The Parcel Rating features in Sterling TMS allow youto plan and execute shipments across all modes including parcel.Sterling TMS can track shipment costs and performance for all transportationmodes in a single location helping you take advantage of cost savingsand operational efficiencies.

To support parcel rating Sterling TMS integrateswith a parcel rating system. You work with your parcel carriers and IBM? to load parcel shippingrates and carriers into the parcel rating system. After the ratesare loaded you configure your parcel shipping environment in SterlingTMS. When Sterling TMS configurationis complete you can enter and plan parcel shipments directly in Execution.

Sterling TMS communicateswith the parcel rating system to retrieve carriers and rates thencalculates the most cost-efficient shipping mode. You can also optimizeand consolidate parcel shipments converting them to other modes togain efficiencies. After parcel shipments are rated you can importthem into your parcel execution system to fully manage carrier communicationand end-to-end shipment logistics.

These Sterling TMS toolshelp you manage parcel shipment rating and consolidation:

• Use Multi-Modal Carrier Selection to choose the most cost-effectivemode and service type for each shipment.
• Submit shipments to the Sterling TMS optimizerfor possible conversion to other more cost-efficient modes such asLTL or multi-stop truckload.
• Add multi-package quantities or hazardous material processingattributes to shipments. The system uses this information to calculateproper rates and select appropriate carriers.

Parcel Rating is not an end-to-end parcel shipping executionsolution. Sterling TMS doesnot support the following features:

• Parcel execution. For example you cannot print package labelsparcel manifests or tracking numbers from Sterling TMS.
• Package tracking. Sterling TMS does not generatetracking numbers because these numbers are created by your parcelexecution solution. As a result Sterling TMS cannot trackpackages.
• Rate audits. Consolidated parcel rate bills are not supported.
• Zone skipping decision making. Because it is not a parcelexecution solution Sterling TMS doesnot support zone skipping.