Schedule LTL Freight for Inbound Shipments
This article demonstrates how to schedule Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight for approved inbound shipments. LTL freight is specifically for shipping pallets only.
- If you are shipping boxes, your inbound will ship as Small Parcel. Please follow the instructions in our Creating Small Parcel Shipping Labels article instead.
- Please review the Creating Inbound Shipments article and video before proceeding.
Before you begin — two important limits:
- Domestic US only. Creating LTL shipments inside the Cahoot Inbound and Work Order modules works only for domestic US ship-from addresses. For international freight, Submit Ticket and Cahoot Support will book the freight on your behalf and upload the BOL directly to your inbound.
- LTL only, up to 8 pallets. Shipments over 8 pallets will not return rates and must ship as a Full Truck Load (FTL). Submit Ticket to have Cahoot Support book FTL for you, or learn more about Full Truck Load.
Step-by-Step Guide
1Submit your inbound shipment and wait for Cahoot approval. Remember that all inbounds require explicit Cahoot approval, even if you are sending inventory replenishments to the same warehouse as before.
2Once your inbound is approved, scroll down to the packing information section and click Create LTL Shipment to start the booking process for the pallets you are shipping to Cahoot.
3Click Get Rates and choose a carrier service type by clicking an option in the shipping rates table. Then click Create LTL Label.
Before you book, keep in mind:
- Schedule the pickup at least 1 business day in advance.
- Carrier transit times are estimates only, and actual delivery times may vary by carrier.
- For time-sensitive shipments, consider a carrier with a better reliability track record, even if it costs more.
- We recommend adding adequate insurance protection to all shipments in case they are lost or damaged in transit.
- To keep freight costs down and avoid common accessorial fees, review Avoiding Freight Surcharges before booking.
- Cahoot does not manage these third-party carriers or guarantee their performance.
4Navigate back to the inbound page and click Print Bill of Lading under the Shipments section. The BOL will be ready to print within approximately 30 minutes of booking your shipment.
5Next, download the pallet content labels by clicking the Download Box and Pallet Labels button in the Packing Information section.
- Enter the SKU, Item Name, and Quantities for each box.
- Print and affix these labels to the outside of each box you are shipping.
6And that's it! Sign the Bill of Lading and hand it to the driver upon pickup. You can return to the inbound page at any time to monitor the tracking status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the BOL show a different pickup company name than my Cahoot account name?
Yes. The pickup location printed on the Bill of Lading comes from the Ship From address on your inbound, not from your Cahoot account name. Enter the name you want to appear on the BOL in the Company field under Ship From when you create the inbound.
Can I add pickup instructions so they appear on the BOL automatically?
Enter them in the Special Instructions field on the inbound, in the same section as Reference ID and Carrier, before you submit it. Use this field for driver-facing details that are not captured elsewhere — which entrance or gate to use, gate codes, and any dock that should not be used.
Do not use this field for Pickup Hours, Liftgate, or Limited Access. Those are separate fields on the inbound, and the carrier prices and schedules the pickup from those fields specifically. Entering them as free text instead can result in accessorial fees or a failed pickup.
Can I change the BOL after the freight is booked?
No. Once the LTL shipment is booked, the BOL is generated from the details on the approved inbound and cannot be edited in Cahoot. Submit Ticket as soon as you spot the problem. Do not cancel and rebook the pickup yourself — carriers may charge cancellation fees that are passed on to you.
Video Walkthrough