Real-Time Tracking

Track every shipment from pickup through delivery. Get live updates from carriers, ELDs, and telematics systems.

Live Tracking Dashboard

After a carrier accepts a load, go to Shipments to see the tracking view:

• Load info — origin, destination, weight, carrier, rate
• Live map — truck location updated every 1-2 minutes (if carrier has GPS)
• Timeline — key events (quote accepted, pickup confirmed, delivery complete)
• Est. delivery — revised based on current speed and route
• Alerts — exceptions flagged in real-time

Tracking Data Sources

FreightConnect pulls tracking data from multiple sources:

ELD Integration (Samsara, Motive, Geotab)

• Real-time GPS location
• Ignition on/off
• Vehicle diagnostics
• Hours of service status
• Engine hours and miles

Carrier Manual Updates

• Status changes (picked up, en route, delivered)
• Photos from pickup/delivery
• Notes from driver (e.g., "Delayed at shipper, 2 hours behind")

Public Data

• Traffic patterns (INRIX, Google Maps)
• Weather conditions
• Historical route performance

The system blends these into one unified view.

Tracking States

A shipment progresses through:

1. Accepted — carrier confirmed; awaiting pickup
2. Picked Up — driver has the freight
3. In Transit — moving toward destination
4. Out for Delivery — reached destination city; final leg in progress
5. Delivered — cargo at destination
6. POD Received — proof of delivery uploaded (photo + signature)

Each state shows the timestamp and any notes from the driver.

Proactive Alerts

The system automatically flags exceptions:

• Late pickup — pickup wasn't completed by scheduled time
• Unscheduled stop — truck stopped for 2+ hours unexpectedly
• Speed anomaly — truck was stationary or very slow for extended period
• Route deviation — truck left planned route (accident, construction, etc.)
• ETA miss — revised delivery time now exceeds shipper requirements
• Communication loss — no ELD update in 4+ hours (driver went offline)

You get instant notifications (email, SMS, in-app). Click an alert to see details and take action.

Driver Communication

Click Message Driver to reach the driver directly:

• "Are you still on track for 2pm delivery?"
• "Shipper says they'll be ready at 3pm, not 2pm. Can you adjust?"
• "Send a photo when you arrive at the dock"

Messages appear in the driver's FreightConnect app (if they use it) or via SMS. Responses come back immediately.

Exceptions & Interventions

If a shipment is going to be late:

1. The system notifies the shipper automatically with a revised ETA
2. You can escalate the alert by messaging the driver or calling them directly
3. For critical delays, click Request Immediate Update — the driver gets a priority alert
4. If the carrier can't deliver on time, you can authorize expedited payment to send a recovery carrier

Delivery Proof (POD)

Once delivered, the carrier uploads:

• Photo — freight at destination (sometimes required by shipper)
• Signature — from consignee or dock manager
• Timestamp — exact delivery time
• Notes — any damage, delivery changes, etc.

The shipper gets automatic notification: "Your shipment arrived at [time]. [photo]."

You get the POD in the load details. Download it for your records.

Historical Tracking

Completed shipments stay in Loads → History. Click any load to see:

• Full tracking history
• Actual pickup and delivery times
• Driver name and carrier
• Margin realized
• Any exceptions encountered

This helps you see which carriers are consistently late, which routes are problematic, etc.

Geofencing (Advanced)

Set geofence alerts for key locations:

1. Go to Settings → Geofences
2. Draw a radius around an address (your warehouse, key shipper location, etc.)
3. Choose alert type: "when truck enters," "when truck exits," or "truck stationary inside for >30 min"
4. Get a notification when the event happens

Example: Geofence around your warehouse with alert "truck exits." If a load exits your facility before scheduled pickup, you catch it immediately.

Performance Metrics

Go to Analytics → Carrier Performance to see:

• On-time % — what percent of deliveries arrived on schedule
• Average delay — how late were the late ones
• Communication score — did the driver respond to messages promptly
• POD speed — how quickly they uploaded proof of delivery

Use this to decide which carriers get your premium loads.

Privacy & Data

Tracking data is private:

• Drivers don't see your shipper data
• Shippers see only their own load (via tracking link)
• Internal tracking is only for your team

You control what the shipper sees via the tracking link you send them.

Troubleshooting

No GPS data: If the driver doesn't have ELD integration, tracking is manual-only (driver sends status updates). This is less real-time but still works.

Shipment shows last known location 4+ hours ago: The ELD lost connectivity (tunnel, rural area, etc.) or was disconnected. Not uncommon. If critical, call the carrier directly.

Shipper can't access tracking link: Check that you sent the right email address. Resend the link from the load details.

Next Steps

• Settlements — how carrier payments are processed post-delivery
• Documents — BOLs, invoices, and rate confirmations
• Carrier Management — reviewing carrier performance data