Transport module

Overview

The Transport module helps you:

• Collect items — Schedule and track pickup tasks from suppliers or customers
• Deliver goods — Manage outbound deliveries with proof of delivery
• Ship freight — Create and track freight consignments across carriers

Job types

The module organises transport jobs into three categories, each with its own tab:

Each tab shows a count badge indicating active jobs requiring attention.

Working with transport jobs

Creating jobs

Use the sidebar menu for quick access to create new jobs:

• New Collection — Create a pickup task with collection address and time window
• New Delivery — Schedule an outbound delivery with recipient details
• New Consignment — Create a freight job with carrier booking

Collection and delivery tasks can also be created automatically from orders in the Order Manager when shipping is required.

Freight consignments open the Create Freight screen where you can:

• Enter shipment details (origin, destination, items)
• Get real-time quotes from multiple carriers
• Compare prices and delivery times
• Book consignments with one click
• Download and print shipping labels

See Booking freight from orders for a detailed walkthrough.

Viewing jobs

Each job card displays:

• Job reference number
• Contact and address information
• Current status with visual indicator
• Scheduled date/time
• Notes indicator (if notes exist)

Click any job to open the full detail view.

Job lifecycle

Collection jobs

Pending → Assigned → In Transit → Collected → Completed

Delivery jobs

Pending → Assigned → Out for Delivery → Delivered → Completed

Freight consignments

Quote → Booked → Pickup Scheduled → In Transit → Delivered → Completed

Freight quotes drawer

When booking freight consignments, the quotes drawer provides a streamlined workflow:

Getting quotes

1. Open a freight task or create one from an order.
2. Click Get Quote to request quotes from all integrated carriers.
3. The drawer opens showing a loading state while quotes are fetched.
4. Quotes appear grouped by carrier as they’re received.

Quote comparison

Each quote displays:

• Carrier logo — Visual identification
• Service name — Service level (Express, Standard, etc.)
• Price — Total cost including taxes
• Transit time — Estimated delivery days
• CARRIER BEST badge — Highlights the cheapest option per carrier

Selecting and booking

1. Click a quote to select it (highlighted with border).
2. The footer shows the selected quote summary with price.
3. Click Book Consignment to proceed.
4. Review and confirm details in the booking dialog.

Booking complete

After successful booking:

• Green checkmark with “Booking Complete” message
• Carrier and service confirmation
• Final price displayed
• Download Label button for printing

Transport job details

When you open a job, you’ll see:

Header section

• Job reference and type indicator
• Contact information
• Status badge
• Quick action buttons (track, print label, update status)

Details section

• Pickup and delivery addresses
• Scheduled date and time windows
• Special instructions
• Reference numbers

Tracking timeline

• Real-time status updates
• Driver check-ins
• Timestamp for each milestone
• Notes and exceptions

Items section

• List of items being transported
• Package details (dimensions, weight)
• Handling instructions

Documents section

• Shipping labels
• Consignment notes
• Proof of delivery images
• Customs documentation (for international freight)

Settings and configuration

Access settings from the sidebar menu:

Location Availability

Configure pickup and delivery time slots:

• Set available days and hours for each location
• Define blackout dates (holidays, closures)
• Set capacity limits per time slot

Package Presets

Create reusable package templates:

• Define standard box sizes
• Set default weights
• Configure handling requirements
• Speed up consignment creation

Archive view

Completed jobs are accessible in the Archive:

1. Click Archive in the sidebar menu
2. Browse completed jobs by type (Collection, Delivery, Freight)
3. Search archived jobs by reference, contact, or date
4. View full history and documentation

Archived jobs are read-only but retain all tracking history and documents.

Reports

Generate transport reports from the sidebar:

Job Summary Report:

• Export job data as PDF or CSV
• Filter by date range, job type, or status
• Include performance metrics (on-time delivery rate, exceptions)
• Group by driver, route, or customer

Searching and filtering

Use the search bar to find jobs by:

• Job reference number
• Contact name
• Address
• Tracking number

The search works across all job types in the current view.

Sidebar quick actions

The sidebar menu provides fast access to common tasks:

Best practices

1. Set time windows realistically — Allow buffer time for traffic and loading
2. Use package presets — Speed up consignment creation with predefined templates
3. Add tracking notes — Document delays, access issues, or special handling
4. Configure location availability — Prevent bookings outside operating hours
5. Archive completed jobs — Keep the active queue focused on work in progress
6. Monitor exceptions — Review failed deliveries promptly to arrange re-delivery

Integration with other modules

From Order Manager

• Send orders can automatically create delivery tasks
• Receive orders can generate collection tasks
• Transfer orders may trigger internal transport jobs

With Inventory

• Items on transport jobs link to inventory records
• Stock movements are tracked until delivery confirmation

With Contacts

• Customer and supplier addresses auto-populate from contact records
• Delivery preferences are respected (time windows, instructions)

Related guides

• Booking freight from orders — Step-by-step guide to quoting and booking
• Shipping orders — Warehouse picking and dispatch workflow

Related modules

• Order Manager — Create orders that require transport
• Inventory — Track items being transported
• Warehouse — Coordinate dispatch and receiving
• Contacts — Manage delivery addresses and preferences