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Pre-advise flow

This article describes the different pre-advise flows and how to set them up

Written by Gert Nuyts
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Use case

The pre-advise flow is used to notify the carriers about future orders which are not When a shipment is operationally planned in the Control Tower (routing defined, cargo details validated, pickup window known) but the goods are not yet physically ready for pickup, the system sends a Pre-Advise to the selected carrier.

This gives the carrier early visibility of expected volume, weight, equipment type, pickup location, and time window — allowing preliminary capacity planning, equipment allocation, security checks, or linehaul planning without triggering execution.

If the carrier accepts the Pre-Advise, capacity is tentatively secured, but the transport order remains inactive.
Only once the shipper confirms cargo readiness does the Control Tower activate the order, transitioning it to “Ready for Pickup” and releasing it for execution.

This approach:

  • Separates capacity planning from physical readiness

  • Reduces last-minute booking failures

  • Improves asset allocation across all modes

  • Prevents premature dispatching

  • Increases reliability during peak or constrained capacity situations

Activating Pre-advise flow

In order to define what flow does the Transport Orders follow you must navigate to the transport order settings.

Admin > Settings > Transport Order Settings

Here, in the section 'Order Logic' you can define the desired carrier flow. There are three ways to proceed using the pre-advise option.

If an email shall be send it is important to note that in order for the carriers to receive the e-mails, the option has to be enabled in the E-mail Contact Settings.

Carrier flow - Pre-advise

The pre-advise is sent to the carrier upon saving the Transport Order.

The carrier can in accept or reject the order.

Carrier flow - Either

This process follows the same exact flow as described in the 'Pre-advise' section above. If the carrier doesn't respond to the pre-advise e-mail, the order uses the 'Carrier confirmation' flow. If the carrier accepts the pre-advise then the confirmation flow is skipped.

Carrier flow - Both

This flow combines the two - pre-advise and carrier confirmation. This means that the carrier will first receive the pre-advise e-mail as described in the first flow, and then, they will still have to confirm the assignment as well.

Process Flow

  • Pre-advise is sent to the carrier upon saving the Transport Order

  • Carrier sees the order in Carrier Portal and has the option reject or accept

  • As well in case of the email has been activated, the has the option to accept/reject within the email

  • On the TO grid the status of the order turns into "Pre-advise Sent"

    • This means that the pre-advise confirmation email has been sent and the carrier can now either confirm or reject it.

  • If the carrier rejects the pre-advise, the TO status changes to "Incomplete"

  • Upon confirmation, the status changes to "Pre-advise Confirmed"

CAP Pre-advise

Unlike with carrier confirmation flow, upon the pre-advise confirmation, the Material orders will stay in status 'Draft' depending on the material order settings.

  • To set the TO to "Ready for Pickup" change the status "Activate" on the TO grid (or via MO activation if that option is enabled).

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