Getting Started with Load Manager TMS

Before You Use This Article

• Access needed: Load Manager login and permission to use this screen, report, setting, or workflow.
• Best starting path: Start from Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services based on your company type.
• If this is not your setup: If this is not your company type, choose Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services.

Use this article as your starting point when your company is new to Load Manager or when a new team member needs to understand the basic workflow. Load Manager is used by freight brokers, dispatch services, carriers or trucking companies, broker and carrier operations, and Premium accounts, so the exact tabs and document names you see may depend on your company's setup and your user permissions.

The best way to get started is to set up the core company information first, create one complete test load, review the customer-facing and carrier or driver-facing documents, and then add more users, customers, carriers, drivers, integrations, and reporting workflows as needed.

If you are not sure which setup path applies to your company, start with Choose the Right Load Manager Articles for Your TMS Setup.

Start with Your Company Setup

Your company setup controls some of the wording and workflow you see in Load Manager. Before you train your team, make sure everyone understands which path matches the way your company operates.

Premium: Premium is the normal Load Manager TMS setup for an eligible freight broker, dispatch service, or freight broker and carrier operation, plus included Premium features such as Carrier Lookout, Onboard Carrier, and Text Dispatch. Premium is generally not used for carrier/trucking-only customers. If your company uses Premium, start with your main business model first: freight broker, dispatch service, or freight broker and carrier operation.

Recommended Setup Order

Complete the basics in this order before your team starts using Load Manager for daily work.

1. Set up your company profile: Confirm your company name, address, contact information, and logo under Settings >> Company Info.
2. Add your team: Add users who need to log in, assign roles, and review permissions.
3. Review configuration options: Confirm load numbering, document defaults, invoice terms, mobile dispatch settings, tracking settings, and other company-wide defaults.
4. Add customers and saved stops: Enter the bill-to customer records and common pickup or delivery locations.
5. Add carriers or drivers: Freight Broker and Dispatch Service accounts add carriers. Carrier and Trucking accounts add drivers.
6. Set up commodity and accessorial types: Add common freight, accessorials, payment advance rows, direct cost rows, or dispatch fee rows your company uses on loads.
7. Connect email: Connect email for users who send invoices, quotes, Rate Confirmations, Dispatch Reports, BOLs, onboarding emails, or load updates.
8. Create a test load: Build one realistic load from start to finish before entering production work.
9. Review documents: Preview the invoice or quote, BOL, Rate Confirmation, or Dispatch Report to confirm the information looks correct.
10. Review reports and accounting: Confirm the reporting and accounting screens your team will use after loads are active, delivered, completed, invoiced, or paid.

Know the Main Menu

The main menu gives you access to the major areas of Load Manager. Common tabs include My Loads, Users, Customers, Carriers or Drivers, All Loads, Dispatch Board, Reports, Logs, Settings, Accounting, and Logout.

If a tab is missing, it usually means your user role does not include that permission, the feature is not enabled for your company, or your TMS type uses a different tab name.

Create One Complete Test Load

After the basic setup is in place, create one test load that matches the kind of work your company handles. A useful test load should include:

• A real-style customer profile or a clearly marked test customer.
• Pickup and delivery stops with dates, times, addresses, and instructions.
• The assigned carrier or driver, depending on your TMS type.
• Customer rate, carrier or driver rate, and any accessorial, direct cost, payment advance, or dispatch service fee rows that apply.
• Customer reference numbers such as PO # or BOL #, if your team uses them.
• Any notes or documents that should appear on reports or stay internal.

Review the Documents Before Go-Live

Before sending documents to customers, carriers, or drivers, preview them from the saved load and confirm the wording, pricing, contact details, stops, and logo are correct.

• Freight Broker accounts: Review the Rate Confirmation, BOL, customer invoice, and customer quote.
• Dispatch Service accounts: Review the Dispatch Report, BOL, customer invoice or quote, and dispatch service fee setup when used.
• Carrier or Trucking accounts: Review the Dispatch Report, BOL, customer invoice or quote, and driver-facing information.
• Freight Broker and Carrier accounts: Review both broker-facing and driver-facing workflows so your team knows when to use carriers, drivers, Rate Confirmations, and Dispatch Reports.

First Week Checklist

During the first week, keep your workflow simple and confirm each step before adding more advanced features.

• Confirm users can log in and see only the tabs they need.
• Confirm customers, carriers, drivers, stops, and equipment records are easy to search.
• Confirm load statuses match your workflow and that users know when to move a load to Delivered or Completed.
• Confirm email sends correctly from the users who send documents.
• Confirm invoices, quotes, BOLs, Rate Confirmations, and Dispatch Reports print or email correctly.
• Confirm GPS tracking, MacroPoint, Project44, Driver Web App, or mobile dispatch settings if your company uses them.
• Confirm reports and accounting exports before relying on them for billing, settlement, or financial review.

Common Setup Questions

Why do I see Carriers instead of Drivers?
Freight Broker and Dispatch Service accounts use the Carrier tab. Carrier and Trucking accounts use the Driver tab. Your company setup controls which wording appears.

Where does Premium fit?
Premium is a package level, not a separate daily workflow by itself. A Premium account uses the normal Load Manager workflow for the company's eligible TMS type, with Premium features such as Carrier Lookout, Onboard Carrier, and Text Dispatch included. Carrier/trucking-only customers should follow the Carrier or Trucking Company path instead.

Why can another user see different tabs?
User roles and permissions control access to screens such as Users, Settings, Reports, Logs, Accounting, and All Loads.

Should I enter all my data before creating a load?
No. Start with enough setup to complete one test load. After the workflow is confirmed, you can import or enter larger lists of customers, stops, carriers, drivers, and equipment.

What should I do if a document does not look right?
Check the load details, company profile, customer profile, commodity or accessorial rows, and document settings first. Most document output comes from the information saved on those records.

Related Articles

• Choose the Right Load Manager Articles for Your TMS Setup
• Set Up Your Company Profile in Load Manager
• Add Your Team: Users, Roles, and Permissions
• Create Your First Load in Load Manager
• Assign a Carrier or Driver to a Load
• Track a Load with Status Updates, Mobile Tracking, and MacroPoint
• Generate a Bill of Lading (BOL)
• Invoice Your Customer and Get Paid