> 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.

# Connecting with Providers

> How shippers create connections with forwarders and couriers on chrt — sign-up flow from a provider profile, in-app connect, and managing existing connections.

A **connection** is the link between your shipper organization and a forwarder
or courier that runs shipments for you. You can only assign orders to providers
you're connected with. This page shows you how to create connections — both
during sign-up and from inside the app — and how to manage them.

## Before you start

Creating a shipper organization is free, and connecting with a provider does
not incur charges on its own. You only pay for the shipments you place.

If you already have a chrt shipper account, sign in first and then open the
provider's profile link.

## Option A: Sign up from a provider profile (fastest)

If your provider has shared a link like `https://chrt.com/@provider-handle`,
the fastest path is to sign up from that page so your new shipper org lands
already connected to them.

1. Open your provider's public profile page.

   The URL usually looks like `https://chrt.com/@provider-handle`.

2. Click **Sign Up and Connect**. chrt will run you through sign-up and bring
   you back to the connection flow.

![Sign Up and Connect button on a provider profile](/_fern-img/b69d02b7ed987c66f5893d9ef63868742cee1e981cee5616c6243799ace2ba52.webp)

3. Enter your name and email address. On the sign-up screen, fill in your
   first name, last name, and email, then click **Continue**. You can also
   use **Continue with Google** if your organization signs in with Google.

![chrt sign-up form with first name, last name, email, and Continue button](/_fern-img/6f91ed39a25477f2f7aee51e714747bd62473a39153f963b211d5ed6b4932e06.webp)

4. Create a password and click **Continue**.

![Create a password screen with Continue button](/_fern-img/74e6ab0afaaaa3e4b66427296da81497ec0dd2d00ac89ddb7c15895272c14c7e.webp)

5. Create or select your organization. If you're new to chrt, enter your
   company name and a public handle. If you've been invited to an existing
   chrt organization, select it from **Your organizations** instead.

![Create or Select an Organization screen with company name field](/_fern-img/386149a8d3c8792ef0ca297b11987b5f63da2cddab6a8f3f24ebee38571e459f.webp)

6. Choose **Shipper** when chrt asks how your organization uses the platform.
   A shipper organization is for teams that place shipments and work with
   logistics providers.

![How are you planning to use chrt screen with Shipper selected](/_fern-img/d5d1210f51aa56d166f566afef6aff838d167f8167f972ccfbb7ebaffee9885f.webp)

7. Click **Continue**. chrt creates your shipper profile and connects you to
   the provider from the profile link.

![Connected status on the provider profile](/_fern-img/731e45ddd9fdeb09ebdb0d155b46ac433c86a8af9c3e84bf76f5688eb2399f50.webp)

## Option B: Connect from inside chrt

If you're already signed in and don't have a provider profile link, search
the directory and connect from there.

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 for the provider's handle.
4. Review the provider result, then click **Connect**.

The provider receives the connection request immediately. Once they accept (or
if the connection is auto-accepted), the provider appears in your connections
list and is available in the Order setup tab of the draft builder.

## Option C: Record an off-platform provider

If a provider isn't on chrt yet, you can record them as an
[off-platform provider](/shippers/off-platform) so you can still build orders
that reference them. Off-platform providers don't have a chrt account, so
they can't see the order in the app — you'll handle dispatch and updates
through your existing channels.

## How to know it worked

* The provider profile shows **Connected** (or chrt returns you to the
  profile after creating the connection).
* The provider appears in your [Connections](https://chrt.com/connections)
  list.
* The provider is selectable as the forwarder or courier on the Order setup
  tab of the [draft builder](https://chrt.com/orders/drafts/new).

## Managing a connection

Open [chrt.com/connections](https://chrt.com/connections) and click a
connection to see the connection detail page. From there you can:

* See the provider's profile, contact info, and saved addresses.
* See shared orders, statements, and tracking sessions.
* Pause or end the connection (the provider can still see historical orders).

## If something looks different

* If you see **Connect** instead of **Sign Up and Connect**, you're already
  signed in — click **Connect** to connect the currently-active organization.
* If you're asked to choose between **Shipper** and **Provider**, choose
  **Shipper** unless your company performs logistics work for customers.
* If the profile already shows **Connected**, your organization is already
  connected to the provider.
* If you accidentally create the wrong type of organization, contact
  [hi@chrt.com](mailto:hi@chrt.com) before placing orders or inviting
  teammates.

## Related guides

* [Off-platform providers](/shippers/off-platform) — record providers that
  aren't on chrt.
* [Creating shipments](/shippers/creating-shipments) — assign a connected
  provider to an order.
* [Add an organization member](/help/getting-started/add-org-member) — invite
  the rest of your team to your shipper org.