Carrier Management¶

Overview¶

The Carrier Management system in Zora Tech Logistics Platform allows you to configure and manage shipping carriers, their service levels, cutoff times, and pickup schedules. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all aspects of carrier configuration and management.

Key Features: - Multi-carrier support (UPS, FedEx, USPS, regional carriers, etc.) - Service level configuration with individual cutoff times - Pickup schedule management - Active/inactive carrier status control - SCAC code tracking for freight carriers - Account number management - Minimum order value thresholds

Table of Contents¶

1. Getting Started
2. Accessing Carrier Management
3. Understanding Carrier Information
4. Adding a New Carrier
5. Managing Service Levels
6. Editing Carrier Details
7. Carrier Status Management
8. Search and Filtering
9. Freight Forwarding Integration
10. Best Practices
11. Troubleshooting

Getting Started¶

Prerequisites¶

Before managing carriers, ensure you have:

• Admin Access: Carrier management requires administrative permissions
• Carrier Account Information: Account numbers, codes, and service details
• Service Level Information: Cutoff times, transit times, and service codes
• SCAC Codes: For freight carriers (Standard Carrier Alpha Code)

Key Concepts¶

Carrier: A shipping or logistics company (e.g., UPS, FedEx, regional freight)

Service Level: Specific shipping services offered by a carrier (e.g., Ground, Express, Overnight)

Cutoff Time: Daily deadline for orders to be included in same-day pickup

Pickup Schedule: Days when the carrier picks up from your facility

SCAC Code: 2-4 character code used in freight/EDI transactions

Default Service Level: The service automatically selected when creating shipments

Accessing Carrier Management¶

Navigation¶

1. Click Shipping & Receiving in the left sidebar
2. Select Carriers
3. The Carrier Management page displays all configured carriers

Page Layout¶

The Carriers page includes:

• Header: Shows total carrier count and warehouse context
• Add Carrier Button: Create new carrier configurations
• Search & Filters: Find carriers by name, code, status, or service availability
• Carriers Table: Lists all carriers with key details
• Action Buttons: Edit or delete carriers directly from the table

Understanding Carrier Information¶

Carrier Table Columns¶

Carrier Details Display¶

Each carrier row shows: - Carrier Name: Full company name - Code: Internal carrier code (e.g., UPS, FEDEX) - Account Number: Your account with the carrier (if provided) - Service Count: Number of configured service levels - Default Service: The default shipping service - Cutoff Time: Daily pickup deadline - Pickup Schedule: Days carrier picks up

Adding a New Carrier¶

Step 1: Open Add Carrier Modal¶

1. Click the Add Carrier button (top right)
2. The Add New Carrier modal opens

Step 2: Enter Basic Information¶

Required Fields¶

Carrier Code * - Short identifier (e.g., UPS, FEDEX, USPS) - Used internally in the system - Must be unique

Carrier Name * - Full company name (e.g., United Parcel Service) - Displayed to users throughout the system

Optional Fields¶

Account Number - Your account number with this carrier - Used for billing and tracking purposes

SCAC Code - Standard Carrier Alpha Code - 2-4 uppercase alphanumeric characters - Required for freight carriers and EDI transactions - Examples: FDEG (FedEx), UPGF (UPS Ground Freight)

Step 3: Configure Service Settings¶

Default Service Level * - Service used when none is specified - Examples: GROUND, EXPRESS, OVERNIGHT, STANDARD - Should match one of your service levels

Cutoff Time - Daily deadline for same-day pickup - Format: HH:MM (24-hour time) - Example: 17:00 for 5:00 PM

Pickup Schedule * Select from predefined options: - Daily - Monday to Friday - Tuesday & Thursday - Monday, Wednesday & Friday - On Demand - Custom Schedule

Minimum Order Value ($) - Optional minimum order threshold - Orders below this value may incur additional fees - Leave at 0.00 if no minimum

Step 4: Add Service Levels (Optional)¶

While you can add service levels during carrier creation, it's often easier to: 1. Create the carrier first 2. Then manage service levels separately (see Managing Service Levels)

Click Add Service Level to configure services during creation if needed.

Step 5: Create Carrier¶

1. Review all entered information
2. Click Create Carrier
3. The carrier appears in the list immediately

Managing Service Levels¶

Service levels define specific shipping services offered by each carrier.

Viewing Service Levels¶

Method 1: Quick View 1. Find the carrier in the table 2. Click the manage link in the Services column

Method 2: Details Modal 1. Click on any carrier row 2. View the Service Levels section in the details modal

Service Level Management Modal¶

The Service Levels modal displays: - Carrier Information: Name and code - Service Count: Total configured services - Service List: All services with details - Add Service Level Button: Create new service

Adding a Service Level¶

1. Open the Service Levels modal
2. Click Add Service Level
3. Enter service details:

Service Name - Display name (e.g., "FedEx Ground", "UPS Next Day Air")

Service Code - Internal code (e.g., GROUND, EXPRESS, OVERNIGHT) - Must be unique per carrier

Transit Time (Days) - Expected delivery time - Used for rate shopping and customer expectations

Cutoff Time - Specific cutoff for this service - May differ from carrier's general cutoff - Format: HH:MM

Active Status - Enable/disable this service level - Inactive services won't appear in service selection

1. Click Save to add the service

Editing a Service Level¶

1. Open the Service Levels modal
2. Click Edit on the service to modify
3. Update service details
4. Click Save

Deleting a Service Level¶

1. Open the Service Levels modal
2. Click Delete on the service to remove
3. Confirm deletion

Editing Carrier Details¶

Opening the Edit Modal¶

Method 1: Action Button 1. Find the carrier in the table 2. Click the Edit button in the Actions column

Method 2: Row Click 1. Click anywhere on the carrier row 2. Click Edit from the details modal

Editable Fields¶

All carrier information can be updated:

Basic Information - Carrier Code - Carrier Name - Account Number - SCAC Code - Active/Inactive status

Service Configuration - Default Service Level - Cutoff Time - Pickup Schedule - Minimum Order Value

Supported Services - Add new service levels - Remove existing services - Edit service details

Updating a Carrier¶

1. Make your changes in the Edit Carrier modal
2. Review all modifications
3. Click Update Carrier & Services
4. Changes take effect immediately

Carrier Status Management¶

Active vs Inactive Status¶

Active Carriers - Available for shipment creation - Appear in carrier selection dropdowns - Service levels are accessible - Green "ACTIVE" badge in table

Inactive Carriers - Not available for new shipments - Existing shipments remain unaffected - Hidden from carrier selection - Gray "INACTIVE" badge in table

Changing Carrier Status¶

Method 1: Edit Modal 1. Open the Edit Carrier modal 2. Toggle the Active carrier checkbox 3. Click Update Carrier & Services

Best Practice: Instead of deleting carriers, mark them inactive to preserve historical data.

When to Inactivate a Carrier¶

• Terminated carrier relationship
• Seasonal carrier (off-season)
• Testing new carrier configurations
• Rate negotiations in progress
• Service quality issues

Search and Filtering¶

Search Functionality¶

The search bar filters carriers by: - Carrier name - Carrier code - Account number (partial matches)

Example Searches: - "FedEx" - Finds FedEx Corporation - "UPS" - Finds United Parcel Service and UPS freight - "FEDEX" - Finds carriers with code FEDEX

Filter Options¶

Status Filter - All Status: Shows all carriers - Active: Only active carriers - Inactive: Only inactive carriers

Services Filter - All Carriers: Shows all carriers - With Services: Only carriers with configured service levels - No Services: Only carriers without service levels

Clearing Filters¶

When filters are active: 1. The Clear Filters button appears 2. Click to reset all filters 3. Full carrier list displays

Freight Forwarding Integration¶

Overview¶

The Zora Tech platform includes integrated freight forwarding capabilities for LTL (Less Than Truckload) and freight shipments. This allows you to request rate quotes, book shipments, generate Bills of Lading (BOL), and track freight shipments directly from the platform.

Supported Freight Carriers:

• TForce WorldWide (formerly UPS Freight) - National LTL carrier
• Unishippers / Speedship - Multi-carrier freight network
• Additional carriers via API integration

Key Freight Forwarding Features¶

Rate Quotes: - Request real-time rate quotes from multiple carriers - Compare pricing, transit times, and service options - Select accessorial services (liftgate, residential, etc.) - View detailed cost breakdowns

Shipment Booking: - Book shipments directly from rate quotes - Specify pickup and delivery time windows - Add reference numbers and special instructions - Automatic confirmation and scheduling

Bill of Lading (BOL): - Generate professional BOL documents - Download PDF for printing - BOL includes all shipment details - Barcode for carrier scanning

Shipment Tracking: - Real-time status updates - Track by PRO number or BOL number - Delivery notifications - Exception alerting

Proof of Delivery: - View POD after delivery - Consignee signature capture - Delivery date and time confirmation

Freight Carrier Configuration¶

Setting Up Freight Carriers:

When adding freight carriers to the system:

1. Use Standard SCAC Codes:
2. UPSC - TForce WorldWide (UPS Freight)
3. TFWW - TForce WorldWide

4. Additional carriers as configured

5. Freight-Specific Fields:

6. Account numbers for billing
7. API credentials (configured by admin)
8. Service region coverage

9. Rate quote endpoints

10. Service Levels:

11. Standard LTL
12. Expedited Freight
13. Guaranteed Service
14. Time-Definite Options

Using Freight Forwarding¶

For complete freight forwarding workflow:

:material-truck-loading: Freight Forwarding Guide

Complete guide covering: - Requesting and comparing rate quotes - Understanding freight classes - Booking shipments - Generating and printing BOLs - Tracking shipments - Handling pickups and deliveries - Accessorial services - Cost optimization

Freight Carrier Best Practices¶

Rate Quote Optimization: - Request quotes from multiple carriers - Compare total cost including accessorials - Consider transit time vs. cost tradeoffs - Use correct freight class to avoid reclassification

Account Management: - Maintain current account numbers - Monitor freight spend by carrier - Negotiate volume discounts - Review carrier performance regularly

Documentation: - Keep BOL copies for minimum 2 years - Maintain proof of delivery records - Document any damage or shortage at delivery - File claims within carrier timeframes

Integration: - Link freight shipments to customer orders - Track freight costs by order - Generate customer freight invoices - Report on freight metrics

Best Practices¶

Carrier Configuration¶

1. Use Consistent Codes
2. Standardize carrier codes across your organization
3. Use industry-standard codes when possible

4. Document custom codes

5. Configure Service Levels

6. Add all services you regularly use
7. Set accurate transit times

8. Configure specific cutoff times per service

9. Set Realistic Cutoffs

10. Account for warehouse processing time
11. Consider carrier pickup schedules

12. Build in buffer time for peak seasons

13. Document Account Numbers

14. Always enter carrier account numbers
15. Keep billing information up to date
16. Link to contracts if applicable

Operational Best Practices¶

1. Regular Reviews
2. Quarterly review of carrier performance
3. Update service levels as carriers change offerings

4. Verify cutoff times seasonally

5. Service Level Management

6. Remove unused service levels
7. Ensure default service is most commonly used

8. Test new services before making them default

9. SCAC Code Accuracy

10. Essential for freight and EDI transactions
11. Verify codes with carrier documentation

12. Update when carriers merge or rebrand

13. Inactive vs Delete

14. Prefer inactivating over deleting
15. Preserves historical shipment data
16. Allows reactivation if relationship resumes

Data Integrity¶

1. Naming Conventions
2. Use full, official carrier names
3. Avoid abbreviations in carrier names

4. Save abbreviations for carrier codes

5. Service Level Naming

6. Use carrier's official service names
7. Include carrier name in service level

8. Example: "FedEx Ground" not just "Ground"

9. Minimum Order Values

10. Update as carrier contracts change
11. Document exceptions or special rates
12. Set to 0 if no minimum applies

Troubleshooting¶

Common Issues¶

Carrier Not Appearing in Shipment Creation¶

Problem: Configured carrier doesn't show in dropdown

Solutions: 1. Check carrier status - must be Active 2. Verify at least one service level is configured 3. Ensure service levels are also Active 4. Confirm user has permission to use this carrier

Service Level Cutoff Times Not Working¶

Problem: Orders submitted before cutoff not making pickup

Solutions: 1. Verify cutoff time is set correctly (24-hour format) 2. Check timezone settings in system configuration 3. Confirm pickup schedule includes current day 4. Review carrier-specific cutoff vs service-specific cutoff

Cannot Delete Carrier¶

Problem: Delete button is disabled or error occurs

Solutions: 1. Check if carrier has active shipments 2. Verify you have admin permissions 3. Instead of deleting, set carrier to Inactive 4. Contact system administrator if delete is required

SCAC Code Validation Errors¶

Problem: System rejects entered SCAC code

Solutions: 1. SCAC must be 2-4 characters 2. Only uppercase letters and numbers allowed 3. Verify code with carrier documentation 4. Leave blank if carrier doesn't have SCAC

Duplicate Carrier Code Error¶

Problem: Cannot create carrier with desired code

Solutions: 1. Carrier codes must be unique system-wide 2. Check existing carriers for conflicts 3. Use variation (e.g., UPSFREIGHT vs UPS) 4. Edit or delete conflicting carrier if obsolete

Error Messages¶

Getting Help¶

If you encounter issues not covered here:

1. Check System Logs: Review error details in system logs
2. Verify Permissions: Ensure you have Carrier Management permission
3. Test with Different Carrier: Isolate whether issue is carrier-specific
4. Contact Support: Provide carrier details and error messages
5. Documentation: Reference API documentation for integration issues

Related Topics¶

• Shipping & Logistics - Shipment creation and management
• Settings - Carrier integration configuration
• Receiving Operations - Inbound carrier management

Support¶

For carrier-related questions or issues:

• Email: support@zoratech.io
• Documentation: Troubleshooting Guide
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions