Step 3.2 — Carrier Assignment
Previous step: Step 3.1 — Load Creation Next step: Step 3.3 — Carrier Rate Confirmation
🎯 Ideal State
Trigger: Load created in EZ-Loader (Step 3.1). Ops is ready to source a carrier.
Carrier Sourcing Channels
Channel Role Status EZ-Loader freight matching System matches lane, equipment, pickup date against Forza’s carrier network Native EZ Loader feature DAT load board Direct posting from EZ-Loader, carriers respond Native integration — active Parade AI AI-powered capacity suggestions from truck-list emails and partner networks Activates at go-live Trucker-Tools Carrier responses from Trucker Tools network EZ Loader integration — tracking active Direct carrier outreach Ops calls or emails known carriers Human Prerequisites Before Carrier Can Be Assigned
EZ-Loader blocks assignment if any condition fails — fully automated gate.
Prerequisite What EZ Loader Checks Carrier status Must be “Active” — Phase 2 onboarding complete Insurance currency Cargo and liability policies must not be expired — Highway monitoring provides real-time status Risk assessment Highway risk classification must not be “Unacceptable” Data Entered at Carrier Assignment
Field Notes Carrier name Selected from Active carrier profiles Carrier rate Total amount Forza will pay the carrier (Forza’s cost) Carrier contact for this load Dispatcher name, phone, email — auto-populates from carrier profile Driver name and phone May be entered now or after dispatch Gross profit visibility: EZ-Loader calculates and displays the load’s gross profit in real time — Shipper rate minus carrier rate minus other costs. James (Ops Manager) reviews margin against target before confirming.
Quick Pay Flag
If the carrier has opted for quick pay, the flag is set at this step. Carrier absorbs the discount:
Days to Payment Carrier Discount 21 days 1.5% 15 days 2% 7 days 2.5% 1 day 3% Owner: James, Jen (Operations) — sourcing and assignment. James (Ops Manager) — margin review authority for below-target loads.
🤖 SYSTEM AUTOMATION:
Carrier sourcing uses automated tools (freight matching, Parade AI, DAT, Trucker-Tools) and human judgment. Prerequisite checks (Active status, current insurance, acceptable risk) are fully automated gates enforced by EZ-Loader. Gross profit calculation is automated — visibility depends on Ops looking at it.
🛑 HARD GATE:
📍 Current State
- Carrier sourcing uses DAT, direct outreach, and Trucker-Tools primarily — Parade AI not yet active.
- DAT integration with EZ-Loader confirmed working.
- Trucker-Tools “Book It Now” not used — “we use a similar tool in DAT.”
- Gross profit visibility in EZ-Loader load record works in testing.
🚧 Gap
- Parade AI not yet contributing carrier suggestions — closes at EZ-Loader go-live.
- No documented margin-review threshold — below what GP% does a load require Ops Manager approval before carrier assignment?
- No documented standard for which sourcing channel to use first for a given lane/equipment type.
🛠️ Gap Closure Actions
- Activate Parade AI integration at EZ-Loader go-live (retire MVMNT first — Parade’s single-TMS constraint) Owner: James | Effort: Low — configuration task
- Establish a margin-review threshold — below what GP% does a load require James (Ops Manager) sign-off? Owner: Casey + James + Nick | Effort: Policy
- Document the sourcing channel decision tree (combine with Step 2.1) Owner: Casey + James | Effort: Low
- Evaluate whether Trucker-Tools “Book It Now” is worth activating or whether DAT’s equivalent is sufficient Owner: James | Effort: Low