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Understanding ETA Indicators When Comparing Carrier Quotes in Cario

Purpose 

Cario now displays enhanced ETA indicators when comparing carrier rates during quoting and consignment creation. 

These ETA indicators help users understand whether a carrier is likely to meet the displayed delivery date based on historical performance data and carrier delivery trends. 

This gives teams more context when choosing a carrier. Instead of comparing price only, users can now consider cost, service, delivery timing, and the likelihood of the carrier meeting the ETA. 

Why This Matters 

When booking freight, the cheapest option is not always the best option. 

A low-cost service may have a higher risk of missing the expected delivery date. A slightly higher-cost service may have stronger historical performance for the same location or lane. 

The enhanced ETA feature helps teams make better booking decisions by showing: 

  1. the quoted freight cost 
  2. the carrier service 
  3. the expected ETA 
  4. whether the carrier is likely to meet that ETA 
  5. whether the ETA is carrier-provided or estimated using historical data 

This is useful for logistics, warehouse, customer service, sales, finance, and operations teams who need better visibility before a booking is confirmed. 

Where You Can See ETA Indicators 

ETA indicators appear when comparing carrier services from: 

  1. Quick Quote 
  2. Create New Consignment 

Once Cario returns available carrier rates, the quote table will display pricing, fees, total cost, and ETA information for each available carrier service. 

How to View ETA Indicators 

Option 1: From Quick Quote 

  1. Go to the Quick Quote screen. 
  2. Enter the Collect From details. 
  3. Enter the Deliver To details. 
  4. Add the shipment dimensions and weight. 
  5. Select any required service options. 
  6. Click Calculate. 
  7. Cario will display the available carrier services, pricing, and ETA indicators. 

 

Option 2: From Create New Consignment 

  1. Go to Consignments. 

  2. Select Create New Consignment. 

  3. Enter the Collect From details. 

  4. Enter the Deliver To details. 

  5. Add the shipment dimensions and weight. 

  6. Complete any required consignment fields. 

  7. Click Create. 

  8. Cario will display the available carrier services, pricing, and ETA indicators. 

     

What You Will See in the Quote Table 

Once rates are returned, Cario displays a list of available carrier services. 

The quote table includes: 

  • Carrier 
  • Service 
  • Freight 
  • Fees 
  • Net 
  • Tax 
  • Total 
  • ETA 

The ETA column now includes visual indicators to help users understand delivery likelihood. 

 

Understanding the ETA Indicators 

Cario uses ETA indicators to show whether a carrier is likely to meet the displayed delivery date. 

These indicators are based on: 

  • the ETA provided by the carrier, where available 
  • historical carrier performance 
  • delivery trends for the actual service 
  • similar services to the same delivery location 

 

ETA Indicator Legend 

Indicator 

Meaning 

What It Tells You 

▲ Likely meeting ETA 

The carrier provided this ETA and historical performance supports it 

The service has a stronger likelihood of meeting the displayed ETA 

▼ Unlikely to meet ETA 

Historical performance suggests the carrier may not meet the displayed ETA 

Use caution if the delivery is time-sensitive 

▼ Likely ETA (estimated) 

The ETA is estimated using historical data 

Cario has calculated the likely ETA based on historical trends for the service or similar services 

What the Arrows Mean 

▲ Likely Meeting ETA 

The upward arrow indicates that the carrier is likely to meet the displayed ETA.

This means: 

  • the carrier has provided an ETA 
  • historical performance supports that ETA 
  • the carrier typically meets this delivery timeframe for that service or route 

This is useful when delivery confidence is important. 

Example use case: 

A customer needs goods delivered by a specific date, and the team wants to choose a service with stronger ETA confidence. 

 

▼ Unlikely to Meet ETA 

The downward arrow indicates that the carrier may be unlikely to meet the displayed ETA. 

This means historical performance suggests the carrier may not consistently meet that ETA for the service, location, or similar lane. 

This does not mean the carrier will definitely be late. It means Cario has identified a higher risk based on historical trends. 

Example use case: 

A sales or customer service team should avoid over-promising the displayed date if the ETA is marked as unlikely to be met. 

 

▼ Likely ETA (Estimated) 

The estimated ETA indicator means the ETA has been calculated using historical data. 

This may occur where the carrier’s own ETA is not available or where Cario uses historical carrier performance to estimate the likely delivery date. 

This estimate may be based on: 

  • the same carrier service 
  • similar carrier services 
  • the same or similar delivery location 
  • past delivery performance trends 

Example use case: 

A logistics coordinator can still make an informed decision even when the ETA is not directly supplied by the carrier. 

 

What the Colours Mean 

Cario uses colour indicators to help users quickly scan the quote results. 

The quote table may show: 

  • Green “Cheapest” label — highlights the lowest-cost available service. 
  • Orange “Earliest Delivery” indicator — highlights services that are expected to deliver earliest. 
  • Red “Book Immediately” label — highlights services that may require prompt booking action. 
  • Black upward ETA arrow — indicates the carrier is likely to meet the ETA. 
  • Red downward ETA arrow — indicates the carrier may be unlikely to meet the ETA. 
  • Orange downward ETA arrow — indicates the ETA is estimated based on historical delivery data. 

These indicators help users compare carrier options quickly without relying on price alone. 

 

Hover Over the ETA for More Detail 

You can hover over the ETA indicator to view a tooltip with more information. 

The tooltip explains why the ETA has been marked in a certain way. 

For example, the tooltip may show: 

  • whether the ETA is based on a carrier-provided ETA 
  • whether historical performance supports the ETA 
  • the average delivery time for that service 
  • whether the expected ETA is based on road average or similar service performance 

This gives users more context before selecting a carrier service. 

 

Important Note About Quotations 

Likely meeting ETA means the carrier provided this ETA and historical performance supports it. 

Unlikely to meet ETA and Likely ETA values are calculated from historical data based on the actual service or similar services to the same location. 

All quotations are subject to accurate declared weights and dimensions, per agreed terms and conditions. Freight charges are subject to check weight and volume. 

 

Practical Example 

A user enters a shipment from a warehouse to a customer address and requests carrier quotes. 

Cario returns multiple carrier services. 

One service may be marked as: 

  • Cheapest 
  • ▲ Likely meeting ETA 
  • ETA: 11 May 

Another service may show: 

  • higher cost 
  • ▼ Likely ETA (estimated) 
  • ETA: 12 May 

Another service may show: 

  • lower base freight cost 
  • ▼ Unlikely to meet ETA 
  • ETA: 15 May 

In this case, the user can compare more than price. They can decide whether the shipment should prioritise lowest cost, delivery confidence, or earliest delivery. 

 

Usage Scenarios by Team 

Sales Team 

Sales teams can use ETA indicators when discussing delivery options with customers. 

This helps them avoid promising a delivery date that may carry higher risk. 

Example: 

A customer asks whether goods can arrive by a certain date. The sales team can check the quote results and see whether the carrier is likely to meet the ETA before setting expectations. 

 

Customer Service Team 

Customer service teams can use ETA indicators to give customers clearer delivery information. 

This helps when answering questions such as: 

  • “When will my order arrive?” 
  • “Is this service likely to arrive on time?” 
  • “Can we use a faster option?” 

The ETA tooltip gives extra context, which helps customer service explain delivery timing with more confidence. 

 

Warehouse Team 

Warehouse teams can use ETA indicators when preparing freight for dispatch. 

This helps them understand which carrier services may need faster action, especially where a service shows Book Immediately or an early delivery option. 

Example: 

If a shipment must leave the warehouse quickly to meet the expected delivery date, the warehouse can prioritise packing and dispatch for that consignment. 

 

Logistics Team 

Logistics teams can use ETA indicators to balance cost, delivery performance, and service reliability. 

Instead of choosing the cheapest service by default, they can review: 

  • total cost 
  • ETA 
  • carrier performance confidence 
  • whether the ETA is estimated 
  • whether the carrier is likely to meet the delivery date 

This supports better carrier selection for day-to-day freight decisions. 

 

Operations Team 

Operations teams can use ETA indicators to manage risk across outbound freight. 

This is helpful for: 

  • high-volume dispatch 
  • time-sensitive deliveries 
  • customer-specific delivery expectations 
  • multi-carrier decision-making 
  • service performance reviews 

ETA indicators make it easier to see which carrier services are more likely to meet delivery expectations before the booking is confirmed. 

 

CFO and Finance Team 

Finance teams can use the enhanced ETA information to understand why a team may choose a higher-cost carrier service. 

The cheapest option may not always be the best commercial choice if it carries a higher delivery risk. 

ETA indicators help finance teams see the operational reason behind carrier selection, especially when freight cost and customer delivery performance need to be balanced. 

Example: 

A logistics team may choose a slightly higher-cost service because the ETA is more likely to be met. This can help reduce customer complaints, rework, or escalation caused by missed delivery expectations. 

 

Best Practice Tipse 

  • Do not choose a carrier based on price alone. 
  • Review the ETA indicator before booking. 
  • Hover over the ETA to understand the reason behind the indicator. 
  • Use caution when selecting services marked as unlikely to meet ETA. 
  • Check whether the ETA is carrier-provided or estimated from historical data. 
  • Make sure weights and dimensions are entered accurately. 
  • Remember that freight charges may still be subject to check weight and cube. 
  • Use the ETA information to set realistic customer expectations. 

 

Summary 

The new ETA feature in Cario gives users more context when comparing carrier rates. 

By using historical carrier performance and delivery trends, Cario helps teams understand whether a carrier is likely to meet the displayed ETA. 

This helps users make better freight decisions based on more than price alone. 

For best results, review the ETA indicator, check the quote legend, and hover over the ETA to view the tooltip explanation before selecting a service.