Mini-Bid

A mini-bid is a focused procurement exercise where a shipper solicits new carrier pricing on a subset of their lanes – typically 10 to 50 – rather than rebidding the entire network. It's the tactical complement to the annual freight RFP, used to correct problems that can't wait until the next full cycle.

Shippers run mini-bids for several reasons: high tender rejection rates on specific lanes (meaning the contracted carrier is routinely refusing loads), contract rates that have drifted significantly above market, chronic service failures from an incumbent carrier, or new volume on lanes not covered in the last RFP. The trigger is usually data – when analytics reveal a lane or corridor where cost or performance has deteriorated enough to justify the effort of rebidding.

The advantage of a mini-bid over waiting for the annual RFP is speed and precision. Because the scope is narrow, the shipper can move fast – often completing the process in one to two weeks instead of a month or more. Carriers also respond more readily to mini-bids because the volume is specific and immediate, making it easier to commit capacity and offer competitive pricing.

The risk is running mini-bids without good data. If you don't know which lanes are underperforming or how your current rates compare to market, you're guessing at where to focus – and you may end up rebidding lanes that are already well-priced while ignoring the ones that actually need attention. Effective mini-bid strategies depend on continuous visibility into rate benchmarks, carrier performance, and routing guide compliance.