> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.chrt.com/prod/forwarders/about/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.chrt.com/_mcp/server. # About chrt for Forwarders > Overview of chrt's forwarder-facing capabilities — multi-leg orders, NFO and OBC, courier network, flight integration, billing, and common use cases. Freight forwarders sit at the center of complex shipments, coordinating between shippers, couriers, airlines, and customs. chrt gives you a single platform to manage all of it: build orders with multiple legs, assign different couriers to each leg, track cargo across ground and air, and keep every stakeholder informed. ## What chrt does for freight forwarders ### Build complex, multi-leg orders chrt's order system was designed with freight forwarding in mind. Orders are composed of **task groups** — each representing a leg of the journey that can be assigned to a different courier and tracked independently. A typical multi-modal order might look like: 1. **Ground pickup** — local courier collects cargo from the shipper. 2. **Airport transfer** — courier tenders cargo to the airline at the origin airport. 3. **Flight leg** — cargo flies, with FlightAware-powered status tracking. 4. **Airport recovery** — destination courier recovers from the airline. 5. **Final delivery** — destination courier delivers to the consignee. Each leg is a separate task group. Assign the right courier, attach a rate sheet, set flight info, and specify what documentation is required at every handoff. Build orders through the web UI, our [API](/api-reference), or our [SDKs](/sdk). See [Multi-leg orders](/forwarders/multi-leg-orders) for the segment-by- segment walkthrough. ### NFO (Next Flight Out) For time-critical shipments that need to move immediately by air, build a ground + flight + ground order and use the **Next 6 hr** flight search on the Flights tab to find the soonest available departure. chrt creates the milestone tasks (airline accepted cargo, tendered, departed, in flight, arrived, recovered) and tracks the flight automatically. See [Next Flight Out (NFO)](/forwarders/nfo). ### OBC (Onboard Courier) For the highest-value, most time-sensitive shipments, chrt supports onboard-courier service — a dedicated person accompanies the cargo door-to-door: * One segment holds **multiple flight legs** in sequence. * chrt writes per-leg **board / depart / arrive / deboard** milestones plus wrapper pickup, airport handling, customs, and delivery milestones around them. * The full chain-of-custody is tracked across every leg. OBC is configured on the same Flights tab as flight segments. See [Multi-leg orders → OBC](/forwarders/multi-leg-orders#5-configure-an-onboard-courier-segment). ### Book commercial cargo space chrt embeds **WebCargo by Freightos** inside the Flights tab so you can compare rates and book cargo space on commercial airlines without leaving the order. Bookings made through WebCargo link back to the chrt order via an external booking reference. See [Flights and WebCargo](/forwarders/flights#book-with-webcargo). ### Manage your network Your network is your business. chrt helps you build and maintain it: * **Discover** shippers and couriers in the public directory — browse profiles, service areas, and capabilities. * **Connect** with shippers who need forwarding and couriers who can execute legs. Connections are free and unlimited. * **Off-platform** providers can be recorded for partners who aren't on chrt yet. * **Default rate sheets** attach per connection so pricing auto-applies on new orders. See [Managing your courier network](/forwarders/network). ### Track everything in real time Once orders are in motion, chrt gives you full visibility: * **Order-level view** — status of every order across your portfolio. * **Task group detail** — driver location, task progress, and documentation per leg. * **Flight tracking** — automatic FlightAware status for air freight legs. * **Device tracking** — attach [chrt tracker devices](/trackers) for independent GPS and temperature monitoring that survives every hand-off. * **Messages and files** — per-task-group attachments for coordination between parties. See [Tracking shipments](/shippers/tracking) for the order page reference and [Trackers for international cargo](/forwarders/trackers) for the multi-leg tracker pattern. ### Notifications and webhooks chrt's notification system is built for multi-party operations: * **Notification groups** — group your dispatch, ops, and finance teams and subscribe each to the relevant events (order staged, courier assigned, flight arrival, invoice opened) on the right channels (email, SMS, push). * **Ad-hoc notifications** — send tracking updates for specific orders to external contacts like the end recipient or the shipper's customer. * **Webhooks** — pipe events into your TMS or other systems for automated workflows. ### Billing and rate sheets chrt manages the dual financial flow that forwarders deal with: * **Rate sheets** — define pricing for shipper-to-you and you-to-courier on each leg. * **Line item groups** — auto-generated per task group with base rates, mileage, surcharges, and adjustments. * **Statements** — group line items into invoiceable units; one per order for forwarders and shippers, one per task group for couriers. * **Stripe Connect** — collect from shippers and pay couriers through the same payment processor. * **Ledgers** — roll statements into weekly or monthly billing periods per counterparty. See [Billing for forwarders](/forwarders/billing). ## Cargo types chrt supports a wide range of cargo classifications. When building orders, you specify the type for each cargo item, which drives handling requirements and pricing. See [Cargo Types](/docs/concepts/cargo-types) for the full list. ## Common use cases #### Medical logistics Coordinate shipments of pharmaceuticals, organs, lab specimens, and medical devices with full cold-chain visibility. chrt supports temperature monitoring through tracker devices, requires photo and signature documentation at every handoff, and provides immediate alerts for exceptions. Ideal for medical logistics companies managing hospital- to-hospital and lab-to-lab shipments. #### Time-critical air freight Manage NFO and OBC shipments with end-to-end tracking across ground and air. chrt integrates with FlightAware for automatic flight status updates, lets you assign different ground couriers at origin and destination, and provides granular visibility into every phase of the journey. #### Multi-modal supply chain Orchestrate complex supply chain movements involving multiple carriers, transport modes, and handoff points. chrt's task group model lets you break a shipment into independently managed legs, assign the right courier to each, and track everything from a single dashboard. ## Getting started Start with [Getting Started as a Forwarder](/forwarders) for the end-to-end onboarding path, or jump to the topic you need: * [Multi-leg orders](/forwarders/multi-leg-orders) * [Next Flight Out (NFO)](/forwarders/nfo) * [Flights and WebCargo](/forwarders/flights) * [Managing your courier network](/forwarders/network) * [Trackers for international cargo](/forwarders/trackers) * [Billing for forwarders](/forwarders/billing) For API integration, our base URL is `https://api.chrt.com`. We offer SDKs in [TypeScript, Java, and Swift](/sdk) and full endpoint documentation in our [API Reference](/api-reference). Need help? [Contact support](/support). > Orchestrate multi-modal logistics from a single platform — what chrt gives freight forwarders.