A method for managing carrier status via the Short Message Service (SMS) by a centralized system in a multi-carrier environment includes: associating a driver with a first load to be transported, using an SMS-enabled cellphone number of the driver; storing the association of driver and load in a database of the system, along with a unique identifier of the carrier; transmitting, by the server to the driver, an instruction as a text message to the driver's cell phone with instructions for replying upon arrival; receiving, by the server from the driver, a response consistent with the instructions for replying upon arrival; updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver's response in the database; repeating the steps for a second driver of a second carrier; and providing, by the centralized system, status reports related to both the driver and associated load, and the second driver and associated load.