TRADLINX

• Paying 5x more for visibility that doesn’t move the needle?
• See how different billing models result in a 5× cost difference for similar ocean visibility.

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Are You Overpaying for Visibility You Don’t Need?

You might be spending up to 507% more for U.S. inland tracking that adds little operational value—even when your core ocean visibility is nearly identical. This isn’t rare. Many “feature-rich” platforms bundle underused add-ons and complex billing models that quietly inflate costs.

What’s Driving the 507% Cost Gap?

In this breakdown, we’ll explore the real cause of that price difference. Backed by transparent data and real shipping scenarios, we’ll show how you can unlock six-figure annual savings—without sacrificing the ocean visibility your business relies on.

Replace cost guesswork with proven savings. Learn how TRADLINX OV helps forwarders and shippers operate leaner, smarter, and with more control.

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Daily Essentials vs. “Nice-to-Have” Extras: What Truly Matters?

Drowning in dashboards? It’s a common issue. Visibility platforms often deliver a flood of alerts, but not all of them support operational efficiency.

Most logistics teams agree on what matters most:

• Real-Time Location – Where is the shipment, right now?
• Accurate ETA – Will it arrive on time? What’s the downstream impact?
• Key Event Notifications – Are loading, transshipment, and delivery milestones on track?

These are the critical data points for navigating long transit times and global unpredictability.

But here’s the question: Does every shipment require constant U.S. inland GPS tracking?

Inland transit is often shorter, more stable, and handled by local partners. In many cases, milestone-based updates (e.g. port departure, terminal arrival, final delivery) offer sufficient visibility at a fraction of the cost.

If your team can plan effectively with just-in-time updates and accurate ETAs, you may be overpaying for high-frequency data that doesn’t change decisions. A focused ocean visibility platform can offer better ROI than feature-heavy tools.

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Inland Visibility: Is Constant GPS Tracking Optimal?

Balancing Visibility Investment: Maritime Uncertainty vs. Inland Predictability

Let’s say you’re importing parts from Vietnam to a manufacturing facility in Michigan. Where do you really need precision visibility—and where is it overkill?

Ocean freight covers the longest and most volatile part of the journey. This stage is where visibility has the greatest operational impact:

• Was the container loaded on time?
• Did weather or congestion delay transshipment?
• Is the vessel on schedule to arrive at the correct port?
• Were there changes to the ETA at U.S. arrival?

These variables affect production schedules, inventory buffers, and customer commitments. That’s why real-time ocean tracking with ETA and milestone alerts is essential.

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Inland Transit Is Different

Once cargo clears a U.S. port and enters the domestic leg, the conditions change:

• Transit is shorter and more standardized
• Local carriers follow structured lanes and schedules
• Fewer variables impact reliability

Here’s the key question:

Do you really need minute-by-minute GPS updates across the inland leg of every shipment?

For many operations, the answer is no.

Milestone-based tracking (e.g., “out-gated,” “arrived at terminal,” “delivered”) is often sufficient for maintaining control—at a significantly lower cost. Instead of continuous location pings, focused notifications at key events allow you to plan effectively and avoid disruptions.

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The Smarter Tradeoff: Precision Where It Matters

Ocean visibility offers the highest return on investment because it reduces uncertainty across the most variable segment of global transit.

U.S. inland tracking may be valuable in specific cases (e.g., high-value cargo or time-sensitive final delivery), but applying it across the board can quickly inflate your visibility budget with marginal gain.

TRADLINX OV enables shippers to maintain targeted inland updates when necessary—without locking them into high-cost, high-frequency GPS monitoring for every move.

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Project44 vs. TRADLINX: Why One Costs 5× More for Similar Visibility

The difference in cost starts with how each platform bills—per B/L vs. per container. That alone can mean 5× the price for the same shipment.

Beyond features, the pricing model of a visibility solution significantly impacts your total cost. Let’s explore how.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility (B/L-centric) and Project44 (container-centric) use different billing methods. These lead to vastly different annual operating costs for the same cargo volume.

Supply Chain Visibility Cost Comparison

• Billing Method: The Hidden Cost Multiplier
  • TRADLINX charges a flat $1.25 per Bill of Lading (B/L)—no matter how many containers it includes. Most B/Ls under contract terms contain 2–3 containers.
  • Project44 charges approximately $3.03 per container. So for a 3-container B/L, the cost can be over $9.
  • On average, that’s 5× more per shipment, despite offering comparable core ocean tracking.
• Real-World Cost Comparison (Annual Volumes):
  • Project44: ~$515,760/year
  • TRADLINX: ~$85,000/year
  • ➡️ Potential Savings: ~$430,760/year

The takeaway? The more containers per B/L, the more disproportionate Project44’s pricing becomes.

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Better Accuracy. Smarter Spending.

Does lower cost mean cutting corners? Not with TRADLINX.

TRADLINX delivers reliable core ocean visibility by focusing on what matters—not bloated extras.

What’s included:

• B/L-based tracking
• Interactive map views
• AI-powered ETA forecasting
• Milestone-level event tracking

While Project44 offers similar features, user reviews (G2, Capterra) frequently report:

• Inconsistent real-time tracking
• ETA inaccuracies in key global regions
• Integration challenges that disrupt workflows

Some reviewers highlight data lags, missing updates, and operational friction—despite paying a premium.

TRADLINX Delivers Verified Performance:

• 99.5% tracking accuracy
• 1.3% data omission rate
• 95% accuracy in transshipment visibility
• 98% accuracy across multimodal flows

You don’t need to sacrifice accuracy for cost savings. TRADLINX OV delivers both—lean, reliable, and tailored for global shippers.

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Rethinking Cost vs. Capability in Visibility Investment

Many companies overspend on features that deliver limited day-to-day value. For teams focused on ocean freight, there’s often a significant opportunity to reduce visibility spend—without losing access to the insights that matter most.

Stop overspending on features you rarely use. Redirect those savings into what truly drives growth.

In scenarios where inland tracking is occasionally important, a flexible approach still works. Companies can supplement their core ocean visibility with targeted inland updates or carrier inquiries, rather than paying blanket premiums across every shipment.

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Focused Ocean Visibility Platform for Better ROI

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility is designed for organizations where:

• Ocean freight is a critical cost center
• B/L-level visibility provides actionable control
• Inland legs are predictable and tracked as needed

By emphasizing core ocean tracking accuracy—without embedding underused inland features—TRADLINX offers a more sustainable model for visibility investment.

This approach supports better cost control, without sacrificing essential performance.

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Making Visibility Work Harder—Not Cost More

In a complex global shipping environment, visibility is essential—but the right visibility depends on your operation.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility is built around that principle. By focusing on the ocean leg—where variability and uncertainty are highest—it delivers timely, accurate updates at a fraction of the cost of full-spectrum platforms.

For many logistics teams, that means:

• Better control during ocean transit, where most disruptions occur
• Clear, milestone-based inland updates, when needed
• Lower overall spend, without sacrificing data quality

When visibility aligns with how your supply chain actually runs, it becomes a strategic asset—not just another line item. A tailored approach to visibility delivers operational control without overextending your budget.

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Common Questions About Ocean Visibility Costs, Features, and Alternatives

Why is Project44 so expensive for ocean visibility?
Project44 applies a per-container pricing model, which can significantly inflate visibility costs—especially for B/Ls with multiple containers. This often includes bundled inland tracking features that may not be essential for every shipment.

Is there a more affordable alternative to Project44?
Yes. TRADLINX Ocean Visibility uses a B/L-based billing structure, offering substantial savings (up to 507%) while delivering the same core features. It’s a smart Project44 alternative for shippers seeking value without sacrificing key ocean data.

Do I need GPS tracking for inland freight in the U.S.?
For most companies, constant GPS tracking adds cost with limited ROI. Milestone-based updates—like “outgate,” “terminal arrival,” or “delivered”—often provide sufficient visibility at a fraction of the cost. This depends on how time-sensitive your inland leg is.

What visibility data is most important in ocean shipping?
Key signals include real-time location, reliable ETAs, and event-based alerts (loading, departure, transshipment, arrival). A focused ocean visibility platform should optimize these areas to reduce risk during long and variable ocean transits.

How can I reduce supply chain visibility costs without losing control?
Focus on core data that drives decisions—especially during the ocean leg, where uncertainty is highest. Platforms like TRADLINX align visibility features with actual needs, helping reduce supply chain visibility cost while preserving data quality.

Why overpay for visibility? TRADLINX saves you 40% with transparent per–Master B/L pricing. Get 99% accuracy, 12 updates daily, and 80% ETA accuracy improvements, trusted by 83,000+ logistics teams and global leaders like Samsung and LG Chem.

Prefer email? Contact us directly at min.so@tradlinx.com (Americas) or henry.jo@tradlinx.com (EMEA/Asia)