Metrc (District of Columbia) bulletin DC_IB_0091, published with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), announces a new Metrc feature called the Transfers Hub with an effective date of February 25, 2026. This article explains where to find the Transfers Hub in Metrc, what transporters and destination licensees can see or edit, how the new in-route action buttons work (including layovers), how rejected packages create return transfers, and what the new grid indicators mean for day-to-day DC cannabis transfer compliance.
Bulletin overview: DC Transfers Hub (Effective 2/25/2026)
Metrc is adding a Transfers Hub grid within the Transfers area of the Metrc navigation. After a transfer is registered, both the designated transporter and the destination licensee can view the transfer’s manifest information. The key workflow change is that the transporting license can report transfer milestones (and edit limited details) directly from the Transfers Hub, improving visibility and helping document chain-of-custody events.
Where the Transfers Hub lives in Metrc
The Transfers Hub appears under the Transfers section on Metrc’s primary navigation bar. In practice, the Hub functions as a central grid of transfer records where users with the right permissions can open a transfer, view manifest details, and (for transporters) take specific actions that timestamp key events in the route.
Who can do what: transporter vs. destination licensee
Designated transporter capabilities
When your license is listed as the transporting license on a manifest, Metrc displays action buttons in the Transfers Hub. These buttons let the transporter report actions taken during the transfer and, in limited cases, update manifest details.
Destination licensee visibility
The destination licensee can view all manifest information in the Transfers Hub after the transfer is registered. The bulletin’s focus is on transporter-side reporting actions; destination teams should still use the visibility in the Hub to confirm incoming logistics and prepare receiving workflows.
Transfers Hub action buttons explained (Transporters)
In the Transfers Hub grid, users with access will see selectable action buttons on each transfer when their license is the transporting license. Each button represents a distinct real-world step in transport, and selecting a button records the action on the transfer.
Edit
Edit allows the transporter to update limited manifest details:
- Estimated departure time
- Estimated arrival time
- Driver information
- Vehicle information
Operational implication: This supports last-minute dispatch changes (driver swaps, vehicle swaps, updated ETAs) without requiring a full rework of the transfer record.
Accept and Depart
Accept and Depart are intended to capture the moment the transporter takes physical custody of the packages and then leaves the originating facility.
Operational implication: Using these actions helps document chain of custody and makes it easier for the origin and destination to align on when product left the shipping site.
Check-In and Check-Out (Layovers only)
Check-In and Check-Out apply only when a layover is selected and the transfer will be stored at the transporter’s facility for any period.
- Check-In indicates the transporter has arrived at the layover facility.
- Check-Out indicates the transporter is leaving the layover facility to continue the planned route.
Operational implication: If your DC operations use staged logistics or interim storage, these layover actions provide clearer documentation of when product entered and exited the layover location.
Arrive
Arrive indicates the transporter arrived at the destination facility.
Operational implication: This can reduce disputes about arrival timing and supports better coordination for receiving staff, especially when multiple transfers are scheduled in a tight window.
Important behavior: buttons are sequential and disappear
The transporter action buttons are arranged in the order Metrc expects them to be used. After selecting a button, all buttons that come before it disappear for that transfer.
For example, if Arrive is selected before Depart, the Depart button will no longer be visible, and no departure timestamp would be recorded. Additionally, once any button after Edit is clicked, Edit is no longer available for that transfer.
Operational implication: Dispatch teams should treat these actions like a timeline. Clicking out of order can permanently remove the opportunity to record earlier milestones, which may matter during audits, incident reviews, or internal reconciliation.
Metrc does not require every button to be used
The bulletin notes that Metrc does not enforce that transporters click every action button during the route. In other words, a transfer can still progress even if the transporter does not record each milestone.
Operational implication: While not mandatory, consistent use of these actions can strengthen documentation, reduce back-and-forth between origin, transporter, and destination, and improve the accuracy of route event history if ABCA questions timing or custody.
Return transfers in Metrc: rejected packages and revised transport details
If the destination facility rejects a package from a transfer, the originating facility will access the return manifest under the Rejected tab.
Updating transporter details for the return trip
Within the Rejected transfers grid, the originating licensee can use the Transporters button to open an action window for editing return-transport details. The origin should confirm or update:
- Transport license number
- Driver
- Vehicle
Once updated, the return transporter will see the manifest in their Transfers Hub and can use the same action buttons (Edit, Accept, Depart, Check-In, Check-Out, Arrive) to document the return route.
Operational implication: This workflow makes it easier to correct or reassign return logistics quickly after a rejection, without losing visibility over who is authorized to transport the returned product.
Transfers Hub icons and direction indicators
For licensees with permission to access the Transfers Hub grid, Metrc displays:
- An icon in the Destination column to help identify the delivery point for each transfer.
- A Direction column indicating whether the transfer is Outbound or Inbound relative to the designated transporter license.
Operational implication: For transport teams managing multiple routes, direction and destination indicators help sort work faster and reduce mistakes when similar manifests are active at the same time.
Day-to-day DC compliance impact: what to change in operations
This enhancement is primarily a workflow and documentation upgrade. For DC operators, the practical day-to-day changes are about permissioning, consistency, and coordination:
- Permissioning: Ensure the right staff have access to the Transfers Hub so transfers are updated in real time (or as close to real time as operationally feasible).
- Dispatcher discipline: Because buttons disappear when clicked out of sequence, assign responsibility for transfer actions to a trained role (driver, dispatcher, or compliance lead) and keep the process consistent.
- Layover documentation: If your transporter license uses layovers, incorporate Check-In/Check-Out into your standard route event logging to better document custody periods.
- Rejected transfer readiness: Receiving teams should communicate rejections promptly so the originating facility can update return transporter details and avoid delays or misassigned drivers/vehicles.
How Distru tools support Metrc-focused compliance workflows
DistruLabels (100% free) for compliant cannabis labels
Transfers are only one part of staying compliant end to end. When product is being received, staged, or prepared for sale, accurate labels become critical. DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels, helping operators maintain consistent labeling practices and supporting Metrc Retail ID compliance in day-to-day workflows.
DistruERP for larger, multi-site operations
For operators who need deeper operational control beyond individual Metrc workflows, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed for larger businesses that require complete supply chain management across purchasing, production, inventory, sales, fulfillment, and compliance-aligned execution.
Metrc resources for DC licensees
Metrc Support portal
For help with the Transfers Hub or transfer workflows, contact Metrc Support via https://support.metrc.com (also accessible from within Metrc by clicking Support). First-time portal access typically requires a username established during login, the applicable state, a facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn and in-app guidance
Metrc Learn provides interactive training to build proficiency and improve workflow efficiency. Users can access training registration from within Metrc under Support by selecting “Sign up for Training.” Additional help is available through the Metrc Expert icon, where users can search topics or enter questions.
