Arrive Logistics – Smarter Load Booking for Carriers

🧩 The Problem

Arrive’s legacy load board looked and functioned like a cluttered spreadsheet. It lacked hierarchy, readability, and responsiveness—slowing down carriers who needed to quickly evaluate and book loads. Critical details were scattered across columns, and there was no mobile-friendly version, making it hard for users to operate efficiently on the go.

🚧 The Challenge

Reduce friction in the carrier booking journey by:

• Reorganizing dense information for faster decision-making

• Supporting mobile use cases

• Improving the overall booking experience without overwhelming users

This wasn’t just a design issue—it was a business risk. Carriers were dropping off mid-task, calling support for clarification, and working across multiple tabs just to compare options.

🔍 The Process

Discovery & Research

• Stakeholder Interviews – aligned on business goals and known pain points

• Carrier Interviews & Shadowing – observed workflows and heard real feedback

• Support Ticket Review – identified recurring user frustrations

• Competitive Analysis – benchmarked platforms like DAT, Convoy, Uber Freight

• Heuristic Audit – captured UI and interaction gaps

Key Insights

• Carriers wanted instant clarity: “what is this load, is it worth it, can I book it?”

• Current layout caused cognitive overload

• Mobile users were completely unsupported

• Critical actions like “Book” or “Hold” were buried or on separate screens

  
  

✅ The Solution

1. Smarter Layout & Modular Columns

Grouped info by how carriers think—route > rate/timing > actions. Reduced total columns by combining related data and applied visual hierarchy through spacing and typography.

2. Flyouts & Hover States for Context

Introduced expandable flyouts for load details (equipment, broker notes) and hover cards for quick glances (e.g., transit time). This allowed users to go deeper without cluttering the table.

3. In-Row Booking Actions

Embedded key actions like “Book,” “Hold,” and “Message” directly into each row—reducing page changes and speeding up workflows.

4. Responsive Mobile Design

Rebuilt the experience for mobile with stacked layouts, larger touch targets, and preserved core functionality for carriers on the road.

5. Advanced Filters & Sorting

Revamped the filter panel with grouped options, live updates, and saved views for power users.

6. Visual Refresh for Clarity

• Unified icons and button behavior

• Clean type hierarchy for fast scanning

• Load status indicators (e.g., pending, booked, held)

• Muted colors for reduced fatigue

7. Usability Testing & Iteration

• Two full testing cycles with carriers

• Tasks included load comparison, filtering, and mobile booking

• Feedback drove refinements to flyouts, spacing, and responsiveness

📊 Results & Impact

• 45% faster booking times during testing

• 32% increase in mobile usage

• Fewer support tickets, especially around booking confusion

• Higher carrier satisfaction in post-launch surveys

• System adopted internally for redesigning other Arrive dashboards

💭 Reflection

This project was a lesson in clarity over complexity. Carriers didn’t need bells and whistles—they needed a tool that respected their time and helped them act with confidence. Designing for high-pressure, transactional environments taught me how to create fast, intuitive UIs that fade into the background and let the work take center stage.