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# Managing Your Courier Network

> How forwarders build and manage their courier network in chrt — directory search, connections, partner details, and off-platform couriers.

A forwarder's network is the list of couriers you can dispatch shipments
to. In chrt the network lives in **Connections**: each row is a courier
you've linked your forwarder org to and can assign ground segments to in
the [draft builder](/forwarders/multi-leg-orders).

## Before you start

* Connecting with a courier is free and doesn't commit you to any volume.
* You can connect with as many couriers as you want. Add couriers in every
  market you forward into so multi-leg shipments don't stall at hand-off.

## 1. Find couriers in the directory

Open [chrt.com/directory](https://chrt.com/directory) to browse all
couriers on the platform. The directory is searchable by handle, name,
and service area.

1. Open the directory and switch to the **Couriers** view.
2. Filter by region, service area, or handle.
3. Click any courier card to open the partner detail page.

## 2. Connect with a courier

From a courier's partner detail page, click **Connect**. chrt sends the
connection request and the courier confirms from their side. Once
confirmed, the courier appears in your
[Connections](https://chrt.com/connections) list and becomes selectable
as the courier on a ground segment in the draft builder.

You can also connect from inside chrt's connections page directly:

1. Open
   [chrt.com/connections](https://chrt.com/connections?view=table\&findNew=true).
2. Click **Find New** if the search panel isn't already open.
3. Search by handle, then click **Connect** on the result.

## 3. Read a partner detail page

Click any connection in your
[Connections](https://chrt.com/connections) list to open the partner
detail page. It shows:

* The courier's **profile** — contact, service area, capabilities,
  certifications.
* **Saved contacts and addresses** — dispatchers, drivers, warehouses you
  can drop into stops on a draft order.
* **Shared orders** — every order you and this courier have collaborated on.
* **Statements** — billing the courier has opened against you (and any
  ledgers).
* **Rate sheets** — pricing this courier has on file with your org. You
  can attach a default sheet here so it auto-applies on new orders.

## 4. Record an off-platform courier

Some couriers you work with aren't on chrt yet. Record them as an
**off-platform courier** so you can still build orders that reference
them.

1. Open
   [chrt.com/connections](https://chrt.com/connections?view=table\&findNew=true).
2. Click **Add off-platform courier** (or the off-platform action from
   the **Find New** panel).
3. Enter the courier's name, contact info, and any service area details
   you have.
4. Save. The off-platform courier becomes selectable on a ground segment
   just like an on-platform connection.

> **Note**
>
> Off-platform couriers don't have a chrt account, so they can't see the
> order in the app, accept tasks, or run the driver flow. You'll have to
> dispatch them through your existing channels (phone, email) and mark
> task progress yourself.

## 5. Save contacts for fast stop entry

For every courier you work with regularly, save the dispatcher contact
and any warehouse or station addresses on their partner detail page.

When you build a stop in the draft builder, you can:

* Click the **map pin** on a saved contact card to drop their address
  into the stop.
* Click the **bell icon** on a saved contact card to add ad-hoc email
  notifications for that stop's events.

Saved contacts make multi-leg drafting fast — you don't retype the same
warehouse address on every job.

## How to know it worked

* The courier appears in your [Connections](https://chrt.com/connections)
  list with status **Connected**.
* The courier is selectable on ground segments in the
  [draft builder](https://chrt.com/orders/drafts/new).
* Saved contacts on the partner detail page show up in the contact picker
  when you set a stop's address or point of contact.

## If something looks different

* **Connection stuck in Pending.** The courier hasn't confirmed yet.
  Reach out via their listed contact to nudge.
* **Courier not in the directory.** Either they aren't on chrt, or their
  profile is set to private. Use the off-platform flow until they're on
  chrt.
* **Default rate sheet isn't applying on new orders.** Check the partner
  detail page — defaults are set per connection, not org-wide.
* Contact [hi@chrt.com](mailto:hi@chrt.com) if a known courier is missing
  from search.

## Related guides

* [Multi-leg orders](/forwarders/multi-leg-orders) — assign network
  couriers to ground segments.
* [Billing for forwarders](/forwarders/billing) — attach rate sheets per
  courier connection.
* [Connecting with providers](/shippers/connecting-providers) — same
  connection flow on the shipper side.
* [Off-platform providers](/shippers/off-platform) — the shipper-side
  off-platform doc.