diff --git a/include/contractor/files.hpp b/include/contractor/files.hpp
index 55eba978c..ef19b126b 100644
--- a/include/contractor/files.hpp
+++ b/include/contractor/files.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "util/serialization.hpp"
 
 #include "storage/io.hpp"
+#include "storage/serialization.hpp"
 
 namespace osrm
 {
@@ -43,6 +44,25 @@ writeGraph(const boost::filesystem::path &path, unsigned checksum, const QueryGr
     writer.WriteOne(checksum);
     util::serialization::write(writer, graph);
 }
+
+// reads .levels file
+inline void readLevels(const boost::filesystem::path &path, std::vector<float> &node_levels)
+{
+    const auto fingerprint = storage::io::FileReader::VerifyFingerprint;
+    storage::io::FileReader reader{path, fingerprint};
+
+    storage::serialization::read(reader, node_levels);
+}
+
+// writes .levels file
+inline void writeLevels(const boost::filesystem::path &path, const std::vector<float> &node_levels)
+{
+    const auto fingerprint = storage::io::FileWriter::GenerateFingerprint;
+    storage::io::FileWriter writer{path, fingerprint};
+
+    storage::serialization::write(writer, node_levels);
+}
+
 }
 }
 }
diff --git a/src/contractor/contractor.cpp b/src/contractor/contractor.cpp
index 3d9f41a86..c8d3dbaf6 100644
--- a/src/contractor/contractor.cpp
+++ b/src/contractor/contractor.cpp
@@ -103,22 +103,14 @@ int Contractor::Run()
 
 void Contractor::ReadNodeLevels(std::vector<float> &node_levels) const
 {
-    storage::io::FileReader order_file(config.level_output_path,
-                                       storage::io::FileReader::HasNoFingerprint);
-
-    const auto level_size = order_file.ReadElementCount32();
-    node_levels.resize(level_size);
-    order_file.ReadInto(node_levels);
+    files::readLevels(config.level_output_path, node_levels);
 }
 
 void Contractor::WriteNodeLevels(std::vector<float> &&in_node_levels) const
 {
     std::vector<float> node_levels(std::move(in_node_levels));
 
-    storage::io::FileWriter writer(config.level_output_path,
-                                   storage::io::FileWriter::HasNoFingerprint);
-
-    storage::serialization::write(writer, node_levels);
+    files::writeLevels(config.level_output_path, node_levels);
 }
 
 void Contractor::WriteCoreNodeMarker(std::vector<bool> &&in_is_core_node) const