The Industry Problem
Why deals take too long
The dry bulk industry moves billions of dollars of cargo, but still relies on fragmented tools and manual processes.
Fragmented communication
Deals are negotiated across emails, phone calls, WhatsApp, and spreadsheets. Context is lost, decisions are delayed.
Impact: Deals take days instead of hours
No market context
Pricing decisions are made without real-time market data. Benchmarking requires manual research across multiple sources.
Impact: Uncertainty in every quote
Manual calculations
Voyage estimates, TCE calculations, and cost breakdowns are done in spreadsheets prone to errors and version control issues.
Impact: Rework and calculation errors
No audit trail
When disputes arise, there's no single source of truth for what was agreed, when, and by whom.
Impact: Commercial and legal risk
The FR8 Solution
Before and after FR8
See how each stage of the deal process changes when you have a unified platform.
Before
Check multiple sources manually, piece together rates from different providers
With FR8
Live FFA rates, fuel prices, and market indices in one dashboard
Before
Draft email, attach spreadsheet, send to each party individually
With FR8
Broadcast structured offer to multiple parties with one click
Before
Track counter-offers across email threads, manually update spreadsheets
With FR8
All counters in one place with clear status and history
Before
Verbal confirmation, then manual recap drafted in Word
With FR8
Fix with recorded terms, auto-generated digital recap
Before
Search through emails to find what was agreed
With FR8
Complete audit trail with every action timestamped
The Key Insight
Why market intelligence and execution must be unified
Most platforms do market data OR communication. FR8 does both because they're inseparable in practice.
Context is everything
When market data and negotiation live in the same platform, every decision has context. You see fair market rate while you negotiate, not after.
Speed compounds
Every manual step is friction. Every context switch is delay. A unified platform removes both, turning multi-day deals into same-day fixes.
Trust through transparency
When all parties see the same data and the same history, disputes decrease. When everything is auditable, accountability increases.
Outcomes by Role
What FR8 delivers for you
Different roles, different priorities. Here's what FR8 means for each.
Charterers
- Benchmark routes against live market rates
- Compare offers with full cost transparency
- Audit-ready procurement documentation
- Faster budget approvals with data backing
Works with your existing workflow
FR8 is designed to complement your existing processes. Start using it alongside your current tools and transition as you see value.
No migration required
Use FR8 for new deals while keeping your existing records. No disruptive switchover needed.
API access
Charterer and Enterprise plans include API access for custom integrations with your systems.
Export everything
Export calculations, recaps, and reports in standard formats for use in other systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about FR8.