The Carrier Rules Engine introduces new logic to regulate carrier rating and selection on shipments. This feature applies predefined rules to determine carrier eligibility based on compliance, marketplace, and other attributes.
Table of Content
Accessing Carrier Rules
Users can access and manage Carrier Rules by navigating to the Customer Tools dropdown menu located within the customer’s profile, through the LSP tab in the back office, and from the My Organization page.
Customer Tools Dropdown
Customer tab ➡️Companies ➡️ Click on the customer profile ID ➡️ Customer Tools ➡️ Carrier Rules.
- Rules can be created at the customer level, meaning they will only apply to the selected customer.
- Accessing Carrier Rules through a customer profile will present the rules specifically associated with the selected customer.
LSP Tab
LSP tab ➡️ Carrier Rules.
This page will display all carrier rules applicable to your entire organization, including those for customers, sub-organizations, and the parent organization.
My Organization
LSP tab ➡️ My Organization ➡️ Broker Tools ➡️ Carrier Rules.
- Rules can be created to apply to the entire organization.
- Accessing Carrier Rules through the My Organization page will display the rules associated with your parent organization.
Organizations
LSP tab ➡️ Organizations ➡️ Broker Tools ➡️ Carrier Rules.
- Rules can also be customized to apply specifically to a designated sub-organization, ensuring that all shipments related to that sub-organization adhere to the defined criteria.
- Accessing Carrier Rules through the Organizations page will display the rules associated with the selected sub-organization.
Adding a Rule
Upon entering the page, you will be presented with a list of previously created rules along with filters to assist you in locating specific rules for any necessary updates.
The "Add New Carrier Rule" option is located at the top right corner of the page. This option allows you to access and configure the rules' properties.
To edit an existing rule, simply locate the blue pencil icon situated to the right of the rule you wish to modify. If you need to remove a rule, you can do so by clicking on the blue trashcan icon.
Key Rule Properties
Each Carrier Rule consists of multiple configurable properties, including:
- Organization (Required): The specific organization for which the rule is applicable.
- Carrier: The rules are applicable only when a specific carrier has been chosen.
- Permission Setting (Required): Include/Exclude: The Include option allows you to select only those carriers that fulfill the specified criteria established by all applied rules. Conversely, the Exclude option permits you to eliminate any carriers that meet the defined criteria from consideration across all rules.
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Shipment Types: Compares shipment type against the tariff profile mode or LSP carrier shipment types.
- Origin/Destination Region: You can use predefined regions as criteria, enabling certain rules to activate only when the origin and destination regions are specified for the shipment.
- Carrier Labels: You can set rules to apply when a carrier contains certain labels. Click HERE to learn more about carrier labels.
- Tariff: Restricts or enables rating to the specified tariff.
- General Liability Minimum: Ensures that the carrier’s general liability meets or exceeds the defined minimum.
Adding this into a rule ensures that the system verifies the Insured amount associated with the General Liability Insurance Type in the carrier's profile.
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Has Authority: Ensures a carrier is only selected if the master carrier has authority.
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Has Safety: Requires the master carrier to have safety authorization.
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Has Packet: Ensures the LSP carrier has a valid packet before selection.
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Cargo Liability Required: Validates that the carrier’s cargo liability meets or exceeds the declared shipment value. If no declared value is specified, the system will treat it as zero. This means that any carrier with Cargo Insurance will be eligible for selection during the carrier evaluation process.
Declared Value serves as a reference number that can be assigned to a shipment to indicate its value for insurance and liability purposes.
You can designate the Declared Value reference number as a required field for all shipments. For instructions on how to do this, please click HERE.
- Is Marketplace: Controls whether a carrier can rate from marketplace tariffs.
Applying Carrier Rules
Carrier Rules are applied systematically to refine carrier selection. Initially, all available carriers are considered. As each rule is processed, the list is filtered based on the defined criteria. Once all applicable rules are enforced, the system triggers the rating request or carrier search, ensuring that only compliant carriers are included in the final selection.
Where will Rules Apply?
- Shipment Creation/Update
- Generate a Smart Quote
- Truckload Quoting
When you access the Truckload Quoting screen, the system will display carriers that do not comply with the established rules and criteria. However, you will be unable to select those carriers. A red Road Lock icon will indicate that the carrier is locked due to a carrier rule, accompanied by a tooltip that provides additional confirmation of this restriction.
Design Intent
The Carrier Rules Engine takes Carrier Permissions and applies those permissions consistently across both the carrier selection process and the rating engine. This ensures that carriers designated as unavailable for specific customers are fully restricted from being rated or added to shipments—by anyone, including internal staff.
Carrier Rules are enforced system-wide and apply to all methods of selecting a carrier, including manual selection, automation, and API. If a carrier is restricted, it cannot be added to a load under any circumstance.
If a user cannot see a carrier, they cannot select it. Visibility and access are determined by the defined rules and permissions, with no exceptions.
To support operational flexibility between departments:
- Use tariff-level permissions to hide carriers or tariffs from the Front Office while keeping them available to the Back Office. This allows different levels of access based on role or responsibility.
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This Enforcement Ensures:
- Carriers hidden from rating are also blocked from being added to shipments.
- Marketplace access can be completely disabled, ensuring brokers and customers do not mistakenly select unapproved carriers.
- Full Truckload compliance is maintained by preventing the use of non-compliant carriers.
Carrier Rules function as hard constraints, not soft guidelines. They are designed to enforce business logic, eliminate loopholes, and maintain compliance throughout the shipment lifecycle.