Train a New Associate in Load Manager

Before You Use This Article

• Access needed: Load Manager login and permission to use this screen, report, setting, or workflow.
• Use this article when: you are creating, updating, dispatching, documenting, importing, exporting, or tracking a load in Load Manager.
• Use a different article when: you need the company-specific dispatch document instead; brokers should use Rate Confirmation Layout and Features, dispatch services should use Dispatch Report Overview for Dispatch Services, and trucking companies should use Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies. For full setup order, start with Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services.

Use this training plan when a new associate needs to manage day-to-day work in Load Manager, such as building loads, dispatching loads, updating customers, and working with carrier or driver records.

This plan does not cover higher-level setup work such as billing setup, accounting setup, company preferences, or advanced admin configuration. Assign those areas only after the associate understands the daily workflow.

Before the Associate Starts

1. Create or review the associate's user profile.
2. Assign the correct role and permissions.
3. Set up the user's email if they will send documents from Load Manager.
4. Review the user's My Loads options so the associate sees the statuses and columns they need.
5. Add an email signature if the associate will email customers, carriers, or drivers.
6. Connect any load boards or integrations the associate is approved to use.

Confirm the TMS Type

Make sure the associate knows which Load Manager workflow your company uses:

• companies that broker freight: Uses the Carrier tab and sends Rate Confirmations to carriers.
• companies that dispatch for carriers: Uses the Carrier tab and sends Dispatch Reports to carriers or drivers. Dispatch service fees may also apply.
• Carrier or Trucking Company TMS: Uses the Driver tab instead of the Carrier tab and sends Dispatch Reports to drivers.

Training Path

Use this order for a new associate who will handle normal daily work.

1. User setup: Review login, email setup, user role, My Loads defaults, and profile options.
2. Load screen basics: Learn the main sections of the load screen and where customer, stop, commodity, carrier, driver, rate, and document information is entered.
3. Build a load: Create a load from scratch, copy a load, and use templates if your team uses them.
4. Dispatch a load: Send the correct carrier or driver document for your TMS type.
5. Track a load: Update load statuses, understand mobile dispatch, and review GPS or MacroPoint options if enabled.
6. Work with carriers or drivers: Add or update carrier records, carrier contacts, driver records, equipment, and onboarding information as needed for your TMS type.
7. Work with customers: Review customer profiles, CRM notes, customer contacts, and customer portal basics.
8. Review reports: Give report access only when the associate needs it, and explain which reports they are expected to use.

Build and Dispatch Loads

The associate should be able to create or open a load, enter the required customer and stop details, assign the correct carrier or driver, and send the correct dispatch document.

• Freight brokers should understand when to send a Rate Confirmation.
• Dispatch services should understand when to send a Dispatch Report and how dispatch fees affect the workflow.
• Carrier and trucking company users should understand driver assignment and Dispatch Reports.
• All users should understand mobile dispatch or driver web app workflows if your company uses them.

Carrier, Driver, and Onboarding Training

Use the correct record type for your company:

• Freight Broker and companies that dispatch for carriers: Train the associate on the Carrier tab, carrier contacts, carrier equipment, carrier onboarding, and carrier compliance tools.
• Carrier or Trucking Company TMS: Train the associate on the Driver tab, driver assignment, driver dispatch, and driver documents.

If your company uses Onboard Carrier, the associate should learn when to send an onboarding packet, when to request updated or expired documents, and when a carrier should be reviewed before being used on a load.

Customer Training

The associate should know how to open customer profiles, review contacts, add CRM notes, and understand the customer portal if your company uses it.

New associates should also know which customer fields your company considers required before booking a load.

Reports and Permissions

Only give report access when the associate needs it. If the associate is a dispatcher, sales representative, or other restricted user, confirm that their role allows only the reports they should use.

After changing permissions, have the associate sign out and back in before testing access.

Recommended First Practice Load

1. Create a test load or use a designated training load.
2. Enter a customer, pickup, delivery, commodity, and rate.
3. Assign a carrier or driver based on your TMS type.
4. Save the load and review the totals.
5. Generate the correct dispatch document without sending it to a real carrier, driver, or customer unless your team approves.
6. Update the status through your normal workflow.
7. Review what changed on My Loads or All Loads.

Related Articles

• Add and Manage Users in Load Manager
• Settings >> User Roles
• Load Screen Overview
• How to Dispatch a Load: Beginner Workflow
• Rate Confirmation Layout and Features
• Dispatch Report Overview
• Driver Web App with Mobile Dispatch
• Track Loads with MacroPoint in Load Manager
• Set Up and Use Onboard Carrier in Load Manager
• How to Use the Built-In CRM Feature
• Your Customer Portal Overview