Flowhub Delivery with Transporters makes it quick and easy to hand deliveries to a licensed transporter while Flowhub keeps your Metrc delivery manifests in sync. In this article, we'll guide you through setting it up so your team can send transporter deliveries with confidence.
Delivery may look different for your store. Use one of these articles instead if:
Understand Transporters
A transporter is a licensed third-party company that delivers orders on your dispensary's behalf. Instead of sending orders out with your own employees, you hand delivery off to the transporter's drivers.
Do I Need a Transporter?
In most states, no. Using a transporter is optional, and you decide whether to deliver with your own drivers or hire a transporter. Some states and cities set their own rules:
Where | Transporter | Details |
Colorado (statewide) | Not required | Dispensaries may use their own delivery drivers. |
Denver, CO | Required locally | Denver requires dispensaries to use third-party transporters for delivery. This is a local rule, not a statewide one. |
Massachusetts | Required | Metrc requires deliveries to go through a transporter or a courier license. If your dispensary holds its own courier license, add that license as a transporter. |
Oregon | Own drivers | Dispensaries must use their own drivers for delivery. |
Local municipalities can add delivery rules on top of state law. Confirm the current state and local rules where you operate before you choose a delivery setup.
Will My Transporter Use Flowhub Delivery?
It depends on the transporter. Many transporters use their own delivery tools instead of your point of sale. Check with your transporter first, then follow the steps below if they will work with Flowhub Delivery.
Enable Delivery and Transporters
Contact your Flowhub team member or Product Support at help@flowhub.com to enable Delivery for your store.
Let us know you use transporters so we can turn on the Transporters tab for you.
Once Delivery is enabled, navigate to the main menu in the upper left corner and select Delivery. The Drivers, Vehicles, and Transporters tabs display across the top.
Before your first transporter delivery, set up the following:
Employee permissions in Flowhub and in Metrc
Set Up Employee Permissions
Set Permissions in Flowhub
Navigate to the main menu and select Employees, then select the Roles tab.
Select a role that works with delivery orders, such as a budtender or fulfillment role, and select Edit.
Under Delivery, turn on the view, edit, and delete permissions.
The delete permission lets employees cancel delivery orders before they're complete.
Turn on all permissions under Compliance, Inventory, and Carts.
Select Save. Repeat for every role involved in delivery.
Set Permissions in Metrc
Every employee who works with delivery orders needs a Metrc API key on their Flowhub employee profile. In Metrc, give that employee these permissions:
Packages Page: Grids – View and Inventory – Manage
Sales Menu: Sales – Manage and Sales Delivery – Manage
Hub: Manage. This is required only for deliveries that use a transporter.
Add Delivery Vehicles and Drivers
Add your vehicles first, since you choose a preferred vehicle when you add a driver.
In Delivery, select the Vehicles tab, then select New vehicle.
Enter the License plate, Make, and Model, then select Save.
Select the Drivers tab, then select New driver.
Enter the driver's details:
Name
Employee ID must match the employee's username or license number in Metrc exactly. A mismatch causes errors when you submit the manifest.
Phone number should be the phone the driver delivers with.
This is the phone number we use to connect your drivers with your customers.
State and Driver's license number
Linked Employee connects the driver to a Flowhub login. Link one if the driver will collect payment in Flowhub.
Preferred vehicle
Select Save.
💡 Tip: If your drivers and vehicles are already in Metrc, select Sync drivers or Sync vehicles to bring them in. Learn more in Sync Drivers and Vehicles with Metrc.
Create a Transporter
Add each transporter you work with. Once saved, a transporter is available to select on your delivery manifests.
✏️ Note: Massachusetts stores that deliver under their own courier license add that courier license as a transporter. Enter the courier license number in License, not your retail license number.
In Delivery, select the Transporters tab, then select New transporter.
Enter the transporter's Name.
Enter the transporter's License. It must match the transporter's facility license in Metrc exactly.
Enter the transporter's Metrc API key. Ask your transporter to send it to you.
Use the transporter's own API key. Entering any other key, such as your store's, causes manifest errors.
Select Save.
Assign a Transporter to a Delivery
Delivery orders arrive in the New column of the Order Ahead tab in Cashier, marked with a Delivery tag.
Select the order, prepare it for delivery, then select Mark Order as Ready.
Colorado stores: the customer's profile must include a State ID and State ID expiration date, or the manifest can't be submitted to Metrc.
Select Assign Driver. Choose the driver and vehicle, then select the transporter under Transporters (if applicable).
Select Assign Driver to confirm. The order moves to the Ready for Delivery column.
Select Compliance to review the delivery manifest. Update the Estimated Departure, Estimated Arrival, or planned route if needed, and confirm the Transporter (if applicable).
Select Submit to Metrc.
Manifests with a transporter display only in the transporter's Delivery Hub in Metrc until either:
The transporter verifies the customer's ID and payment type in Metrc
The order is completed in Flowhub
If your transporter doesn't verify the ID and payment type in Metrc, Flowhub verifies them automatically when the order is completed.
Complete the Delivery
Select Put in Vehicle. The order moves to Out for Delivery, and the transporter can head to the customer.
When the delivery is done, select Finish, add any delivery notes, and mark the delivery as successful or failed.
For a successful delivery, select one:
Update Order to collect payment back at the store. The order moves to Delivered, and a Collect Payment button displays.
Update & Collect Payment to record payment now. The payment screen displays so you can check out the customer.
For a failed delivery, select the Metrc rejection Reason that applies, then select one:
Update Order moves the order to Delivery Failed, where you can select Cancel Order.
Update & Cancel Order cancels the order right away.
✏️ Note: If Metrc has no rejection reasons for your license, the Reason field is replaced with "Metrc has no rejection reasons for this license. To mark this delivery failed, use update & cancel order."
Select Update & Cancel Order. Update Order can't mark the delivery failed without a rejection reason.
If "Could not load rejection reasons." displays instead, close Finish Delivery and try again. Contact Flowhub Support if the message continues.
When a delivery fails, the manifest is completed in Metrc and every package is marked as rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my manifest submit to Metrc?
Confirm the employee submitting it has a Metrc API key with the right permissions.
Confirm the driver's Employee ID matches Metrc exactly.
Confirm the transporter's License and API key match the transporter's Metrc account.
Confirm the customer's profile has an address, State ID, and State ID expiration date.
I don't see the Transporters tab. How do I turn it on?
Contact help@flowhub.com and ask to enable transporters for your store.
Can I use a transporter for some deliveries and my own drivers for others?
Yes, unless your state or city requires a transporter for every delivery, such as Massachusetts or Denver. Select a transporter only on the deliveries it handles, and leave Transporters (if applicable) blank for deliveries your own drivers complete.
Do drivers need a Flowhub login?
Only if they collect payment in Flowhub. Otherwise, another employee marks the delivery successful or failed and collects payment on the driver's behalf.
Can I reattempt a failed delivery?
No. A failed delivery can't be reattempted. The customer needs to place a new order.
Why is there no Reason field when I mark a delivery failed?
Metrc returned no rejection reasons for your license. Use Update & Cancel Order to mark the delivery failed.
Who can cancel a delivery order?
Employees whose role has the Delivery delete permission. Delivery orders can't be canceled once they're complete.
Cannabis delivery regulations change often and vary by state and municipality. The examples in this article are for general guidance only and are not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state regulator and local authorities.
Success! 🎊 Your transporters are set up, and your team can now send transporter deliveries with Metrc manifests handled right in Flowhub.