> This page is for version Prod (default).
> For other versions, use one of these documentation indexes:
> - Prod (default): https://docs.chrt.com/prod/llms.txt
> - Staging: https://docs.chrt.com/staging/llms.txt
> - Dev: https://docs.chrt.com/dev/llms.txt

> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.chrt.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.chrt.com/_mcp/server.

# Order Templates

Use an order template when shipments share a route, cargo description or operational setup. A template is reusable preparation; creating a draft and staging an order are separate actions.

## Before you start

Select the provider organization responsible for the work and confirm access to [Order Templates](https://chrt.com/orders/templates). Follow the actions your account permits. If access is denied, ask the organization's administrator rather than assuming a role or bookmark grants access.

## Create and configure a template

1. Open [New Order Template](https://chrt.com/orders/templates/new). This opens the **Create order template** dialog.

2. Enter **Name** 1 and, when useful, **Description** 2, then use **Create template** 3.

   ![The Create order template dialog; number 1 points at the Name field, 2 at the optional Description field and 3 at the Create template button.](/_fern-img/deeed5b0be30ddad9d2b2fd1da2e7b6f4c7270836ff625d1a6437307f033ba46.webp)

   *Order Templates > **Create order template** dialog, shown empty. **1** **Name** field, **2** **Description** field (optional), **3** **Create template** button. The form is empty, so **Create template** is grey.*

3. In the template workspace, review **Summary**, **Timeline**, **Cargo** and **Tasks** 1. Configure the relevant route, cargo and operational task-list settings for the intended work. The screen below shows **Add first segment** 2 on a **Timeline** with no segments yet.

   ![The header of a saved order template with an empty Timeline; numbers 1 to 5 point at the Summary, Timeline, Cargo and Tasks tabs, Add first segment, the for shipper selector, the template name and Create draft.](/_fern-img/5f5f367d0f19abecace62c7fd25d792f525b8439f9d952be5605dbe941e41eaf.webp)

   *Order Templates > a saved template workspace, **Timeline** tab, no segments yet. **1** **Summary**, **Timeline**, **Cargo** and **Tasks** tabs, **2** **Add first segment**, **3** **for** shipper selector (**CHRT (shipper)** here), **4** Template name, with its pencil, **5** **Create draft**.*

4. Review the shipper 3, ownership and other available metadata. Resolve errors and allow edits to finish saving before leaving the section.

   In a shipper organization, the header reads **by** instead of **for**, and **Select coordinator…** lets you choose the coordinator who will run the template's orders. Segment details in a shipper template do not offer executor selection; assigning executors is the coordinator's job.

5. Refresh or reopen the template and confirm the saved values.

Give the template a name 4 that explains its use. Check timing and handling requirements for each shipment; reusing a template does not prove its previous values fit the next movement.

## Create an order from the template

Open the intended active template and use **Create draft** 5. The app prepares a new draft and opens its order workspace. Review its cargo, locations, timing, shipper/provider and task-list configuration before using **Stage order**. Cargo shows as a table with a footer that counts items and pieces.

The draft's order ID 1 is its name, and the shipper 2 follows **for**.

![A draft order's workspace header with numbers 1 and 2 on the order ID and the shipper after for.](/_fern-img/0d35de60b7864c57ae1efff8e62dc479d9c5f4690f689c44e8bee79ed837f08b.webp)

*A draft order's workspace header. **1** order ID, **2** **for** shipper.*

Reopen the saved order and check its status and ownership. A created draft is not a staged order, driver assignment or shipment execution. If an action reports an error or the result does not refresh, inspect the saved state before trying again.

See [Create and assign an order](/help/getting-started/create-and-assign-order) for staging and assignment, and [Operational task templates](/docs/guides/operations-task-lists) for reusable operator work.

## Maintain the template

The template actions include **Copy template**, **Archive**, **Unarchive** and **Delete template** where available. Review the template's identity before changing it. Archived templates have editing and **Create draft** disabled in the workspace; use the appropriate active template for new work.

Prefer archiving when you need to stop using a template while retaining the record. Deletion has its own confirmation. Confirm the result in the template list before assuming a change succeeded.

Templates do not promise automatic recurring shipments. For separately configured order schedules, use [Order schedules](/shippers/order-schedules).