No day is ever the same working for Frontline Software Technology, Inc. As a family owned and operated bootstrapped business, we are fortunate to dabble in all of the arts surrounding the trucking and software industries. On Monday, you might be working with database technology. On Tuesday, you are diving into a trucking accounting scenario for a carrier. And then on Wednesday, you are working with the programming department to develop new features that will help the carriers that use Q7. Each day, our support desk responds to a variety of different questions from our carriers (within 15 minutes or less!). This month, we wanted to bring you just a handful of the Frontline Q7 support desk favorite tips from these calls or emails.
— Updated 04/21/2025 —
1. Main Menu Quick Access & Other Keyboard Shortcuts
Q7 is a powerful desktop application that runs on the power of your computer or a server, even if you are subscribed to the Cloud service. As a result, you have the ability to open several programs at once. The benefit? You are able to scan your Orders on one half of your monitor and work in dispatch on the other. Or, keep watch on your live reporting tool as you make important accounting entries.
If you are anything like us, this freedom can sometimes mean your Q7 Main Menu becomes hidden behind other programs. Instead of closing everything and potentially losing your place, just hit F4 to bring the Main Menu to the front. This is our #1 Frontline Q7 support desk favorite tips because of its ability to save you time and clicks.
All of your open programs are listed in the bottom pane of the Main Menu. Double click on one to pull that program back into view, or use Tab+Enter to pull one of your open programs forward again.
Because you are not limited to a single shape, you have the flexibility to size and position all Q7 programs the way you want them.
Orders, Purchases, and other Finder lists are a great resource. If you are working in an Order or other transaction and need to dig in a little more, don’t waste valuable time on bringing your mouse over. Instead, use F3 on your keyboard to bring the Finder forward, refresh it, and find your cursor in the powerful smart search. After you’ve looked up the next record, just hit Enter to open it.
Use your keyboard to take action within the data of a window with smart search. For example, use Enter to clear transactions during reconciliation or apply payment on a customer invoice.
BONUS: There are dozens of useful keyboard shortcuts. Find a glossary of hotkeys in the Knowledge Base!
2. View or Add Paperwork During Invoicing
The normal workflow routine allows for several opportunities to attach paperwork to loads. Certain integrations also allow drivers to remotely attach paperwork. Whether you forgot to do it in-house or you simply want to examine supporting paperwork before billing, you can do that right in the Invoicing window.
3. Use Jump-To Links to Move Around
Q7 is rated consistently as the best trucking accounting software. As a result, we set higher bars for ourselves as the industry evolves. One reason Q7 is so easy to use is the ability to quickly jump from one area to another. Furthermore, this ability extends to all departments – not just accounting.
Q7 takes advantage of powerful database technology. As a result, it is not incapable of behaving like a website. All Q7 reports include (or can include) links that let you open a record. This includes everything from journal entries to loads to driver pay calculations or settlements.
In addition to links found in reports, every record that posts dollar amounts includes a transaction history window. Within this window, you will find the transactions that are linked. For example, on a customer invoice, you will find the payment(s) against it. Double click on the linked transactions to open them.
NOTE: We take user security seriously. Reach out to the Frontline support desk if you want to learn more about enhancing security. For example, you may want a dispatcher to have access to loads, but not the register that stores the payments against them.
Now let’s say you are looking at the customer’s payment. Want to get back to the invoice? The payment is linked to the invoice, so you can simply double click on the invoice!
4. Power of the Dispatch Board Right-Click
Right-clicking on a Trip row in the Dispatch Board provides you with a robust list of actions, settings, and options. In addition to truckload dispatch tools, find quick access options such as:
- Jump into driver pay calculations.
- Access dispatch scenarios using Segment+.
- Color code drivers or equipment.
- Check out mobile communication logs.
- Email, print, or text the load confirmation.
- Re-position a resource.
See the Dispatch Board Hidden Gems and Dispatch Board Hidden Gems II for more tips related to the board!
5. Quick Set Up for Quick Set Up
Setting up a new customer, driver, location, or equipment can sometimes mean unknowns. If you are not finding what you need in a drop down list, just click the quick access button. Set up what you need on the fly to save time. As a result, you don’t need to go to a different Setup list.
The Frontline Q7 support desk holds itself to high standards. As a trucking software company in business since 1992, we know that carriers don’t want to waste time fiddling with their software, or their software support. That’s why our policy is an ultra fast turnaround time with solutions you can rely on. We aren’t shy either! If we find an opportunity to share a tip with you that will make your lives easier, we will. To learn more about Frontline Q7 trucking software, reach out for a demo today.
