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How to Send a Tracking Request to a Driver

How to send a tracking request from polt.ai to a driver. Sending the request triggers an SMS with the polt.ai driver app download link and starts geofence-based status updates flowing back to polt.ai.

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Written by Poltai

This article walks you through sending a tracking request from polt.ai to a driver. Sending the request triggers an SMS to the driver's phone with the polt.ai driver app download link and starts geofence-based status updates flowing back to polt.ai.

Most shipments don't need this: When you create a new shipment, the polt.ai driver app integration is on by default — meaning the tracking request gets sent to the driver automatically once a carrier and driver are assigned and the shipment is saved. Use this article when you need to verify or re-enable the integration on a specific shipment (e.g., it was turned off, or you're troubleshooting why a driver didn't receive an invite).

The shipment must already have:

  • A carrier assigned

  • A dispatcher assigned

  • A driver assigned, with a valid mobile phone number on file

If any of those are missing, see Assigning a carrier and driver to a shipment first.

1. Open the shipment in edit mode

Open the shipment and click Edit in the top right.

2. Click Integrations in the left-side menu

Scroll down or click Integrations in the left-side menu to jump to the Integrations section.

3. Verify the polt.ai driver app checkboxes are on

Under Data synchronisation → polt.ai driver app, make sure all three boxes are checked. They're checked by default on new shipments, but verify before saving.

  • Synchronise shipment data with polt.ai driver app — sends the tracking request SMS to the driver and pushes shipment data into polt.ai driver app

  • Retrieve shipment status from polt.ai driver app — pulls geofence events and tracking updates from polt.ai driver app back into polt.ai, so shipment statuses update automatically

  • Auto-complete stops via geofencing — automatically marks pickup and delivery stops as complete when the driver enters and exits the geofence

All three should stay on for full automation. If any are unchecked, parts of the workflow stop working:

  • Without "Synchronise" → no SMS is sent to the driver, no shipment data flows to polt.ai driver app

  • Without "Retrieve" → tracking events don't sync back to polt.ai and statuses don't update automatically

  • Without "Auto-complete stops" → geofences fire but stops have to be marked complete manually

4. Save and close

Click Save and close at the top right. If "Synchronise shipment data with polt.ai driver app" was previously off and you've just turned it on, the tracking request SMS goes out to the driver now.

The driver receives an SMS with a link to download polt.ai driver app. Once they install the app, log in, and accept the load, tracking activates and you'll see real-time updates in polt.ai driver app and on the shipment in polt.ai.

To verify the request was received and accepted, see Reviewing tracking sent to a driver.

If the driver doesn't receive the SMS, see Setting up driver tracking for troubleshooting steps.

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