Key takeaways:
- The new module covers tenders for regular freight routes.
- Carriers can bid for only the share of the volume that matches their capacity.
- Each tender includes route details, contract duration, operational requirements and the required trailer type.
- Companies can track the status of their bids and receive alerts about new tenders.
- The portal previously focused mainly on one-off loads.
- Girteka says it posts about 4,000 ad hoc orders each week.
- Bids are reviewed after the tender closes and do not guarantee an award.
Girteka is expanding what subcontracted carriers can access via its Partners Portal: not only spot loads, but also longer-term freight projects. The company says the new functionality is intended to help carriers plan fleet work on recurring lanes without having to take on an entire contract.
From spot loads to long-term lanes
So far, the Girteka Partners Portal has primarily been used to publish single loads. The company reports that roughly 4,000 ad hoc orders are posted there each week. With the new “Tenders” module, the portal now also provides access to regular transport performed under long-term contracts.
The tenders relate to projects Girteka runs across the European market. Part of the volume is handled by the operator’s own fleet, while the remaining share is made available to external carriers.
Bid for the volume you can actually deliver
A key feature of the module is the option for carriers to declare their available capacity.
A carrier does not need to commit to the full contract. Instead, it can specify the number of loads it can cover based on its vehicles and operational capabilities. This differs from many traditional tenders, where bidders are often expected to take responsibility for the entire scope of work.
What carriers can see in each tender
After logging in, carriers can view:
- The transport lane.
- The contract term.
- Operational requirements.
- Required trailer type.
- A route map.
- Estimated distance.
- Estimated transit time.
Tenders can also be filtered by lane, deadlines, status and tender reference number.
The portal allows carriers to submit bids and track decisions in one place.
A submitted bid is not an award
Girteka stresses that taking part in a tender does not automatically translate into being assigned the loads. Once the bid window closes, each offer is reviewed individually. Only then is a decision made on which carrier—or carriers—will be selected for a given project.
For transport companies, this means that declaring capacity is only part of the process. Pricing and a clear understanding of the full cost of running the lane will also be critical.
Trailer types and lanes covered
Girteka mainly works with carriers operating:
- Reefer trailers.
- Curtainsider trailers.
Its network spans Poland, Germany, the Benelux countries, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain across 34 transport corridors. For temperature-controlled freight, the scope also includes Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Available after registration and verification
To use the tender module, a carrier must register in the Girteka Partners Portal and complete the verification process. After that, the company can access both one-off loads and tenders for regular lanes.
The module may be most relevant for carriers seeking more predictable fleet utilisation without committing to full contracts. Profitability, however, will still depend on the terms of each lane, operational requirements and the rates offered in the tender.
