B2B freight and loads from dock to delivery
Shipping to a retailer or distributor is not parcel shipping at a larger size. Orders are built into pallets, pallets into loads, and every stop needs paperwork the receiver will check. NextStock handles the load, the documents and the proof of delivery in the same place as the pick and pack.
Highlights
Loads and manifests
Group orders into a load, print its manifest and packing list, and dispatch it as one truck.
Freight documents
Print delivery notes, bills of lading and load packing lists from the same shipment records.
SSCC pallet labels
Label each pallet with a GS1 SSCC so the receiver can scan it and match it to the paperwork.
Proof per stop
Record proof of delivery for each stop after dispatch, so disputes start from a record.
What makes B2B freight different from parcel
A parcel order ends when the box leaves with the courier. A B2B order is judged at the receiver's dock. The buyer checks pallet count, labels and quantities against the delivery note, and a mismatch can mean a refused pallet, a deduction from the invoice, or a return trip.
That puts more weight on the steps after packing: how pallets are built, which truck they go on, which paperwork travels with them, and what evidence comes back. Many warehouses run those steps from spreadsheets and printed templates, disconnected from the actual pick. That is where quantity errors get into the paperwork.
How loads work in NextStock
After orders are picked and packed, you build them onto pallets and assign them to a load.
- Pack cartons onto pallets. Mixed pallets can carry several SKUs, or several orders going to the same stop.
- Print a GS1 SSCC label for each pallet so it has a unique, scannable identity.
- Assign orders and pallets to a load and print the manifest and load packing list.
- Print a delivery note for each customer and a bill of lading for the carrier.
- Dispatch the load. Stock leaves the ledger as shipped against each order.
- Record proof of delivery for each stop after the truck returns.
Cut-off times and urgency ordering
Trucks leave on a schedule. Orders carry cut-off times, and work lists are ordered by urgency, so the pallet for the 2 p.m. truck is picked before the one for tomorrow. When an order misses its cut-off, it shows up as late instead of quietly rolling over.
Not every B2B order needs a truck. Small top-up orders can ship as parcels without a load, using the same packing and shipping flow as e-commerce orders.
Customer item codes and sales multiples
Trade customers often order by their own part numbers and in fixed pack quantities. NextStock maps a customer's item code to your SKU, so an order that uses their part number still resolves to the right product, and sales multiples stop an order for 10 units of a SKU that only ships in cases of 12. When a customer genuinely needs a broken case, a named override records who allowed it.
Exceptions after dispatch
Freight goes wrong in predictable ways. A pallet is short at the dock, a stop refuses part of the delivery, or a load leaves with an order that should have waited.
- Record proof of delivery per stop, noting what the receiver signed for.
- Reship missing quantities as a new shipment against the same order.
- Bring refused goods back through returns with grading and a disposition.
Who this is for and how to set it up
Freight and loads suit B2B distributors, brands that sell into retail, and 3PLs that run trade orders for their clients. Start by setting up pallet and shipping labels through label printing and testing an SSCC label with your largest customer's receiving team. Then agree cut-off times per route and set them on the matching orders.
NextStock does not plan routes or manage yards. It prepares and records the load and what happened to it; your carrier or transport team plans the drive.
Built for
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers to the questions warehouse teams ask most.
What documents can NextStock print for a B2B shipment?
Delivery notes for each customer, bills of lading for the carrier, load packing lists and manifests for each load, and GS1 SSCC labels for each pallet. All of them come from the same shipment records as the pick and pack, so quantities on the paperwork match what was scanned. Labels print to thermal printers as ZPL, with a download fallback.
How is proof of delivery recorded?
Proof of delivery is recorded for each stop after dispatch. Once a load leaves, the office can mark what each stop received, which gives you a record to work from if a customer later disputes a quantity. It is recorded after the trip rather than captured live on a driver app, since NextStock does not include driver or route management.
Can one truck carry orders for several customers?
Yes. A load can carry orders for several customers and stops. Each order keeps its own delivery note, and each pallet keeps its own SSCC label. Mixed pallets can combine several SKUs, or several orders bound for the same stop. The manifest shows everything on the truck in one list.
Does NextStock support EDI for retail customers?
No. NextStock does not offer EDI. Orders can come in through the web app, the REST API or CSV import, and SSCC labels and delivery notes give receivers standard documents to check against. If a customer requires EDI messages, you would need a separate EDI provider that talks to the NextStock API.
A little more order. A lot more possibility.
Make space for a better way to run your warehouse.