes from both
4. Add your existing brokers and carriers individually (note: bulk upload is not available in the Instant Rates version)
5. Save your recurring facilities with hours, contacts, and accessorials

Getting a Quote & Booking:

1. Select your freight mode (FTL, LTL/PTL, or Intermodal) and equipment type
2. Enter your pickup date and pickup + delivery addresses (or select a saved facility)
3. Click "Get Quote" - Loadsmart's instant pricing appears immediately; rates from other connected providers also appear
4. From the quote page, you can also invite your existing carriers to bid, or request to add other brokers already connected to the ShipperGuide marketplace (note: enabling additional external brokers requires an internal step and is not automatic. Contact your Account Manager or the support team to request this)
5. Compare prices against the live market benchmark to confirm you're getting a fair rate
6. Click "Book", review the route and carrier details, set a tender deadline, and confirm

Note on booking with Loadsmart: When you book with Loadsmart, you will not immediately see which carrier is moving your freight. Loadsmart's algorithm and freight team manage carrier assignment behind the scenes. Loadsmart guarantees 100% tender acceptance, your shipment will always be covered.

After Booking:

• Monitor all shipments from the Shipment Hub with live status cards (New, Booked, Ongoing, Delivered)
• Share a real-time tracking link with your team or customers, no login required for them
• Access your BOL, Rate Confirmation, Proof of Delivery, and invoices directly from the shipment page
• Chat with your broker directly from the platform via the email-based chat feature — no external email needed for updates or changes

Core Capabilities

Account & Platform Notes

• User limit: Up to 5 users per account on the Instant Rates plan
• Opendock integration: The connection between Opendock and ShipperGuide Instant Rates is not yet active automatically, an Onboarding Specialist can help configure this for your account
• Adding external brokers: Brokers tagged with "instant pricing" in the platform can provide rates automatically once enabled, but enabling them for your account requires an internal team action. If you want a broker that isn't currently on the platform, contact your Account Manager and the team will work to bring them on
• Premium upgrades: Call-to-action prompts for premium ShipperGuide features are visible throughout the platform, clicking them connects you with a sales representative if you're interested in upgrading

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does ShipperGuide Instant Rates replace my current brokers or carriers?

A: No. ShipperGuide Instant Rates works alongside your existing providers. You're not joining a new marketplace or replacing anyone. Loadsmart is always available as a provider from day one, and you can add your own brokers and carriers individually. The platform is designed to surface all your providers' prices in one place, giving you full visibility without changing how your relationships work.

Q2: I requested a broker but I'm not seeing their rates yet. Why?

A: Adding an external broker to your account is not automatic. Even if the broker is already connected to the ShipperGuide marketplace, an internal step is required to enable them for your specific account. If you've requested a broker, the team will follow up to complete the setup. If the broker is not yet partnered with the platform, the team will initiate that process — contact your Account Manager to check the status.

Q3: When I book with Loadsmart, who is the actual carrier moving my freight?

A: When you book with Loadsmart, carrier assignment is managed by Loadsmart's algorithm and freight team behind the scenes. You will not see the assigned carrier immediately after booking. That information becomes available once the booking is confirmed. Loadsmart guarantees 100% tender acceptance, meaning your shipment will always be covered regardless of market conditions.