Instant Quotes
How to request auto-generated quotes from specific operators without waiting for open bidding.
What Are Instant Quotes?
Instant Quotes are an alternative to the standard open bidding window. Instead of waiting for operators to discover your trip and submit bids, you proactively select nearby operators and the system generates a quote automatically using each operator's pre-configured pricing rules.
The result is immediate pricing — no waiting for a bidding window to open and close, no manual price entry by the operator. The operator's pricing configuration does the work.
When to Use Instant Quotes
Instant Quotes are best suited for:
- Urgent trips — you need pricing now and can't wait for a multi-day bidding window
- Preferred operators — you have a specific operator in mind and want to skip the open market
- Price verification — you want to know what a particular operator would charge before posting publicly
- Repeat trips — you've worked with certain operators before and want to fast-track the process
How to Request an Instant Quote
Open the View Quotes Panel
From your trip detail page, navigate to the View Quotes tab (distinct from the View Bids tab used for open bidding). This opens the Instant Quotes panel.
Browse Nearby Operators
The panel shows a list of operators near your trip's pickup location. For each operator you can see their business name, distance from the pickup point, vehicle types they operate, and whether they already have a bid on this trip.
Select Operators and Request
Check the operators you want to quote. You can request from multiple operators simultaneously. Click Request Quote — the system immediately generates a quote for each selected operator using their primary pricing configuration.
Review the Generated Quotes
Each generated quote appears in the panel within seconds. Review the full breakdown before deciding whether to proceed.
Quote Breakdown
Each instant quote is fully itemized:
| Line Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Base trip charge | Operator's rate card (per hour or per mile) |
| Deadhead | Calculated from operator's depot to pickup |
| Fuel surcharge | Operator's configured fuel rate |
| Extra hours | Operator's overtime rate × estimated overtime |
| Tax | Applicable tax rate on the subtotal |
All line items derive directly from the operator's pricing configuration — neither the operator nor you sets prices manually in this flow.
Operator Review and Response
Once you request a quote, the operator is notified. They can review the auto-generated quote and either Accept or Decline it. Operators cannot modify the quoted amount — if their pricing configuration produces a number they don't want to honor, they must decline and update their pricing rules before you can request again.
If an operator accepts, the quote converts to a bid with SUBMITTED status, and you can proceed to award it just like any other bid.
Instant Quote Eligibility
Operators must have Instant Quote enabled in their operational settings to appear in the nearby operator list and receive quote requests. If an operator you work with regularly doesn't appear, they may need to enable Instant Quote in their Bus Operator portal under Operational Rules.
Instant Quotes vs. Open Bidding
| Instant Quotes | Open Bidding | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the price? | System (operator's config) | Operator (manual entry) |
| Speed | Immediate | Hours to days |
| Operator choice | You choose | Any operator can bid |
| Best for | Urgent or preferred-operator trips | Competitive pricing across market |