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Contact Customer Service About Any Questions
The following information provide answers to frequently asked Carrier411 Load Track questions. If you have any other questions, please call (888) 411-9661 between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM EST Monday through Friday.
1. What is Load Track?
Load Track is a web-based load tracking system that is innovative, affordable and easy to use. Our integrated Load Track system will change the way you interact with carriers by providing the ability to track your loads online in real-time using accurate GPS location points that are plotted using interactive Google Maps. Quickly and confidently identify where the truck that has your freight is located, whenever you want to know, without having to call the carrier or driver.
2. How will using Load Track help my business and customers?
Load Track was designed to help small and mid-sized carriers track loads without the need for an expensive satellite tracking system in their truck. Satellite-based tracking systems are usually only available on trucks from larger carriers.
Prior to the introduction of Load Track, small and mid-sized carriers were unable to track loads for brokers and shippers using an automated GPS tracking system. Considering that about 80% of carriers have 6 trucks or less, these carriers were at a great disadvantage. Load Track levels the playing field for small and mid-sized carriers by allowing them to provide real-time GPS load tracking capabilities to any broker or shipper without having to invest in an expensive satellite tracking system.
All that is needed for any carrier to offer real-time GPS load tracking capabilities is for the driver assigned to the load to have an iPhone or Android phone and use the FREE Trucker Tools App. Load Track is built into the Trucker Tools App. No special software or hardware is needed by the carrier or driver, and there is absolutely no cost to the carrier or driver to track a load using Load Track.
Brokers and shippers now have an unparalleled opportunity to track loads with any trucking company, including small and mid-sized carriers that were previously unable to offer load tracking capabilities. Consider the many benefits to your business and your customers if you can track any load with any carrier using Load Track.
You will know where the truck that has your freight is located in real-time using accurate pinpoint GPS locations, whenever you want to know, without having to call the carrier or driver. You will also know exactly where the truck has been en-route since the Load Track started, including location points and times.
If a driver stops for a considerable period of time for any reason, you will know by looking at the Load Track route map on Carrier411. If a driver takes an unexpected detour from the anticipated route to deliver your load, you will know by looking at the Load Track route map on Carrier411. If the carrier dispatcher tells you the driver is only a couple of hours away from delivering your load, but you see the driver is much farther away than that on the route map, you will know the truth.
Having the ability to track loads using Load Track will also benefit your customers, because you can provide them with valuable information and updates about the shipment. You also have the ability to send Load Track information to your customers, so they can follow the Load Track as well.
3. Who pays for a Load Track and how much does it cost?
Brokers and shippers pay to perform a Load Track. There is no charge to the carrier or driver to track a load. As a valued customer, we are offering an unlimited number of Load Tracks for free during our introductory period. Go ahead and use Load Track as often as you like, and see how it helps your business. Again, there is absolutely no cost to you during our introductory period. When we start charging to use the system, the cost will be only $1.00 per Load Track.
4. Can any carrier perform a Load Track?
Yes. Any carrier can perform a Load Track. The driver assigned to the load must have an iPhone or Android phone and install the FREE Trucker Tools App.
5. How does Load Track work?
Brokers or shippers can create a Load Track for any load with any carrier using the Carrier411 website. When you create a Load Track, simply identify the carrier, provide the carrier dispatcher's email address, and enter a few basic details about the load.
The carrier dispatcher will receive an email with your Load Track request that includes a link to provide or update the driver's cell phone number. When the driver's cell phone number is provided, a text message will be sent to the driver with the Load Track request, including information to install the Trucker Tools App if needed. If the driver doesn't have the FREE Trucker Tools App on their smart phone (iPhone or Android), the driver must download and install the Trucker Tools App.
When the driver picks up the load, all they need to do is open the Trucker Tools App, click the Load Track button, and start the corresponding Load Track. When the load is delivered, the driver will click the End Track button to end the Load Track. When the Load Track starts, ends, or is cancelled, optional email alerts and optional text messages will be sent to you. The carrier dispatcher is also notified by email.
6. What do brokers and shippers need to use Load Track?
All you need is a computer with Internet access, so you can log into your Carrier411 account. You will also need an email address to receive optional email alerts when a Load Track starts, ends or is cancelled. If you want to receive optional text message alerts when a Load Track status changes, you need a cell phone on which you can receive text messages.
7. Do brokers and shippers need to install any software to use Load Track?
No special software is required. All you need is a web browser on your computer, so you can log into your Carrier411 account. You will also need an email address to receive optional email alerts when a Load Track status changes.
8. How do brokers and shippers track a load using Load Track?
When you log into your Carrier411 account, click the Load Track button in the main toolbar at the top of any page. When you do, a special Load Track toolbar is displayed. Using the special Load Track toolbar, you can create, view, edit and update Load Tracks. There are four Load Track statuses: (1) Not Started, (2) Started, (3) Ended, and (4) Cancelled. Load Tracks that have not been started can be edited, updated and cancelled. Load Tracks that started or ended can be viewed.
When you view Load Tracks that started or ended, you will see an interactive route map that plots the driver's route using pinpoint GPS locations. The date and time for each pinpoint location on the route map can be displayed when you click a pinpoint location.
9. What do carriers or drivers need to use Load Track?
The carrier dispatcher needs a computer with Internet access and an email address to receive the Load Track request email. The driver assigned to the load needs to have an iPhone or Android phone with texting service, a data plan and GPS turned ON. The driver will also need to have the FREE Trucker Tools App installed on their smart phone. Load Track is part of the Trucker Tools App. Drivers can easily download and install the Trucker Tools App from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
10. Does the carrier dispatcher need to install any software to use Load Track?
No special software is required. All the carrier dispatcher needs is a computer with Internet access and a web browser. They also need an email address to receive the Load Track request email.
11. Does the driver need to install anything in the truck to use Load Track?
Nothing needs to be installed in the truck, and no satellite tracking system is needed. The driver assigned to the load only needs to have an iPhone or Android phone with texting service, a data plan and GPS turned ON. The driver will also need to have the FREE Trucker Tools App installed on their smart phone. Load Track is part of the Trucker Tools App.
12. Will using Load Track use a significant amount of the driver's data plan?
No. Load Track uses only a very minor fraction of a data plan.
13. Will using Load Track drain the battery of a driver's iPhone or Android phone?
No. Unlike other GPS tracking products, Load Track has been optimized to use only a very small fraction of a smart phone's battery.
14. Do brokers and shippers need to have a smart phone to use Load Track?
No. When the Load Track status changes, you will receive an optional email alert and an optional text message alert with a link to the Load Track details and route map. Click the link in the email or text message to see the interactive route map and Load Track details in any web browser.
15. What if the driver does not have an iPhone or Android phone?
The driver assigned to the load must have an iPhone or Android phone to use Load Track (and Trucker Tools App). Drivers with smart phones other than an iPhone or Android phone CANNOT use Trucker Tools App and perform Load Tracks.
The driver assigned to the load must have an iPhone or Android phone and install the FREE Trucker Tools App. Drivers with cell phones other than iPhone or Android phone cannot use the Trucker Tools App and cannot perform a Load Track.
16. Does the carrier or driver have to pay to track loads using Load Track?
No. There is no charge to the carrier or driver to track a load using Load Track. It is absolutely free for the driver to download and use the Trucker Tools App.
Brokers and shippers pay to perform a Load Track. Go ahead and use Load Track as often as you like, and see how it helps your business. There is absolutely no cost to you during our introductory period. When we start charging to use the system, the cost will be only $1.00 per Load Track.
17. Is the driver's iPhone or Android phone tracked all the time using Load Track?
The driver's iPhone or Android phone is tracked only when the Load Track is started. This occurs when the driver clicks the Start Track button once the load is picked up. When the driver starts the Load Track, it is tracked continuously until the Load Track is paused or ended. The driver will end the Load Track by clicking the End Track button once the load is delivered, and that will stop the Load Track. If the driver clicks the Pause Track button, the Load Track will be paused and not tracked until the driver restarts the Load Track.
18. Who controls when to start and end the Load Track?
The driver assigned to the load is the only person who can start and end the Load Track using the Trucker Tools App. The driver will start the Load Track when the load is picked up, and they will end the Load track when the load is delivered. If the driver clicks the Pause Track button, the Load Track will be paused and not tracked until the driver restarts the Load Track.
19. Can the driver pause a Load Track that started?
Yes. The driver can pause a Load Track once it has been started by clicking the Pause Track button. If the driver clicks the Pause Track button, the Load Track will be paused and not tracked until the driver restarts the Load Track. If the driver pauses a Load Track but does not restart it, the load will not be tracked from that point.
20. How do brokers and shippers know if a Load Track was paused?
If the driver pauses a Load Track that has been started by clicking the Pause Track button, the only way the broker or shipper will know is if they view the Load Track on the Carrier411 website and look at the route map. The route map will indicate the date, time and location where the Load Track was paused.
21. Can the driver provide comments to the broker or shipper when using Load Track?
Yes. When the driver starts, pauses or ends a Load Track, the driver has the option of entering optional comments that can be viewed by the broker or shipper using the Carrier411 website. You can view the Load Track on the Carrier411 website, and the route map will show the optional comments entered by the driver. Optional comments will be displayed only if entered by the driver, and they will be displayed at the location where the driver started, paused or ended the Load Track.
22. How do brokers or shippers know if a Load Track starts or ends?
When you create a Load Track on the Carrier411 website, you have the option to specify whether to receive optional email alerts and optional text message alerts about the Load Track status. If you opted to receive Load Track email alerts, you will receive an email alert when the Load Track starts or ends. You will not receive email alerts if the Load Track is paused. Similarly, if you opted to receive Load Track text message alerts, you will receive a text alert when the Load Track starts or ends. You will not receive text alerts if a Load Track is paused.
In addition to optional Load Track email alerts and text alerts, you can check and view any Load Track at any time using the Carrier411 website.
23. How often does Load Track plot the driver's location?
The frequency of GPS location points plotted along the driver's route depends on a number of variables. Drivers who use an Android phone will tend to have locations points plotted with greater frequency than if they were using an iPhone. Regardless of the phone, Load Track is extremely accurate.
If the driver uses Load Track on an iPhone, significant changes in GPS location are determined and plotted on the route map using a proprietary algorithm controlled by Apple. Location points reported by drivers using an iPhone may occur at 20-minute to 30-minute intervals.
If the driver uses Load Track on an Android phone, GPS location points may be plotted on the route map as often as every 5 minutes.
It is also important to consider that some areas of the country have weaker cell phone coverage, which could affect the accuracy and frequency of reported GPS location points for a Load Track.
24. Does the driver need to turn on their phone's GPS setting to use Load Track?
Yes. The driver must turn ON the GPS setting for their iPhone or Android phone in order to use Load Track. If the driver does not have GPS enabled on their phone, the Load Track cannot be performed. Drivers who disabled GPS on their phone can easily re-enable it at any time through their phone settings.
25. What is the accuracy of Load Track location points and the plotted route?
Load Track is extremely accurate. All location points plotted on the interactive route map are accurate within a few feet. The GPS on the driver's iPhone or Android phone may impact the accuracy of the location points. Some areas of the country have weaker cell phone coverage, which could affect the accuracy and frequency of reported GPS location points.
26. Will the Load Track still work if the driver is talking on their phone?
If the driver is talking on the phone, Load Track will still track the driver's location within a 4G coverage area if the smart phone allows it. Some older smart phones will not allow GPS tracking when the user is talking on the phone. In any case, Trucker Tools App will continue to track the load after the driver ends the phone call. Again, Trucker Tools App will only track the load if the driver starts the Load Track and continues to track it until the Load Track ends.
27. Does the driver need to have the Trucker Tools App open for Load Track to work?
No. The driver does not need to keep the Trucker Tools App open on their phone to perform a Load Track. Once the driver starts the Load Track on their iPhone or Android phone, the load will be tracked even when the Trucker Tools App is closed. The load will also be tracked even when the Trucker Tools App is sent to background or the phone is locked. The Trucker Tools App will track the load as long as the phone is NOT powered off.
28. What happens if the driver's phone is turned off or the battery runs out of power?
Load Track cannot track location points when the driver's phone is powered off or in airplane mode. If the driver's phone is turned off for any reason during a Load Track, the load cannot be tracked until the phone is powered on again. Once the driver powers on their phone and the phone restarts, the Load Track automatically restarts and tracking resumes at that point. There is no need for the driver to launch the Trucker Tools App again or do anything else with Load Track.
29. Can the carrier or driver reassign a Load Track to another driver?
If the Load Track has not been started by the driver, the carrier dispatcher can reassign the Load Track to a different driver. However, if the driver started the Load Track, the driver can use the Re-Assign Track feature available in the Trucker Tools App to reassign the Load Track to another driver. If the Load Track is reassigned to another driver, the other driver must also have an iPhone or Android phone and install the Trucker Tools App. If a Load Track is reassigned, you will not receive any alerts.
30. Can the broker or shipper see the driver's cell phone number?
No. You will not be provided with the driver's cell phone number. However, if you entered your telephone number when you created the Load Track, the driver assigned to the load can click the Call Broker button available in the Trucker Tools App to contact you or your company.
31. What happens if the driver forgets to start a Load Track?
If the driver forgets to start a Load Track, one hour after the scheduled pickup time, the carrier dispatcher will receive an automated email notifying them the driver did not start the Load Track. One hour after the scheduled pickup time, the driver will also receive an automated alert on their phone notifying them to start the Load Track.
If the driver fails to start a Load Track 24 hours after the scheduled pickup time for the load, the Load Track will be cancelled automatically by our system. If that occurs, an optional email alert and optional text message alert will be sent to you. Once a Load Track has been cancelled, it cannot be started again. You must create another Load Track to replace it if needed.
32. What happens if the driver forgets to end a Load Track?
If the driver forgets to end a Load Track, one hour after the scheduled delivery time, the carrier dispatcher will receive an automated email notifying them the driver did not end the Load Track. One hour after the scheduled delivery time, the driver will also receive an automated alert on their phone notifying them to end the Load Track.
If the driver fails to end the Load Track 24 hours after the scheduled delivery time for the load, the Load Track will be ended automatically by our system. If that occurs, an optional email alert and optional text message alert will be sent to you.
33. What happens if the driver pauses a Load Track and forgets to restart it?
If the driver pauses a Load Track and forgets to restart it, one hour after the Load Track was paused, the carrier dispatcher will receive an automated email notifying them the driver paused the Load Track but did not restart it. One hour after the Load Track was paused, the driver will also receive an automated alert on their phone reminding them to restart the Load Track.
If the driver fails to restart a Load Track that was paused, the Load Track cannot be tracked. If the paused Load Track is not started again, our system will automatically end the Load Track 24 hours after the scheduled delivery time. If that occurs, an optional email alert and optional text message alert will be sent to you.
34. Who can cancel a Load Track?
Once the driver starts a Load Track, it cannot be cancelled. There are three ways a Load Track can be cancelled: (1) As long as the driver did not start the Load Track, you can cancel the Load Track using the Carrier411 website. (2) As long as the Load Track has not been started, the carrier dispatcher can also cancel the Load Track. (3) If a Load Track has not been started 24 hours after the scheduled pickup time for the load, our system will automatically cancel the Load Track. If a Load Track is cancelled, an optional email alert and optional text message alert will be sent to you.
35. Will web services integration be available for Load Track?
Integration for Load Track using our Web Services Interface is not available.
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