FAQ

Conterminal FAQ

Straight answers about the shared operating layer for container logistics — what it tracks, what it covers, what it costs, where your data lives, and how to start.

The platform

What is Conterminal?: Conterminal is a shared operating layer for container logistics — an intermodal TMS (Transportation Management System) that brings managed container work across sea, rail, and road into one fast, terminal-like workspace. Instead of another dashboard to consult, it is the place the team works from.
Who is it for?: Three primary sides of the same move: carriers and drayage fleets, freight forwarders, and BCOs (Beneficial Cargo Owners, the importers who own the freight). The wider network — freight brokers, warehouses, consignees, and 3PLs — can join the shared record as the rollout requires.
Which modes does it cover?: Sea, rail, and road are modeled as one continuous journey — on-water vessels, terminal milestones, inland rail, and drayage moves in a shared record. Connected source and lane coverage is confirmed for each rollout.
Does it replace my TMS or QuickBooks?: Conterminal is becoming the operating layer for the container move. The shift-based dispatch workbench is available in operator-led early access; native billing, AR (accounts receivable), and driver settlement remain in development. The available boundary is confirmed during rollout, while accounting stays where it is today.
Where did Conterminal come from?: It was born inside a working drayage carrier, which is now one tenant on the platform. It's built by people who work dispatch desks and dock doors, for people who do the same.

Tracking & data

How does container status data get in?: An automated data engine connects to supported terminal, rail, and steamship-line systems and writes container and vessel status into one managed record. The source stays visible beside the result, and current source and lane coverage is confirmed for each rollout.
How do you handle conflicting arrival times?: On-water tracking ranks carrier, terminal, berth, AIS, and document signals through a documented trust ladder, then applies vessel identity and plausibility checks before presenting a reconciled ETA.
How current is the data?: Connected sources refresh on provider-appropriate schedules, and open workspaces receive lightweight updates without a full-page reload. Expected refresh behavior is confirmed for the sources in the rollout.
How wide is your rail and terminal coverage?: Coverage varies by source and lane. We confirm supported terminal, rail, vessel, and steamship-line connections during the walkthrough instead of presenting the reference catalog as universal live coverage.

Pricing

How does pricing work?: Conterminal is in early access. We confirm live coverage, workflows, onboarding, and the commercial units for your rollout before presenting a written proposal.
Why is there no public rate card?: The commercial model and its definitions are still being validated with design partners. We would rather define the unit and current capability scope in writing than publish a deceptively simple number.
Do my partners pay too?: The access model is designed not to discourage collaboration across the container record. The proposal for your rollout states who can participate and how that affects the commercial terms.
Is there a minimum commitment?: Early-access commitments depend on the connected sources, operating scope, onboarding, and support required. Any minimum or pilot boundary is stated in the proposal.

Security & data

Where does my data live?: The core application uses managed PostgreSQL on Supabase, application hosting on Vercel, and edge and realtime services on Cloudflare. Automated provider connections run on an isolated dedicated production host.
How is my data kept separate from other tenants?: The platform is multi-tenant with isolation enforced in the database through RLS (row-level security). People can access records their organization owns or they are explicitly authorized to share. Elevated database access remains server-side; browsers and clients do not hold service-role credentials.
How do I sign in?: Sign-in uses managed magic-link authentication. It removes a reusable Conterminal password from the flow; the security of the verified email account still matters.
Do you have SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification?: Not yet — Conterminal is in early access, and formal certifications and audits are on the roadmap toward general availability. The architectural facts above (managed infrastructure, row-level security, passwordless auth, least privilege, gated releases with clean rollback) are true today. Security and procurement reviewers are welcome to reach out for current specifics.
Is my data really mine?: Data ownership, retention, and export expectations are documented during early-access onboarding. Ask us to include the agreed export path and timing in your commercial review.

Getting started

How do I get started?: Request a walkthrough with a representative set of containers, lanes, and sources. We will confirm what is live, define a first rollout, and put the commercial scope in writing.
Can I bring my whole team and my partners?: The product is designed for dispatchers, drivers, forwarders, importers, and other authorized partners to share the right context. The proposal defines access and any commercial effect for your rollout.
Do I have to rip out my current tools first?: No. Start with the supported tracking and operating workflows in the agreed rollout. Dispatch is available in operator-led early access, while native billing, AR, and driver settlement remain in development; accounting stays where it is today.

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