How do I setup Carrier Suppression in SmartTMS?

When to Use Carrier Suppression

Use carrier suppression when a client needs to:

Exclude specific carriers from rate results
Restrict carriers by lane, location, or shipment type
Apply routing guidelines or compliance rules

Access Requirements

SmartTMS Admin Portal access
Internal Admin permissions

Only Internal Admin Users can create, edit, or remove suppression rules.

Rule Format Overview

Carrier Suppression rules are entered as tilde (~) separated values in the system setting.

Supported Formats

1. Legacy (ZIP-Based – 7 Fields)

[CarrierSCAC]~[ClientLocation]~[MovementType]~[FromZip]~[ToZip]~[ShipToNamedLocation]~[ServiceType]

2. Extended (State + ZIP – 9 Fields)

[CarrierSCAC]~[ClientLocation]~[MovementType]~[FromZip]~[ToZip]~[FromState]~[ToState]~[ShipToNamedLocation]~[ServiceType]

✅ Both formats are supported
✅ Each rule must be on a new line

Field Definitions

CarrierSCAC

Carrier identifier (SCAC code)
Example:
SEFL~*~*~*~*~*~*

ClientLocation

Matches Company Name on SmartTMS user profile
Options:
- Exact value (e.g., BAKER EL PASO 416)
- Wildcard * = all locations
- Multiple locations separated by |

MovementType

Shipment type:
- I = Inbound
- O = Outbound
- T = Third Party
- * = All

FromZip / ToZip

Origin and destination ZIP codes
Can be:
- Specific ZIP (e.g., 90210)
- Wildcard *

FromState / ToState (Optional)

2-letter state code (e.g., TX, CA)
Used for broader lane suppression
Wildcard * allowed

✅ ZIP-level rules override state-level rules

ShipToNamedLocation (Optional)

Matches Vendor Address Book entry
Must match Company Name exactly
Wildcard * applies to all destinations

ServiceType

Reserved field (typically * unless otherwise specified)

Example Rules

Suppress Carrier for All Shipments

SEFL~*~*~*~*~*~*

Suppress for Specific Client Location

SAIA~BAKER EL PASO 416~*~*~*~*~*

Suppress for Outbound Only

SEFL~*~O~*~*~*~*

State-to-State Suppression

EXLA~*~O~*~*~TX~CA~*~*

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Access Admin Portal

Log into SmartTMS Admin Portal
Navigate to System Settings

Step 2: Locate Setting

Go to Client Employee Account Settings
Filter by:
CARRIER_SUPPRESSION

Step 3: Create or Copy Rule

Copy an existing entry (recommended)
Update:
- Type
- Account
- User
- Value (rule)

Step 4: Add Rules

Enter rules in the Value field
Ensure:
- Correct format (7 or 9 fields)
- Each rule on a new line

Step 5: Save

Click Copy to save the new configuration

Validation & Testing

After setup:

Run a rate shop using:
- Shipment Wizard OR
- My Quote
Confirm:
- Suppressed carriers do not appear
Validate across applicable lanes and scenarios

Rule Behavior & Prioritization

Matching Priority Order

Ship To Named Location
ZIP-level (FromZip / ToZip)
State-level (FromState / ToState)
Wildcards *

Conflict Handling

If multiple rules conflict:

Carrier will NOT be suppressed
Internal alert is triggered (Slack/email)
No user-facing error is shown

Invalid Rules

If formatting or logic errors occur:

Notifications sent to Support
Rule may not apply

Best Practices

✅ Always confirm requirements with CRM
✅ Use specific rules before wildcards
✅ Test every rule after implementation
✅ Document rule intent in internal notes
❌ Avoid overlapping/conflicting rules

Quick Reference

Scenario	Recommended Approach
All shipments	*Use wildcards**
Specific lanes	Use ZIP or State fields
Specific customers	Use ClientLocation
Precise targeting	Use ShipToNamedLocation

Need Help?

If suppression is not working as expected:

Verify rule format and spacing
Clear the client’s cache on their dashboard
Check for conflicting rules
Confirm exact field match values
Contact Support if alerts were triggered