eTRAN -- Streamlining Truckload Shipments

-- An Entirely New Level Of Convenience And Control To Profitably Transact
Daily Business For Truckload Shippers And Carriers --

(March 4, 2004 - Atlanta, GA) eTRAN, the new leader in web-based technology for transportation procurement and transaction settlement, announced today the launch of eTRAN TL on May 17, 2004 at 8:00am EST.

eTRAN TL is the first, total business solution for truckload shippers and carriers to streamline manual business decisions, automate quality-controlled truckload procurement, complete transaction closure and build new, revenue-generating business relationships.

"Truckload shippers need instant access to qualified carriers, the ability to simultaneously manage all open loads and reduce their staff time per transaction. Truckload carriers must maximize their asset utilization, minimize empty miles and decrease their workload to fill backhaul capacity,” said Bill Malcolm, Chief Operations Officer and eTRAN co-Founder. “That’s only the beginning of what eTRAN TL delivers."

eTRAN TL relieves truckload shippers and carriers from the antiquated, time-consuming processes of endless phone calls, dead leads and never-ending paperwork to finalize contracts and complete a truckload transaction. eTRAN TL leverages the Internet’s real-time capabilities to provide one convenient, easy-to-use source to procure qualified carriers, automate rate negotiation, tender loads, track loads, transmit and verify POD, audit freight bills, expedite carrier payment and maintain carrier scorecards.

The domestic truckload market transported over four billion tons and generated more than $274 billion in revenues in 2001. Annual growth of this segment is projected at 2.2%, which is equivalent to 4.7 billion tons by 2007.

"While technological advancements are now addressing transportation management issues such as load consolidation and route planning, the day-to-day processes of transportation procurement through the completed settlement has been, up to this point, a frustrating and costly set of manual procedures for truckload shippers and carriers,” said Rick Otness, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of eTRAN.

"The combination of a strengthening economy and the new Hours of Service increases the burden on shippers to quickly secure reliable carriers and move the goods in an efficient and effective manner. At the same time, nearly 65% of the 25,000 US carrier organizations represent small to medium-sized companies who may have available capacity and want to expand their business yet have limited means to increase their sales team or territory,” said Mr. Otness. “Whether you’re a billion dollar corporation or a small, family-owned business, eTRAN TL is specifically designed to save truckload shippers and carriers significant time and administrative costs, reduce total transportation costs for shippers and increase revenue for carriers. In short, we streamline truckload shipments while making revenue-generating, business relationships easy.”

eTRAN's senior management team represents over 80 years’ leadership expertise in logistics, transportation management, supply chain management and technology. But, at its inception, eTRAN was unwavering in its commitment to exceed truckload shippers’ and carriers’ expectations of a dependable, convenient resource for transportation procurement and transaction settlement. eTRAN commenced extensive quantitative research and one-to-one interviews with a diverse group of shippers and carriers nearly 12 months ago to ensure eTRAN TL met the needs of the truckload industry. The results are reflected in eTRAN TL’s proprietary system.

"This is not about Internet load boards or matching services. This is not about converting an off-the-shelf, e-market program to ‘oblige’ the truckload industry. eTRAN TL has built a comprehensive, web-enabled system that solves the traditional, daily business grind for the truckload freight industry while reducing a substantial cost center in real-time,” said Jack Mills, eTRAN’s Chief Technology Officer. “The additional fact that truckload shippers and carriers benefit from eTRAN TL without paying membership fees, development costs, software installation or encountering a lengthy lead-time to positively impact their bottom line is a rarity in this business.”

eTRAN TL goes live at 8:00am EST on May 17, 2004.

eTRAN, the new leader in web-based technology for transportation procurement and transaction settlement, is a privately held company located in Atlanta, Georgia. Developed by three industry experts with more than 80 years’ combined leadership experience in transportation management, logistics, supply chain management and technology, eTRAN TL eliminates the traditional processes of the truckload industry and provides one, easy-to-use source for truckload shippers and carriers to control and optimize their daily business: Quality-based Carrier Selection, Automated Rate Negotiation, Load Tendering, Load Tracking, POD Transmission & Receipt, Freight Bill Auditing, Carrier Payment and Carrier Scorecard Maintenance. Please visit www.etran.net or contact eTRAN at 1-866-379-4650 or Donna Walker at 404-377-0111 for more information.