FreightConnect

Core Features / Loads

Creating & Managing Loads

A load in FreightConnect is a single freight shipment. Learn how to create, edit, post, and track loads from intake to delivery.

Creating a Load

Click + New Load or go to Loads → New Load.

Basic Info

  • Pickup Location — enter address or select from recent locations
  • Delivery Location — same format
  • Pickup Date — when the shipper is ready
  • Delivery Date (Target) — estimated delivery (optional, helps carriers plan)

Load Details

  • Weight — in pounds (e.g., 25,000 lbs)
  • Equipment Type — Dry Van, Reefer, Flatbed, Tanker, LTL, etc.
  • Commodity Description — what's being shipped (e.g., "Electronics," "Perishables")
  • Freight Class — NMFC code (affects pricing; system suggests one automatically)
  • Hazmat? — select if hazmat (requires certified carrier)
  • Special Requirements — liftgate, temperature control, inside delivery, etc.

Shipper & Billing

  • Shipper Company Name — who's sending it
  • Shipper Contact — phone and email
  • Bill-to Company — who pays (can differ from shipper)
  • Cost Code or PO Number — for shipper's internal tracking (optional)
  • Rate — your asking price ($/mile, flat fee, or weight-based)

Notes

Add internal notes for your team (not visible to carriers):

  • Special pickup/delivery instructions
  • Freight value or special handling notes
  • Customer preferences

Click Preview to verify everything looks right.

Pricing Your Load

FreightConnect's rate engine suggests a price based on:

  • Route (origin-destination distance and region)
  • Commodity and freight class
  • Your historical rates on similar loads
  • Current market rates (from recent loads on the network)
  • Equipment type and urgency

You can override the suggestion. Price too high and you won't get quotes; too low and your margins suffer.

Pro tip: Check Analytics → Historical Rates to see what you got for similar loads in the past.

Posting a Load

Once you're ready, click Post to Network. The system:

  1. Validates all required fields
  2. Queries 50+ carriers in your network in real-time
  3. Ranks carriers by FSC score, availability, and fit
  4. Displays live carrier quotes sorted by price

You'll see quotes come in over 60-90 seconds. Each quote shows:

  • Carrier name and FSC score
  • Offered rate ($/mile or flat)
  • Pickup and delivery commitments
  • Any special notes from the carrier

Accepting a Quote

Review the quote details:

  • Verify pickup/delivery windows
  • Check the carrier's FSC score and FMCSA rating
  • Look for notes ("Prefer deliveries before 2pm," "Will deadhead from XYZ")

When you're ready, click Accept Quote. The system:

  1. Locks in the rate
  2. Generates a BOL (Bill of Lading) with load and carrier info
  3. Sends confirmation to the carrier
  4. Notifies your shipper with a tracking link
  5. Moves the load to Active Shipments

Editing a Load

Before posting (while in Draft), click Edit to change anything.

After posting (while still Pending Quotes), you can:

  • Adjust rate — lower the price to attract more quotes
  • Extend deadline — give carriers more time to quote
  • Cancel load — only if no carrier has accepted yet

Once accepted, you can't change pickup/delivery locations or weight, but you can:

  • Add pickup/delivery notes
  • Flag exceptions
  • Update shipper contact info
  • Add cost code for invoicing

Load Status

Loads move through these statuses:

  1. Draft — you're still building it; not yet visible to carriers
  2. Pending Quotes — posted; carriers are quoting; you have 60-90 seconds to review
  3. Active — carrier accepted; shipment is in motion
  4. In Transit — pickup complete; driver is en route
  5. Delivered — delivery complete; awaiting POD (proof of delivery)
  6. Closed — POD received; invoicing complete; ready for settlement
  7. Cancelled — load was pulled before posting or carrier failed to complete

Bulk Upload (CSV)

Have 50 loads to post? Use Tools → Upload Loads:

  1. Download the CSV template
  2. Fill in required fields (pickup, delivery, weight, equipment, rate)
  3. Upload the file

The system validates all rows and imports them as drafts. Review and post them in batch.

Cloning a Load

If you frequently post the same route, click Clone Load from a previous shipment. All info copies except date and shipper (you set those fresh).

Archiving & Cleanup

Completed loads stay in Load History indefinitely. To archive old loads:

  1. Go to Tools → Archive
  2. Select date range (e.g., "before 90 days ago")
  3. Click Archive

Archived loads are still searchable but hidden from the main Loads dashboard. Your system stays fast.

Next Steps

Last updated: April 2026