Transportation service matching with arrival estimation adjusted for external factors

A method for determining matches for load or transportation services with transportation service providers and providing estimated arrival times, the method comprising:

• a step of accepting a selection of a transportation service provider for a transportation service request, obtaining confirmation of acceptance by the transportation service provider of the request, and electronically storing data concerning at least one of a driver or a mobile device used by the driver for the transportation service provider in a database of selected transportation service providers;
• a step of storing, on one or more electronic databases, history of at least one of the transportation service provider or the driver related to time factors comprising time in transit;
• a step of communicating a query to the transportation service provider or driver concerning acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt in) by the transportation service provider or driver associated with the bid, obtaining a mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device, and electronically storing the response with the accepted bid;
• a step of, in the case of acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt-in) by the respondent without direct authorization by the transportation service provider or operator, using one or more computing devices to automatically communicate with the obtained mobile telephone number to confirm acceptance of mobile telephone tracking (opt in), and electronically storing an indication of the confirmation in one or more databases along with a confirmation descriptor;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to automatically access a mobile telephone location service to obtain location information based on the mobile telephone number or other identifier of a mobile device for the respondent and prior to pick up, after loading the shipment or upon initiating a transportation service, conditional on the one or more computing devices automatically obtaining consent using at least one consent procedure for implementing location services;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to estimate a time of arrival estimate based on an estimation of a time for performing a delivery of the load or providing the transportation service;
• a step of obtaining at least one external factor expected to affect transit time and adjusting the time of arrival estimate according to the external factor to provide an adjusted time of arrival estimate, said at least one external factor selected from at least one of the group consisting of weather reports and forecasts, and real-time traffic conditions;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to apply the history of the transportation service provider or driver to at least the time in transit, and to automatically adjust the updated estimates of the delivery time of the load in accordance with the history of the transportation service provider or the driver;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to compare said at least one external factor and automatically render an adjustment factor for time in transit;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to automatically adjust the estimate a time in transit and delivery time of the load or completion of the transportation service according to the adjustment factor;
• a step of sing one or more computing devices and location tracking to automatically provide updated information on a location status of the load or transportation service provider;
• and
• a step of using one or more computing devices to automatically update the estimates of the time in transit and delivery time of the load or completion of the transportation service, based on a combination of the location tracking and said at least one external factor by adjusting map routing calculations to render adjusted time of arrival estimates;
• a step of determining a communication preference, for time of arrival estimates, of at least one of the entity requesting the transportation service and a receiver of a shipment as the transportation service or a destination contact;
• a step of communicating, to at least one of the entity requesting the transportation service and the receiver of a shipment, estimates of changes in estimated time of arrival in accordance with said communication preference;
• a step of using one or more computing devices to automatically calculate an anticipated turn-around time for availability of the transportation service provider for a subsequent leg or backhaul and using the adjusted time of arrival estimate and the anticipated turn-around time to estimate a time of availability of the transportation service provider for the subsequent leg or backhaul;
• and
• a step of associating the availability of the transportation service provider to accept a further transportation request, corresponding to the transportation service provider's capabilities, for a backhaul or additional leg and if the transportation service provider associated with the accepted bid accepts said further transportation request, based on the estimated time of availability, a step of searching for said further transportation request comprising a description of a load or other transportation service based on an estimated time of availability.