Freight forwarding: shipping pallets and general cargo

Large quantities don't go as parcels but on pallets via a freight forwarder. Freight forwarders don't have a uniform interface like DHL or DPD. allverto therefore creates all documents itself – freight order, pallet labels, manifest and, if required, the CMR consignment note – and sends the pickup request by email to your freight forwarder. After that the shipment runs like any other: the order is posted as shipped and the tracking number goes to the shop.

#Before you start

• The Sender address is maintained (Shipping → Settings → Carriers). It is the pickup address.
• Permission to set up shipping (e.g. role Administration) to create freight forwarders, permission for Shipping to create freight orders.

#Creating a freight forwarder

1. Open Shipping → Settings → Freight forwarders.
2. Click Add freight forwarder.
3. Enter the name, e.g. “Dachser”, “DB Schenker” or your regional freight forwarder. You can create as many freight forwarders as you like.
4. Optional: your Customer number with the freight forwarder, Contact person and Phone.
5. Enter the Email for pickup and delivery notification requests. The pickup request goes there – but only if you explicitly send it.
6. Optional: the freight forwarder's tracking link. Write {nummer} where the tracking number should go, e.g. https://tracking.spedition.de/?sendung={nummer}.
7. Choose the Default load carrier and Default freight terms. Both are preselected in the freight order.
8. Click Add freight forwarder.

Via Edit you change the details, via the menu Pause or Remove. Existing shipments and their documents are kept.

#Creating a freight order

1. Open Shipping, choose Orders → Ready to ship on the left and select an order.
2. Click Freight order (or right-click → Create freight order…).
3. Choose the Freight forwarder. Leave the Tracking number empty and allverto assigns the next number from the number range (default SP-10001). If the freight forwarder has already given you a number, enter it.
4. Enter the Load carriers: type (Euro pallet, Disposable pallet, Mesh box pallet, Package/carton), Qty, Dimensions, weight per unit (including pallet) and whether it is stackable. Add load carrier adds more rows. allverto calculates total weight, loading metres and volume.
5. Choose the Pickup date and Time window.
6. If needed: Advice (the freight forwarder calls before delivery – with phone number), Tail lift (no loading ramp at the recipient) and delivery notes.
7. Freight terms: Carriage paid (you pay the freight) or Carriage forward (the recipient pays).
8. Dangerous goods: if items in the order are flagged as dangerous goods, the notice with the UN number is already in the field. Please check it.
9. CMR consignment note is preselected for international shipments.
10. Leave Ship directly on if the goods leave the building today. Stock is then posted out and the tracking number reported to the shop – as with DHL and DPD.
11. Click Create forwarding order.

#Documents

After creating it, you can open directly:

• Freight order – pickup request with pickup address, recipient, load carriers, notes and signature fields, with a barcode of the tracking number.
• Pallet labels A6 or A5 – one label per load carrier with recipient, tracking number, barcode and “Pallet 1 of 2”. Notes such as DO NOT STACK, DANGEROUS GOODS, ADVICE and TAIL LIFT are clearly visible on it.
• CMR consignment note – for international shipments, with fields 1 to 24.

The delivery note is referenced on all documents if one already exists for the order.

#Pickup request by email

1. After creating it, click Pickup request by email… or right-click the shipment under Shipping → Shipments → Freight forwarder.
2. Check Recipient, Subject and Text. Everything can be changed.
3. Click Send pickup request. Freight order and pallet labels (for international shipments also the CMR) are attached as PDFs.

The list then shows Pickup requested. allverto doesn't send anything without your click.

#Manifest, loading list and export

Under Shipping → Shipments → Freight forwarder you see all freight shipments from today on. Choose a pickup day and optionally a freight forwarder:

• Manifest / loading list – all shipments of the day on one list with totals and signature fields for the handover to the driver.
• CSV – one row per load carrier line, for Excel or your freight forwarder's upload portal.
• XML – the same data as XML for portals and middleware.

#Tracking and cancellation

• If a tracking link is stored, the tracking number in Shipping → Shipments (also in the Freight forwarder entry) is clickable. The tracking number goes to the shop in any case.
• Cancelling works as with parcels in Shipping → Shipments by right-clicking → Cancel shipment…. If the pickup request has already been sent, please inform the freight forwarder yourself.

#Frequently asked questions

Can I set the tracking numbers myself? Yes. Either you enter the freight forwarder's number when creating it, or you set the prefix and next number under Settings → Number ranges → Freight shipments.

Why is there no connection to my freight forwarder? Every freight forwarder has its own portal. That's why allverto works with email and PDF. For upload portals there is the CSV and XML export.

What are loading metres? The length your goods occupy on the loading area (truck width 2.40 m). A euro pallet occupies 0.4 loading metres; stackable goods count half.