ABF Freight System, Inc. - ABF Charts & Graphs Info Page

Reports Center : Status Reports | Historical Summary | Charts & Graphs | Reports Inbox

Charts & Graphs can be used to look for shipping patterns by displaying a graphical representation of your shipment history. You can setup your totals for a specific time period by choosing from a variety of options based on your information or your customers', vendors', or suppliers' information. For example, you may create a bar graph totaling net shipping charges for each of your locations, or you may create the same bar graph with totals for each outbound destination (based on your customers' vendors', or suppliers' state, zip/postal code or ABF Service Center).

The following information provides a step-by-step guide on how to use this feature as well as a list of common questions.

Step by Step Guide



		To access this feature, you must be logged on to the site. You may request a password or logon now. Select the type of report you would like to access, Historical Summary or Business Trend Analysis. Historical Summary provides you a line-by-line breakdown of shipment activity, including totals for shipments, pieces, weight and charges. Business Trend Analysis gives you the ability to compare shipment activity from one period to another. Select the type of report you would like to access, Historical Summary or Business Trend Analysis. Historical Summary provides you a line-by-line breakdown of shipment activity, including totals for shipments, pieces, weight and charges. Business Trend Analysis gives you the ability to compare shipment activity from one period to another. The Chart On selection list allows you to total by your information or by your customers', suppliers', or vendors' information. If you select to total by your information, you will be given the chance on the subsequent chart to drill down by your customers', suppliers', or vendors' information. You also have the option to show corporate totals only. Use the Type section to select the type of chart to display. You can select from Area, Bar, Horizontal Bar, Line, or Pie. You can see each of these in Stacked, 3D, or both. Use the Total By section to choose the primary total for your chart. The For selection list allows you to see numbers on the top 10, 25, 50 or for all totals. If some of your totals do not show up on the chart, you may always drill down to see additional totals. Use the Shipment Type section to select the type of freight (Inbound, Outbound, and/or Third Party) to include in your chart. You also have the option to show only those shipments where you were the paying party. Select the Freight Type: All, LTL, Volume, TimeKeeper, Turnkey, and/or International. The "Limit By:" option provides a list of contacts to choose from if so desired. Use the Date Range section to limit the time period of your chart. Select "Picked Up" from shipments picked up in the selected time period or "Delivered" for shipments delivered in the selected time period. Choose from the From selection list to set the chart's time period. You may also select a different time period by changing the dates provided. You may do this by entering a date in the spaces provided or by clicking the calendar icon and selecting the desired date. The Analysis Options section applies to Business Trend Analysis reports only... Choose from the From selection list to set the time period that you would like to compare shipment activity. You may also select a different time period by changing the dates provided. For example, if you selected "Last Quarter" in the Date Range section, you may select "Quarter Before Last" or "Same Quarter, Last Year" in the Analysis Options section. Use the Show section to select which totals you would like shown in your report; (a) select "All" if you would like to see everything or (b) select "Only Exceptions" if you would only like to see the chart information that meets the criteria of an exception. The following instructions only apply when using exceptions with option (b) as described above... Select a comparison option based on shipments, pieces or weight. The graph shown will be based off of this selection only and not change as you view graphs between shipments, pieces and weight. Select your exception criteria by choosing if the comparison option is based on an increase or decrease and more or less than a numeric value or percentage. For example, "increase by more than 5 shipments" will chart that information where the difference in the number of shipments from time period one and time period two increased by at least 6 shipments. Click "Display Chart" to see your results or click "Save Options" to save your options.

[Top]

Common Questions



		How do I print a chart or graph? Press "Ctrl" + "P" on your keyboard or click on the "File" menu and then select the "Print..." option from the document window. How current is the data that is presented in the chart or graph? All historical information in the chart or graph is up-to-date data. How far back can I get my shipment history for my chart or graph? The historical shipment data goes back two years from the current month. Can I see the historical report version of my chart or graph? After the chart or graph has been processed, you can display the same shipment information in a report format simply by clicking on the [report] link above the chart or graph. Once I run a chart or graph, can I get a different category of my total shipments using the same criteria without reentering all of the needed information? After the chart or graph has been processed for one category, you can display the same information totaled on another category by clicking on any of the other category links located above the chart or graph. Once I run a chart or graph, can I further break it down to get more-detailed information? After the chart or graph has been processed, you can further break down your information by selecting from the drop-down box(es) located under the chart or graph.

[Top]