diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/base.py b/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/base.py
index 2186b8bfc0..eb324013b8 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/base.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/base.py
@@ -1,14 +1,48 @@
 """Base outbound transport."""
 
-import asyncio
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+import asyncio
 from typing import Union
 
+from ...connections.models.connection_target import ConnectionTarget
 from ...core.profile import Profile
 from ...utils.stats import Collector
-
 from ..error import TransportError
 from ..wire_format import BaseWireFormat
+from .message import OutboundMessage
+
+
+class QueuedOutboundMessage:
+    """Class representing an outbound message pending delivery."""
+
+    STATE_NEW = "new"
+    STATE_PENDING = "pending"
+    STATE_ENCODE = "encode"
+    STATE_DELIVER = "deliver"
+    STATE_RETRY = "retry"
+    STATE_DONE = "done"
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        profile: Profile,
+        message: OutboundMessage,
+        target: ConnectionTarget,
+        transport_id: str,
+    ):
+        """Initialize the queued outbound message."""
+        self.profile = profile
+        self.endpoint = target and target.endpoint
+        self.error: Exception = None
+        self.message = message
+        self.payload: Union[str, bytes] = None
+        self.retries = None
+        self.retry_at: float = None
+        self.state = self.STATE_NEW
+        self.target = target
+        self.task: asyncio.Task = None
+        self.transport_id: str = transport_id
+        self.metadata: dict = None
+        self.api_key: str = None
 
 
 class BaseOutboundTransport(ABC):
@@ -66,7 +100,7 @@ async def stop(self):
     async def handle_message(
         self,
         profile: Profile,
-        payload: Union[str, bytes],
+        outbound_message: QueuedOutboundMessage,
         endpoint: str,
         metadata: dict = None,
     ):
diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/manager.py b/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/manager.py
index 094f537f32..dadc8e7f44 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/manager.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/transport/outbound/manager.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import logging
 import time
 
-from typing import Callable, Type, Union
+from typing import Callable, Type
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from ...connections.models.connection_target import ConnectionTarget
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     BaseOutboundTransport,
     OutboundDeliveryError,
     OutboundTransportRegistrationError,
+    QueuedOutboundMessage,
 )
 from .message import OutboundMessage
 
@@ -29,39 +30,6 @@
 MODULE_BASE_PATH = "aries_cloudagent.transport.outbound"
 
 
-class QueuedOutboundMessage:
-    """Class representing an outbound message pending delivery."""
-
-    STATE_NEW = "new"
-    STATE_PENDING = "pending"
-    STATE_ENCODE = "encode"
-    STATE_DELIVER = "deliver"
-    STATE_RETRY = "retry"
-    STATE_DONE = "done"
-
-    def __init__(
-        self,
-        profile: Profile,
-        message: OutboundMessage,
-        target: ConnectionTarget,
-        transport_id: str,
-    ):
-        """Initialize the queued outbound message."""
-        self.profile = profile
-        self.endpoint = target and target.endpoint
-        self.error: Exception = None
-        self.message = message
-        self.payload: Union[str, bytes] = None
-        self.retries = None
-        self.retry_at: float = None
-        self.state = self.STATE_NEW
-        self.target = target
-        self.task: asyncio.Task = None
-        self.transport_id: str = transport_id
-        self.metadata: dict = None
-        self.api_key: str = None
-
-
 class OutboundTransportManager:
     """Outbound transport manager class."""
 
@@ -280,7 +248,7 @@ async def enqueue_message(self, profile: Profile, outbound: OutboundMessage):
                 profile, outbound, target
             )
             await transport.handle_message(
-                profile, encoded_outbound_message.payload, target.endpoint
+                profile, encoded_outbound_message, target.endpoint
             )
         else:
             queued = QueuedOutboundMessage(profile, outbound, target, transport_id)