Problem

The existing spot quote workflow relied on an outdated, cluttered system that offered little guidance to users. All inputs, rules, and data points were crammed into a single experience, making an already complex task even harder to understand.

Key challenges included:

• A high cognitive load in a process that is inherently complex and time-sensitive

• Poor information hierarchy, with no clear progression or structure

• Lack of contextual explanations for pricing logic and required inputs

• No clear separation between broker and carrier needs, despite very different goals and workflows

• Difficulty tracking the status of submitted spot quotes once they were created

Because spot quoting in drayage involves multiple variables, edge cases, and time constraints, the old system caused confusion, errors, and hesitation—especially for users who were not deeply experienced with the process.

The product required a complete UX overhaul, not a visual refresh.

Solution

I redesigned the spot quote experience from the ground up with a UX-first approach, focused on reducing cognitive overload and increasing user confidence.

The quote creation flow was broken into clear, sequential stages, allowing users to complete one logical step at a time, with each step clearly explained before progressing.

Key UX decisions included:

• A progressive multi-step flow that decomposed complex pricing inputs into manageable sections

• Clear definitions and guidance at every step to explain terminology, rules, and expectations

• Strong information hierarchy to separate primary actions from secondary or advanced details

• Bottom drawers and modals to surface large, contextual datasets without pulling users out of flow

• Validation and feedback states to prevent errors before submission

Role-based dashboards

After submission, I designed two distinct dashboard experiences, tailored to different user roles.

Broker dashboard
Focused on quote creation, monitoring, and decision-making. Brokers could easily track which spot quotes were accepted, in progress, or timed out, enabling faster follow-ups and better pricing strategy.

Carrier dashboard
Designed around response and execution. Carriers could view available quotes, understand requirements clearly, and see the status of opportunities relevant to them without unnecessary broker-side complexity.

This role-based separation ensured each user saw only what was relevant to their workflow, reducing noise and improving efficiency on both sides.

Outcome

The final product transformed a dense, confusing workflow into a guided and role-aware experience.

By breaking spot quoting into clear steps, defining every input in context, and delivering separate broker and carrier dashboards, the system reduced errors, improved clarity, and made on-demand spot pricing easier to manage across the entire drayage lifecycle.

The redesigned platform supported both novice and experienced users, delivering structure and confidence in a high-pressure, data-intensive environment.