Freight carriers (*Frachtführer*) are the **shipping methods of a warehouse**, for example DHL, DPD, a freight forwarder or your own delivery. At the packing station they are offered as **Shipping method** (*Versandart*). Their type decides whether a parcel label is created, and their default carton is preselected when packing. In the loading, the shipping method is chosen per position.

Without a freight carrier in the warehouse, there is no shipping method to choose at the packing station.

![Screenshot: Freight carriers list with Name, Warehouse, Type, Deposit location, Priority and Status](/warehouse-setup/images/freight-carriers-list.png)

## Before you start
- Your user needs the permission for **Freight carriers** (*Frachtführer*) and, to create, edit or delete, the matching permissions – ask your administrator.
- Optional: a [deposit location](/warehouse-setup/deposit-locations.md) in the same warehouse.
- Optional: a carton of the same warehouse – see [Storage aid types](/warehouse-setup/storage-aid-types.md).

## Step by step
1. Open **WMS › Warehouse › Freight carriers** (*WMS › Lager › Frachtführer*).
2. Click **Create new freight carrier** (*Neuen Frachtführer anlegen*).
3. Enter the **Name** (*Name*), choose the **Warehouse** (*Lager*) and the **Type** (*Typ*).
4. Optional: **Deposit location** (*Ablageort*), **Default carton** (*Standard-Kartonage*), **Priority** (*Priorität*), maximum weight and dimensions and a **Description** (*Beschreibung*).
5. Leave **Shipping service provider** (*Versanddienstleister*) switched on if a parcel label is to be created for this method.
6. Tick **Active** (*Aktiv*) and click **Save** (*Speichern*). You see "Freight carrier successfully created." (*Frachtführer erfolgreich erstellt.*)

![Screenshot: Form "Create new freight carrier" with Name "DHL", Type Parcel service, a default carton and the switches Shipping service provider and Active](/warehouse-setup/images/freight-carriers-form.png)

## Fields and options
| Field | Meaning | Required |
|---|---|---|
| **Name** (*Name*) | Display name of the shipping method. It is also passed on as the carrier name when the label is created – use the carrier's name, e.g. "DHL" or "DPD". | yes |
| **Warehouse** (*Lager*) | Warehouse in which the shipping method is offered | yes |
| **Type** (*Typ*) | **Parcel service** (*Paketdienst*) – a parcel label is created. **Freight forwarder** (*Spedition*) or **Own delivery** (*Eigene Auslieferung*) – no parcel label is created. | yes |
| **Deposit location** (*Ablageort*) | "Optional: default deposit location for this freight carrier" | no |
| **Default carton** (*Standard-Kartonage*) | "Optional: default carton for this freight carrier" – preselected at the packing station | no |
| **Priority** (*Priorität*) | "Lower values have higher priority" | no |
| **Max. weight (kg)**, **Max. length / width / height (cm)** (*Max. Gewicht, Max. Länge / Breite / Höhe*) | Limits of a shipment. At the packing station you get the warning "Package too heavy!" (*Paket zu schwer!*) if the weight is exceeded. | no |
| **Description** (*Beschreibung*) | Free text | no |
| **Shipping service provider** (*Versanddienstleister*) | Switched off = no parcel label is created for this method. | no |
| **Active** (*Aktiv*) | Only active carriers are offered | – |

![Screenshot: Packing station with the "Shipping method" selection listing the freight carriers of the warehouse](/warehouse-setup/images/freight-carriers-packing.png)

!!!
Which label interface (e.g. DHL, DPD, GLS or ShipCloud) is actually used for a label is decided by the shipping rules of the logistician per client and carrier. Without a matching rule, ShipCloud is used. See [Shipping providers](/administration/shipping-providers.md).
!!!

## Where freight carriers are used
- **Packing station:** selection of the shipping method, preselection of the carton, label creation – see [Packing](/outbound/packing.md).
- **Loading:** shipping method and tracking per position – see [Loading](/outbound/loading.md).
- **Picklist templates:** filter by shipping methods – see [Picklist templates](/outbound/picklist-templates.md).

## Good to know / Troubleshooting
| Message | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Please enter a name. (*Bitte gib einen Namen ein.*) | Name is empty. | Enter a name. |
| Please select a warehouse. (*Bitte wähle ein Lager aus.*) | Warehouse is missing. | Choose a warehouse. |
| A freight carrier with this name already exists for the selected warehouse. (*Ein Frachtführer mit diesem Namen existiert bereits …*) | Duplicate name. | Choose another name. |
| Invalid freight carrier type. (*Ungültiger Frachtführer-Typ.*) | No valid type selected. | Choose Parcel service, Freight forwarder or Own delivery. |
| The selected deposit location does not belong to the selected warehouse. (*Der ausgewählte Ablageort gehört nicht zum ausgewählten Lager.*) | Deposit location from another warehouse. | Choose a location of the same warehouse. |
| The selected carton does not belong to the selected warehouse or does not exist. (*Die ausgewählte Kartonage gehört nicht zum ausgewählten Lager …*) | Wrong carton. | Check the carton article and its warehouse. |
| The value for … must be positive. (*Der Wert für … muss positiv sein.*) | Negative weight or dimension. | Correct the value. |