Getting started with Carrier Central

For the quickest start, you need at least one route and a suitable vehicle. The more accurate this information is, the better we can match you with suitable transport requests.

1. Activate your account and sign in for the first time

After registering, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. Open the confirmation link and sign in to Carrier Central using your login details.

The onboarding tour starts when you first visit the platform. It guides you through setting up your first route and then your fleet. We recommend completing the entire tour. You can reopen and edit the individual sections at any time.

2. Create your first route

After signing in, the onboarding process takes you directly to the route setup. Alternatively, open My routes in the navigation and click Add route.

In the Add route window, you specify the types of transport you can generally handle.

Select the transport type

First, select the appropriate transport type. The current process supports less than truckload and full truckload shipments, as well as direct or courier services. For direct services, select the appropriate vehicle type, such as a van or another rigid vehicle.

You can select several suitable transport types at the same time. LTL or FTL and van services do not automatically exclude one another. However, only select options that your fleet can actually handle.

Define the pickup region

In the Pickup region section, specify where you want to collect shipments. Different options are available depending on how precisely you want to define the area:

Select a country or region
Enter a city or postal code
Add multiple postal code ranges
Define a radius around a starting location

If you use a radius, select the required distance. Available options may include 25, 50, 75, 100 or 150 kilometres. This determines how far the pickup location may be from the starting point you entered.

Define the destination region

In the Destination region section, specify where you want to deliver shipments. Here, too, you can use countries, regions, cities or postal code ranges as required.

Check that the pickup region and destination region have been assigned correctly. If you also operate the route in the opposite direction, create a second route for the return journey. A route from Germany to France does not automatically cover journeys from France to Germany.

Complete the regional selection by clicking Generate route or the confirmation button shown.

Assign responsibility

Next, specify who should receive and handle requests for this route.

If you are the only person using the account and no other contacts have been added, the account owner is selected automatically. If several contacts are available, a multiple selection field opens. You can assign one or more people.

If you have created teams, first select a team in the Team field. You can then select the relevant contacts. An assignment is required to ensure that each request reaches the right person.

Review all the information and click the button shown to save the route. The route will then appear under My routes.

The following options are available there:

Select Add route to create another connection.
Use the edit function to change regions, transport types or responsibilities.
Use the delete function to remove a route you no longer need.

Use the Transport type filter to narrow down the routes displayed.

You should always keep at least one route in your account so that you can receive suitable transport requests.

3. Add your first vehicle

After you have saved your first route, the onboarding tour takes you to your fleet. Alternatively, open Fleet in the navigation and click Add vehicle.

Enter the vehicle configuration in the window that opens. This information is used to match you with suitable requests and later to assign the vehicle to an order.

Select the vehicle type

Select the appropriate vehicle type. Depending on the available options, this may include a van, transporter, rigid truck or articulated truck.

Select the body type

Next, select the body type, such as curtain sided or box body. The available options depend on the vehicle type selected previously. Not every combination is technically suitable and therefore not all combinations can be selected.

Add equipment

Select the equipment available on the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, this may include a tail lift, pallet truck or truck mounted forklift. Some equipment options cannot be combined. Only select equipment that is actually available on the vehicle.

Enter the registration number and vehicle details

Enter the registration number and any other vehicle details requested. If only the vehicle configuration is initially required for matching, the exact registration number may not be needed until the vehicle is assigned to an order, depending on the process.

Review your selection and click the button shown to save the vehicle. The vehicle will then appear in the fleet overview.

In the fleet overview, you can:

Select Add vehicle to add more vehicles.
Open and edit existing vehicles.
Remove vehicles that are no longer available.

Filter the list by vehicle type or body type.

Add all vehicles that are regularly available. This allows us to consider both the route and your actual transport capabilities when matching you with a request.

4. Set up contacts and teams

Open Account in the navigation. This section contains your company details, contacts and existing teams.

Add another contact

Open the contacts section and select the option to add another person. Enter the person’s name, email address and any other contact details requested.

You can then select the new contact for a route or team. Only add people who will actually handle transport requests.

Create a team

If your company operates several branches or separate dispatch departments, select the option to add a team.

Enter a clear name, such as Germany Dispatch or Italy Team. Then add the relevant contacts.

When creating a route, first select the team and then one or more people from that team. This allows you to control who receives requests for a particular route.

Change an existing assignment

Open the relevant route under My routes and select the edit function. Change the selected team or contacts and save the route again.

If you work alone or with a small team, you do not need to create an additional team structure. In this case, you can assign requests directly to individual contacts.

5. Complete your company details

Review your company information under Account. Add any missing details and make sure that the company name, address, contact details and any other requested information are up to date.

Depending on the process, you may also be asked about dangerous goods transport, pallet exchange or other services. Answer these questions based on your company’s actual capabilities.

Cargoboard reviews your information before enabling all functions. This review helps keep everyone involved safe and protects the platform against unauthorised accounts. You will receive an email once the review has been completed.

6. Find available transport requests

Open Available orders in the navigation. The list shows transport requests that may be relevant to you based on your routes, vehicles and other information.

Use filters

Open the required filters to narrow down the list. Depending on the view, the following options may be available:

Pickup country for the country of collection

Destination country for the country of delivery

Date range for pickup or delivery

Transport type for less than truckload, full truckload or direct services

Additional filters for the properties included in the request

Remove an active filter if you want to see the full selection again.

Open a transport request

Click a table row or the corresponding open function. The detailed view shows the sender and recipient, pickup and delivery dates, shipment details, transport type, loading and unloading methods, and any additional instructions.

If the request does not fit your schedule, close the detailed view and open the next request. You do not need to actively decline an unsuitable request.

Before submitting a quote, open the request and check the following in particular:

Pickup location and destination
Pickup and delivery windows
Shipment contents, weight and dimensions
Required vehicle type
Loading and unloading methods
Pallet exchange and dangerous goods information
Any additional order instructions

7. Submit a quote

Open the relevant transport request and click Submit quote.

Enter the following information in the window that opens:

Quote amount for carrying out the transport
Pickup date or the earliest possible pickup time
Validity period in minutes, hours or days

The validity period determines how long Cargoboard can accept your quote. Choose a period during which you can reliably keep the vehicle and capacity available.

Review the price, date and expiry time. Then submit the quote using the confirmation button shown. Once it has been submitted successfully, a confirmation appears in the portal and you receive an email containing a summary.

8. Review or withdraw a quote

Open My quotes in the navigation. This section shows your submitted quotes and their current status.

Click a quote to review the price, pickup time, validity period and associated transport request.

As long as the quote is still valid and has not been accepted, you can select Withdraw quote. Confirm the withdrawal in the window that opens. Use this function if the vehicle has been allocated elsewhere or you can no longer carry out the transport reliably.

If Cargoboard accepts or rejects your quote, its status changes and you also receive an email notification.

9. Confirm a transport order

If your quote is accepted, you receive an email and can find the transport under My orders.

Open the order. The detailed view shows the most important order information and highlights any required actions.

Check the following in particular:

Pickup and delivery addresses
Pickup and delivery dates
Loading and unloading methods
References and instructions
Agreed price
Contacts and contact details

Then click Confirm order or the confirmation button shown. The order should only be considered binding once you have completed this step.

You can use the download function to open and download the transport order. You can access the order again later under My orders. A yellow notification icon may indicate that further action is required.

10. Keep the shipment status up to date

Open the active transport under My orders. You will find the shipment status section in the order view.

Depending on the order, shipment tracking is either handled automatically through ZeKju or updated manually.

Update the status manually

Select the appropriate status function and enter the current status. The main statuses are:

Open for a confirmed order that has not yet been collected
Picked up once the shipment has been collected successfully
Delivered once the shipment has been delivered successfully

Closed once the order and all required documentation have been completed

When recording pickup and delivery, add the requested information. This may include the date, time, location or vehicle registration number.

Report a problem

If there is a delay, an unclear address or a problem during loading or unloading, click Report a problem. Briefly describe what has happened and what support you need.

Report any issues as early as possible so that Cargoboard can respond before further problems arise.

Use ZeKju

If automatic shipment tracking through ZeKju is required, open the ZeKju function in the transport order. Enter the driver’s telephone number or the executing company’s email address and send the invitation. The driver or company will then receive access to shipment tracking.

11. Upload proof of delivery and other documents

Open the order under My orders and go to the documents or status section.

Upload proof of delivery

Uploading the proof of delivery is only useful or possible once the pickup and delivery statuses have been recorded in full.

Click Upload POD or the corresponding upload function. Select the file on your device and make sure that the document is complete and clearly legible. Then confirm the upload.

Upload an invoice

If an invoice needs to be submitted through Carrier Central, select Upload invoice. Choose the relevant file and confirm the upload.

Once the upload has been completed successfully, the documents are displayed in the associated order. Always upload documents to the correct order so that they can be assigned correctly.

Do you need support?

If you need help with the setup, use the contact option in Carrier Central. If you have a question about a specific transport request or order, you can reply directly to the corresponding email from Cargoboard.