Carriers
Carrier network management for logistics service providers - onboard and manage third-party partners for both freight delivery (parcels, cargo, freight) and passenger transport (ride-hailing, taxis, shuttles).
Carrier Management
Complete carrier lifecycle management:
- Carrier Registration - Onboard delivery and passenger transport partners
- Capabilities - Define service types, vehicle types, special handling
- Capacities - Track available capacity and load management
- Coverage Areas - Manage geographic service zones
- Performance Tracking - Monitor SLAs, success rates, ratings
- Pricing Integration - Carrier-specific rate management
Types: LTL, FTL, Parcel, Express, Last-Mile, Courier, Rideshare, Taxi, Transit, and more.
Overview
Carrier management enables LSPs to build and manage networks of both freight carriers and passenger transport providers. Register carriers with their capabilities, track performance, manage capacity, and integrate pricing for a comprehensive multi-carrier logistics network covering goods and people movement.
Who Uses Carrier Management?
Ride-Hailing Aggregators
- Multi-platform driver networks
- Real-time driver availability
- Performance-based routing
- Dynamic pricing per carrier
Mobility Platforms
- Taxi and rideshare networks
- Driver pool management
- Service level differentiation
- Surge capacity handling
3PL/4PL Providers
- Multi-carrier network orchestration
- Carrier performance benchmarking
- Dynamic carrier selection
- Cost optimization
Freight Forwarders
- LTL/FTL carrier network
- Multi-modal partnerships
- Regional carrier management
- Load consolidation
Last-Mile Aggregators
- Local courier networks
- Gig economy driver pools
- Multi-carrier delivery options
- Real-time capacity matching
E-Commerce Platforms
- Multiple shipping options
- Carrier redundancy
- Peak season capacity
- Cost comparison
Carrier Types
De. supports diverse carrier classifications for comprehensive network coverage:
Freight & Trucking
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
LTL | Less Than Truckload | Consolidated freight shipping |
FTL | Full Truckload | Dedicated truck loads |
FREIGHT | Heavy freight transport | Industrial cargo |
LINEHAUL | Long-distance transport | Inter-city freight |
INTERMODAL | Multi-modal transport | Rail, sea, road combinations |
Delivery Services
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
PARCEL | Small package delivery | E-commerce shipments |
EXPRESS | Expedited delivery | Same-day, next-day service |
LAST_MILE | Final mile delivery | Urban last-mile logistics |
LOCAL | Local delivery | City-wide courier |
COURIER | Messenger service | Documents and small parcels |
Passenger & Transit
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
RIDESHARE | Ride-sharing services | Uber, Lyft-style operations |
TRANSIT | Scheduled public transit | Bus, metro services |
SHUTTLE | Shuttle services | Airport, hotel shuttles |
CHARTER | Charter services | Group transportation |
Specialized
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
SPECIALIZED | Specialized cargo | Hazmat, oversized, refrigerated |
Core Capabilities
Carrier Registration
Onboard carriers with complete profile, capabilities, and operational details.
Carrier Profile:
- Business name and contact information
- Carrier type and service classification
- Fleet size and vehicle types
- Insurance and licensing details
- Operating areas and coverage zones
Capabilities Management
Define what services each carrier can provide.
Service Capabilities:
- Delivery types (standard, express, same-day)
- Vehicle types (van, truck, motorcycle)
- Special handling (fragile, refrigerated, hazmat)
- Package size limits (weight, dimensions)
- Time windows (24/7, business hours, weekends)
Capacity Tracking
Monitor and manage carrier capacity in real-time.
Capacity Metrics:
- Available vehicles
- Active deliveries
- Maximum daily capacity
- Current utilization percentage
- Peak capacity reserves
Key Features:
- Real-time capacity updates
- Capacity forecasting
- Overload prevention
- Dynamic allocation
Coverage Areas
Manage geographic zones where carriers operate.
Coverage Types:
- City/metropolitan areas
- Regional zones
- National coverage
- International routes
Key Features:
- Zone-based assignments
- Multi-zone carriers
- Coverage overlap management
- Service area visualization
Performance Tracking
Monitor carrier performance with comprehensive metrics.
Performance Metrics:
- Delivery Success Rate - Percentage of successful deliveries
- On-Time Rate - Percentage delivered within SLA
- Average Delivery Time - Mean time from pickup to delivery
- Customer Ratings - Customer satisfaction scores
- Incident Rate - Damages, losses, complaints
SLA Monitoring:
- Track against defined SLAs
- Alert on SLA violations
- Performance trends
- Comparative analytics
Pricing Integration
Manage carrier-specific pricing and cost structures.
Pricing Models:
- Per-delivery rates
- Distance-based pricing
- Weight-based pricing
- Zone-based multipliers
- Service type premiums
Use Cases
Multi-Carrier Last-Mile Network
Scenario: LSP managing 15 local courier partners for urban deliveries
Workflow:
- Register carriers with coverage zones
- Define service capabilities per carrier
- Track real-time capacity availability
- Dynamic carrier selection per delivery
- Monitor performance and SLAs
- Optimize carrier mix for cost and quality
Key Benefits:
- Redundancy and reliability
- Peak capacity handling
- Cost optimization
- Service level diversity
Freight Brokerage
Scenario: Freight broker with 50+ LTL/FTL carriers
Workflow:
- Maintain carrier network database
- Track equipment availability
- Match loads to carriers
- Negotiate spot rates
- Monitor delivery performance
- Carrier scorecard maintenance
Key Benefits:
- Load-carrier matching
- Competitive pricing
- Performance-based selection
- Network optimization
E-Commerce Multi-Carrier Shipping
Scenario: Online retailer offering multiple shipping options
Workflow:
- Integrate multiple carriers (USPS, FedEx, UPS, local couriers)
- Real-time rate shopping at checkout
- Carrier selection based on cost, speed, coverage
- Tracking aggregation across carriers
- Returns management per carrier
- Performance comparison
Key Benefits:
- Customer choice
- Cost optimization
- Service level options
- Carrier redundancy
Key Benefits
Network Flexibility
Multi-Carrier Strategy:
- Avoid single-carrier dependency
- Leverage carrier strengths
- Geographic coverage expansion
- Capacity scalability
Dynamic Selection:
- Real-time carrier availability
- Cost-optimized routing
- Performance-based assignment
- Load balancing
Cost Optimization
Rate Shopping:
- Compare carrier rates
- Negotiate better terms
- Volume-based discounts
- Spot rate opportunities
Performance-Based Pricing:
- Reward high performers
- Penalize poor performance
- Incentive structures
- Long-term partnerships
Quality Control
Performance Monitoring:
- SLA compliance tracking
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Incident tracking
- Corrective action workflows
Carrier Scorecard:
- Comparative analytics
- Performance trends
- Benchmarking
- Data-driven decisions
Carrier Lifecycle
Onboarding
Register carrier with full profile and capabilities.
Steps:
- Carrier application and vetting
- Insurance and license verification
- Capability assessment
- Coverage zone definition
- Pricing negotiation
- Contract finalization
- System integration
Active Operations
Day-to-day carrier management and monitoring.
Operations:
- Daily capacity tracking
- Load assignments
- Performance monitoring
- Issue resolution
- Communication management
Performance Review
Regular assessment and optimization.
Review Process:
- Monthly performance reports
- SLA compliance analysis
- Cost analysis
- Customer feedback review
- Improvement planning
- Contract adjustments
Offboarding
End carrier relationships when necessary.
Process:
- Notification period
- Active delivery completion
- Final settlement
- Documentation archival
- Feedback capture
Integration Patterns
TMS Integration
Connect carrier network with Transportation Management Systems.
Multi-Carrier APIs
Integrate with carrier APIs for real-time tracking and rate shopping.
EDI Integration
Electronic Data Interchange for freight carriers.
API Reference
For detailed API documentation including endpoints, schemas, and examples:
Next Steps
Related LSP Services:
- Coverage Management - Service area management
- Shipment Tracking - Assign shipments to carriers
- Pricing Engine - Carrier pricing integration