Introduction
Every vehicle on a load is marked as either operable or inoperable (often shortened to INOP). This tells the carrier whether the vehicle can be driven onto and off the trailer, or whether it needs extra equipment. Getting it right helps you find the right carrier and avoids canceled loads.
Operable vs. Inoperable
| Operable | Inoperable (INOP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | The vehicle can be driven onto and off the trailer. | The vehicle can't be driven. It has to be winched, pushed, or lifted onto the trailer. |
| What the carrier needs | Standard loading | A winch or other loading equipment, and often more time |
| How to mark it | Leave the inoperable box unchecked (the default) | Check the inoperable / INOP box on the vehicle |
Why It Matters
- Finding the right carrier: Carriers can filter the Super Loadboard by vehicle condition, including INOP. A vehicle marked correctly reaches carriers who have the right equipment.
- Pricing: Moving an inoperable vehicle usually costs more. Pricing Insights takes vehicle condition into account.
- Fewer cancellations: If a carrier arrives and finds an inoperable vehicle that wasn't marked, they may not be able to load it.
Important: Don't rely on notes alone. If a vehicle is inoperable, check the box on the vehicle. A note in the instructions is easy to miss and isn't used by Super Loadboard filters.
How to Mark a Vehicle as Inoperable
In Shipper TMS
- When you create or edit an order, find the vehicle in the Vehicles table.
- Check the INOP box on that vehicle, then click Save.
In Carrier TMS
- When you create or edit a load, go to the Vehicles section.
- Check the INOP box on the vehicle row, then click Save.
In a CSV Import
- In the Carrier TMS CSV template, enter yes in the Inoperable Vehicle column. If you leave it blank, it defaults to no (operable). See CSV Load Template For Carrier TMS.
Note: If you hide vehicle details on the Super Loadboard, carriers still see the vehicle's condition (INOP status), along with type, dimensions, and weight.
If the Vehicle Turns Out to Be Inoperable at Pickup
Contact the shipper or broker first. They may be able to update the order or arrange equipment.
If the carrier can't move the vehicle, they can cancel the load in Carrier TMS and choose Unknown Inoperable Vehicle as the reason. Cancellations for this reason:
- Don't count toward the carrier's Late Cancellation rate.
- Aren't reposted automatically, even if the shipper has auto-repost turned on, so the shipper can fix the order first.
Note: Choose an accurate cancellation reason. Shippers and brokers can see the reason you choose and can dispute it.
Next Steps
Ready to post a load with the correct vehicle condition?