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Annual freight RFPs continue to be a valuable part of most procurement strategies. They create structure, set expectations for the year, and define the core routing guide. For years, this once-a-year cycle matched how most markets behaved.
Today the market moves faster. Rates shift quickly. Capacity changes throughout the year. Carrier pricing behavior can shift months before the next RFP cycle begins. As a result, many shippers rely on more than one procurement event to stay current. They anchor their strategy with an annual event, then use smaller bid cycles to keep parts of their network updated.
This combined approach is what we refer to as the Evergreen Freight Model. The annual bid acts as the trunk of the tree, providing stability and structure. Mini bids function as the branches, updating low-volume or more dynamic freight as the market moves. Together, the trunk and branches create a procurement model that stays healthy all year.
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Here is why this model is gaining traction and how shippers are putting it into practice.
Relying on pricing set once a year can create blind spots when the market changes. An Evergreen procurement model is not about driving rates lower. It is about improving cost predictability. The annual event sets the foundation for the network. Mini bids provide a steady way to refresh specific lanes when they drift from current conditions.
This is how many enterprise shippers already operate in practice. They choose Evergreen practices because it provides:
More predictable budgets
Mini bids highlight rate changes early. Combined with the annual trunk, this creates steadier planning throughout the year.
A healthier routing guide
Markets drift. Branch-level updates help realign the routing guide without disrupting the core awards set during the annual bid.
A balanced carrier mix
The trunk retains key incumbents. The branches create controlled competition by inviting vetted external carriers into the process.
Less reliance on spot
More freight stays on contract because mini bids keep dynamic lanes from aging out of the market.
The Evergreen model brings two procurement rhythms together:
The annual bid
This is the trunk. It sets the foundation for contracted freight, core relationships, and network structure. Most of the volume sits here.
Mini bids
These are the branches. They focus on specific lanes or regions that need updates throughout the year. They typically involve lower volume contract freight, dynamic seasonal flows, or lanes that show early signs of rate shifts.
Many shippers compare two groups during these mini-bids:
• Incumbent carriers
• A select pool of vetted external carriers
This trunk-and-branch approach allows shippers to adjust awards only where needed. The result is a routing guide that evolves constantly but stays grounded in a strong annual structure.
This model also clears up a common misconception. Mini bids are not the same as spot. Mini bids use carriers you already trust. Rates are contracted. Service expectations apply. The difference is frequency, not format.
Spot freight
Last-minute coverage with variable pricing. The carrier may be different each time.
Mini-bids
Planned events with qualified carriers. Rates are contracted and predictable. In the Evergreen model, these mini bids help maintain the branches of the routing guide.
Mini bids strengthen the contracted network. Spot is a backup for urgent needs only.
The Evergreen model is flexible. It does not replace the annual RFP. It completes it.
The annual event remains the trunk. It sets the core partnerships and the main structure for the year. Mini bids operate as branches, supporting the trunk and adjusting the parts of the network that shift more quickly.
Together, they provide:
• Earlier insight into market movement
• Better cost control
• Less volatility
• A more resilient carrier network
This is how many leading shippers already operate. The Evergreen model simply provides a clearer framework and language for the approach.
Markets shift quickly. Even with rates near historic lows, pricing on certain lanes begins to move long before a full annual cycle comes around again. The Evergreen model gives shippers a structured way to track those shifts and respond earlier.
The value is predictability. With the trunk and branches working together, you know how carriers are pricing your lanes throughout the year. This helps prevent surprises and reduces unnecessary spot exposure.
Running both an annual event and a series of mini bids can be time-consuming without the right tools. Emerge makes the Evergreen model practical at scale.
A pre-vetted carrier marketplace
Expand your branch-level carrier pool safely with thousands of qualified providers in our Premier Carrier Program.
Customizable RFP requirements
Control which carriers join your trunk event and which participate in your branch-level mini bids.
Mini-bid workflows built for speed
Refresh rates on dynamic lanes without rebuilding each event from scratch.
Real-time market benchmarks
Validate pricing during both trunk and branch events and avoid outdated rates.
With these tools, shippers can maintain a strong annual foundation while keeping their dynamic freight current.
The Evergreen Freight Model brings structure and flexibility together. Your annual RFP acts as the trunk, supporting the core of your network. Your mini bids function as the branches, updating pricing where needed throughout the year.
Some shippers use this model to complement their annual bid. Others rely on it as their primary structure. Either approach gives teams more visibility, better control, and a healthier routing guide in a market that rarely stays the same from one month to the next.
