• If you are an existing Customer and would like access to the customer portal, please reach out to your Local EFL representative.

1. Email Verification

Once your account has been created, you will receive two emails:
 

• A verification email titled: “Please confirm your email” 
  
  
   
• A separate email containing your temporary password 
  
  

Important:

• The verification must be completed within 24 hours
• If the link expires, you will not be able to access the portal 

If your verification link has expired:

• Please contact your EFL Representative to request a new verification email
   

2. How to Log into the Portal

Access the Customer Portal here:
https://efl.connectcast.io

To log in:

• Enter your username and password provided via email
• Click Login to access the portal 

If you do not have a password:

• Click “Forgot your password?”
• Enter your username or email address
• Click Submit

• Follow the instructions in the email to reset your password

  

3. Login Errors & Troubleshooting

The Customer Portal is a self-service platform, meaning users are responsible for managing their own login credentials.

Common Login Issues

• Incorrect password
• Email not verified
• Expired verification link 

Password Reset Process

EFL does not perform manual password resets.

If you are unable to log in due to a password issue:

• Click “Forgot your password?” on the login page
• Enter your registered email address
• Follow the instructions sent via email to reset your password

Create Booking
 

To Begin: 

Navigate to the Create Booking tab.

Under Booking Details, complete the following sections:

1. Client

The client name is auto-populated.
 

2. References

• Enter Order Numbers and other reference IDs in the Order Reference field.
   

3. Shipper (Consignor)

• These fields auto-populate based on your account information.

• This section is read-only and cannot be edited.
   

4. Consignee

• Click Select Consignee to choose from the dropdown.

• Then click Select Address to confirm the delivery address.
   

5. Details

Enter all required shipment information, including:

• Dimensions

• Weight

• Incoterms

• Origin

• Destination

• Goods description

• Container Type

All fields in this section are mandatory.
 

6. Dates

• Enter applicable shipment dates.

• Cargo Ready Date is required.
   

7. Linked Order Details

This section displays linked order information, if applicable.

No action is required.
 

Notes Section

This section is optional.

You may use it to add special handling notes or export instructions.

• Click the “+” icon to add notes.

• Click Save/Next to proceed.

• If no notes are required, click Skip.

Packing Line Information

In this section, enter details for each PO Line or Package Type.
 

• Click Save/Next after completing each entry.

• Ensure weight and dimensions are entered per carton, per line item.
   

Containers Section

(FCL and FTL Shipments Only)

This section appears only if you selected:

• FCL – Full Container, or

• ROA – Full Truckload
   

To add containers: 
 

• Click the “+” icon.

• Select container type.

• Enter quantity.

• Select commodities.
  
  Click Save/Next once complete.

Review and Submit
 

The Review section displays all booking details entered.

• Confirm accuracy.

• Click Submit Booking.

• Click OK to confirm.

A confirmation message will appear with your Booking Reference Number, which links to the Purchase Order.
 

Email Confirmation

Once submitted, you will receive a booking confirmation email summarizing the key shipment details.

Create a Template

The Booking Template feature allows users to save booking details and reuse them for future bookings, reducing manual data entry and improving efficiency for repeat shipments.

How to Create a Booking Template

1. Navigate to Create Booking in the Customer Portal.

2. Enter all required booking details as you normally would.

3. Proceed through each step until you reach the Review page.

4. Click Save As Template.
    

   

    

5. Enter a Template Name when prompted
6. Click OK to save the template.

How to Use a Booking Template

• Navigate to Create Booking.

• Click Load From Template.
   

  
   

• Select the desired template from the list.

• The booking fields will auto-populate with the saved template data.

• Review and update any fields as needed.

• Complete and submit the booking as usual.

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to walk you through the process of creating a booking using a Purchase Order (PO) in the Customer Portal. 
 

Order Module

Step 1: Locate the PO 
Navigate to the Order Module and search for the PO you would like to book.

Once you have located the correct PO:

• Select the checkbox next to the PO

• Click “Create Booking.” 

Note:You may select multiple POs if needed.

You will receive a pop-up message asking you to confirm that you want to create a booking for the selected order(s). Click “OK.”
 

A second pop-up will appear notifying you if there are any errors preventing the booking from    being created.

Common Error:
The most frequent error occurs when a PO is already attached to an existing shipment. If you   receive this message, please contact your EFL representative for assistance.

Step 2: Create the Booking 

Detail Page

Once you enter the Create Booking page, the system will automatically populate default    information based on the PO.

For example:

Once you enter the Create Booking page, the system will automatically populate default    information based on the PO.

References

In the References tab, you will see the selected PO(s) associated with this booking

Consignor

The Consignor information will automatically populate based on the records in our system.

If you need to update the address:

• Click “Select Address”

• Choose the correct address
   

Consignee

The Consignor information will also default based on the PO details in our system. If changes are required:

• Click “Select Address”

• Choose the correct address

Details

In the Details section, enter all required shipment information. Some fields may already be populated based on the PO data.
 

Important: 

All fields in this section are mandatory and must be completed before proceeding. In the Dates section: Only the Cargo Ready Date is mandatory.


Dates

Linked Orders 

This section displays the PO information currently attached to the booking.
 

Creating a Booking on behalf of the Consignee and Consignor

If you are creating a booking and you are not the Consignee or Consignor:

1. Change the Client Selection at the top of the page to “Other.”

2. This will allow you to manually update the Consignee and Consignor detail.
    

In each section:

• Click “Select Consignee” (or “Select Consignor”)

• Choose the appropriate party

If you are unable to locate the correct Consignee or Consignor, please contact your EFL representative for assistance.
 

Notes

There are two types of notes that can be added to a booking:

• Export Pickup Instructions

• Special Instructions

You may add only one entry per note type. However, the text field allows unlimited characters. If no notes are required, click “Skip.”

Packing Info

The Packing Line Information section allows you to enter packing line details for the shipment.

 

Linked Orders Lines

If booking by PO, you may select specific PO lines to automatically populate the booking details. If no additional information is required on this page, click “Skip.”
 

Review

The final step is the Review page. 

Here, you can:

• Review all submitted information

• Confirm accuracy

Once confirmed:

Click “Submit Booking.”
 

A pop-up message will appear asking you to confirm submission. Click “OK.”  
 

After submission:

• A confirmation pop-up will display the Booking Reference Number.
• You will also receive a confirmation email indicating that the booking has been successfully created.

Introduction

You can search for specific records across the Booking, Shipment, and Container modules in the Customer Portal using the available filters.

The filter parameters work the same way across all three modules. Only the options within each dropdown will vary depending on the module you are in.

Main Filters
 

• Client - A dropdown listing all clients the logged-in user has been granted access to.

• Mode - Filters results by mode of transportation. Select "All" if no specific mode is required.

• Search Type - A dropdown with criteria specific to each module. Select "All" if you do not need to narrow by a specific type.

• Reference# - Works in conjunction with the Search Type filter. Enter a specific record number to locate a particular entry.

• Date Filters - The remaining filters allow you to define a date range to narrow results by timeline.

  Note: You may select multiple POs if needed.
   

Quick Filter Buttons

Quick filter buttons appear at the top of each module and update dynamically based on the module you are viewing.

Booking Module
 

Shipment Module

Container Module
 

Purchase Order Module
 

Documents Tile

Used to upload supporting documents.
 

To upload:

1. Click + Add.

2. Select document type from the dropdown.

3. Click Choose File.

4. Click Submit.
    

   

Introduction 

This guide covers the three ways you can control and export data in the EFL Customer Portal: customizing your column views, downloading an instant report, and scheduling automated reports. These features are available across the Purchase Order, Booking, Shipment, and Container modules. 

1.  Customize Views

Each module allows you to personalize which columns are displayed and in what order, so the information most relevant to you is always visible. 

Rearranging Columns Directly 

You can reorder columns without opening any menu. Simply click and drag any column header left or right to reposition it. The change takes effect immediately in your current view. 
 

Using the Customize Views Panel 

For more control, click the Customize Views button in the top right of any module. A panel will appear titled Customize Columns, showing two lists: 
 

• Hidden Columns - Fields currently hidden from your results table.
• Visible Columns - Fields that are active and visible in your current view. 

You can click and drag columns between the two lists, or select them and use the Add and Remove buttons to move them across. Once you are satisfied with your selection, click Save. You can return to the original layout at any time using the Reset button. 

Note: The Select View dropdown at the bottom of the panel allows you to switch between saved views. If you have previously saved a custom view, you can activate it here or delete it if it is no longer needed. 

2.  Download a Report 

If you need a one-time export of your current results, you can download it directly without setting up a scheduled report. 
 

After applying your search filters in any module, click the download icon in the top right corner of the results table. The exported file will reflect exactly what is displayed on screen - including any column customizations you have applied. 

Tip: Customize your column view before downloading to ensure the export contains only the fields you need. 

3.  Scheduled Reports 

Scheduled Reports allow you to have a report automatically sent to one or more email recipients at a set interval — Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. The search parameters you configure in the module serve as the foundation of the report. 
 

Step 1 - Set Up Your Search 

Begin by adjusting the search parameters in the Shipment Module until the desired data is displayed in the portal. 

• For best results, leave the ‘Search Type’ set to “All”.
• When setting the date range, keep in mind that fixed date options such as “This Month” will maintain a rolling window, always looking back the described time frame from the current date.
• Once the Client, Mode, Date View, and Date Range are selected, click the ‘Schedule Report’ button. 
  
   

Step 2 - Configure the Scheduled Report 

The Create New Scheduled Report window will appear. This is where you enter the final details to complete the setup. 
 

In the top section, confirm the search parameters for the report - Client, Transport Mode, Search Type, and Date Range. 

• Enter a name for the report.
• Enter the email address of each recipient. To add multiple recipients, separate each email address with a “;” semicolon.
• Select the Frequency, First Run Date, and First Run Hour from the dropdowns. The date and time are based on the time zone of the user creating the report.
• Make sure the 'Active' checkbox is selected.
• Click Save. 

Report Columns 

At the bottom of the Create New Scheduled Report window, you will find a Report Columns section. This allows you to customize exactly which columns appear in your scheduled report - independently of your saved views in the portal. 

There are two lists: 

• Available Columns - all fields that can be added to the report. Click the + button next to any field to add it.
• Report Columns - the fields that will be included in the report. Click the − button to remove a field, or click and drag the handle on the left to reorder the columns. 

Note that these column selections are fixed to this specific report and will not change if you update your saved views elsewhere in the portal. 
 

Step 3 - Confirm 

Once saved, the report will be marked as active and will appear on your scheduled reports list. It will run automatically at the frequency and time you selected.

DSR Tool Click to Download

Purpose of the Tool

Today, the Customer Portal does not have the ability to combine Shipment and Container reports into a single view. Because of that limitation, teams often need to manually merge reports using VLOOKUPs or similar methods, which is time-consuming and prone to error.

This tool was built to:

- Automatically combine Shipment and Container reports
- Eliminate the need for manual VLOOKUPs
- Reduce time spent preparing daily status reports
- Provide a consistent, repeatable output across teams

Important First Step

When you open the file, please make sure to Enable Macros.
The tool will not run correctly unless macros are enabled.

Best Practice Before Exporting Reports

It’s very important that both reports are pulled using the same date range and date view.

- The Shipment module filters by ETA / ETD / ATA / ATD
- The Container module can search across additional date fields

To avoid mismatches, always confirm:

- Same date view
- Same from/to date range

How to Use the Tool

1. Open the Excel tool and go to the Shipment Report tab
- Delete any existing data
- Paste the exported Shipment Report from the portal, including headers

2. Go to the Container Report tab
- Delete any existing data
- Paste the exported Container Report from the portal, including headers

3. Go to the first tab called “Combine the Report”
- Click the “Combine the Reports!!!” button

What the Tool Produces

After the macro finishes running, the Results tab will display a combined report, with one row per container.

Key items to note:

- Shipment Match Found (Column C)
This column checks whether the Shipment Number from the Container Report exists in the Shipment Report:
- Yes = Shipment found and merged successfully
- No = Shipment was not found in the Shipment Report

- Volume & Weight Fields
You may see Volume and Weight fields more than once.
These are intentionally kept and clearly labeled to show whether the data is pulled from:
- The Shipment Report
- Or the Container Report

- Ports & Container Data
Fields such as Load Port and Discharge Port are pulled directly from the Container Report, ensuring container-level accuracy.

Consignee Visibility

On the Combine the Report tab, you’ll also see a Consignee List generated from the Shipment Report.
This can help quickly identify shipments that may not belong in the report and can be followed up with the appropriate teams if needed.

Login Errors

The Customer Portal is a self-service platform, meaning users are responsible for managing their own login credentials.

Common Login Issues

• Incorrect password 

• Expired or unverified email registration 

Password Reset Process

IT does not provide manual password resets.

If a user is unable to log in due to a password issue, they must:

1. Click “Forgot your password?” on the login page 

2. Enter their registered email address 

3. Follow the instructions sent via email to reset their password
    

   

Email Verification Issues

When a new user registers, they receive a verification email that must be completed within 24 hours.

• If the user does not verify within 24 hours, the link will expire 

• In this case, the user will not be able to access the portal

• If a user has not verified their email address within 24 hours. Please reach out to your EFL Representative. 

Search Errors (No Results Showing)

If a customer reports that they are unable to see any shipments, bookings, or data in the portal, first review their screen and filters.

Browser Zoom Issue

If the screen appears compressed or filters are not fully visible (as shown above), the browser zoom level may be too high.

Resolution:

• Zoom out by pressing: Ctrl + – (minus key) 

• Continue adjusting until all filters and search fields are fully visible 

Search Filters Too Restrictive

If no results are returned, the issue is often due to overly restrictive search criteria.

How to Resolve

1. Expand Date Range 

• Change the Date filter from: 

  • “This Month” → “This Year” or broader 

• Or manually widen the From Date / To Date 

2. Check Search Type 

• Ensure Search Type = All unless a specific filter is required 

3. Clear Reference Fields 

• Remove any values in: 

  • Reference # 

  • Booking # 

  • Shipment # 

• These fields may be limiting results 

4. Verify Client Selection 

• Confirm the correct Client is selected 

• If applicable, use “Select All” for multi-client users 

5. Reset Filters 

• Click Reset Search to clear all filters and start fresh

Basic Browser Troubleshooting

Before escalating any portal-related issue, always complete the following basic browser troubleshooting steps. Many portal issues (loading errors, missing data, login problems, or unexpected behavior) are resolved by refreshing or clearing browser data.

Step 1: Perform a Hard Refresh

A hard refresh forces the browser to reload the page and pull the latest data from the server instead of using cached files.

• Windows: Press Ctrl + F5 

• Mac: Press Command + Shift + R

Common Issues This Resolves

• Portal not loading correctly 

• Missing or outdated shipment/booking data 

• Login/session issues 

• Buttons or actions not working 

• Cached errors persisting after fixes

Step 2:  Clear Cache and Cookies (If Issue Persists)

Steps by Browser

Google Chrome

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner

2. Select Settings 

3. Go to Privacy and Security 

4. Click Clear browsing data 

5. Select: 

• Cookies and other site data 

• Cached images and files 

1. Set Time range to All time 

2. Click Clear data 

3. Close and reopen the browser 

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner
2. Select Settings
3. Go to Privacy, search, and services
4. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear
5. Select:
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
6. Set Time range to All time
7. Click Clear now
8. Restart the browser 

Safari (Mac)

1. Click Safari in the top menu
2. Select Settings (or Preferences)
3. Go to the Privacy tab
4. Click Manage Website Data
5. Click Remove All
6. Confirm removal
7. Restart Safari 
    

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the three lines (☰) in the top-right corner
2. Select Settings
3. Go to Privacy & Security
4. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data
5. Select:
   • Cookies and Site Data
   • Cached Web Content
6. Click Clear
7. Restart the browser