Order Shipping
This page covers the Shipping tab on an order — where you pick the delivery option, shop and book carrier rates, add a tracking number, and print the packing slip and labels for orders you fulfill yourself. For the broader picture (packaging, carrier configuration, the shipping dashboard), see the Shipping & Logistics section.
Availability: Commerce and up (paid plans). Carrier rate shopping, booking, and labels are included with every paid plan; they aren't available on Free. See Subscriptions & Plans.
What's on the Shipping tab
| Do this | Where |
|---|---|
| Set the Delivery Option (how the order ships) | The shipping method selector |
| Shop rates and book a carrier shipment | The carrier rate + booking area |
| Add a tracking number and have it monitored | Tracking Numbers section |
| Print a packing slip & Avery labels for self-fulfillment | Packing Slip section |
Shipping Methods
When creating or editing an order, you'll select a Shipping Method (also called Delivery Option) that determines how the order will be delivered.
Available Delivery Types
Delivery options are configured by your company in Settings → Orders → Delivery Options. Common types include:
| Delivery Type | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier Services | Live rates from UPS, FedEx, freight carriers | You want accurate, real-time shipping costs |
| Flat Rate | Fixed shipping price you define | Standard shipping charge regardless of order size |
| Dynamic (Per-Weight) | Price calculated based on order weight | Weight-based shipping |
| Local Pickup | Customer picks up from your location | No shipping needed |
| Free Shipping | No shipping charge | Promotional or included in product price |
Note: The exact delivery options available depend on what your company has configured. Carrier Services enables real-time rate shopping from parcel and freight carriers.
Using Carrier Services
When you select a Carrier Services delivery option as the shipping method, you must request a carrier rate before the order can be saved. This ensures accurate shipping costs based on the actual products and destination.
How Carrier Services Work
- Package Calculation — TimberCloud's algorithm calculates optimal packaging based on product dimensions
- Rate Shopping — Live rates are fetched from parcel carriers (FedEx, UPS) and freight carriers (LTL)
- Rate Selection — You choose the carrier and service level
- Booking — When ready to ship, book the shipment and print labels
Requesting Rates from the Admin Panel
- Select Shipping Method — Choose a Carrier Services delivery option in the Shipping tab
- Click "Get Rates" — Button appears in the sidebar when a carrier service is selected
- Review Packages — See auto-calculated packages based on order items
- Select Shipping Mode:
- Auto (Recommended) — Algorithm decides based on package type and weight
- Small Parcel — Use FedEx, UPS, USPS carriers
- LTL Freight — Use freight carriers for heavy shipments
- Configure Delivery Options — Select delivery requirements:
- Liftgate Delivery (no loading dock at destination)
- Residential Delivery (non-commercial address)
- Limited Access Delivery (restricted access location)
- Construction Site Delivery
- Appointment Delivery (scheduled delivery window)
- Configure Coverage Options (optional):
- Protective Service Coverage
- Additional Insurance
- Click "Get Rates" — Fetch live rates from carriers
- Select a Rate — Choose your preferred carrier and service
- Save — The rate is attached to the order
Important: You cannot save an order with a Carrier Services delivery option selected without first choosing a specific rate.
What Gets Saved with the Rate
When you select a rate, the following is stored with the order:
- Carrier name and service level
- Shipping cost (with any markup applied)
- Package configuration
- Delivery estimate
- All data needed for booking when ready to ship
Carrier Services at Checkout (Embed)
When customers use your Embedded Storefront, they can also select carrier rates at checkout:
- Customer selects a Carrier Services option as their delivery method
- A "Look up carriers" button appears
- Customer opens the Carrier Services modal
- Packages are auto-calculated from their cart items
- Live rates are fetched from carriers
- Customer selects their preferred carrier and service
- Shipping cost updates in their order total
- They complete checkout with the selected rate
Note: Customers cannot complete checkout with a Carrier Services option selected until they've chosen a specific carrier rate. The checkout button will be disabled and show "Please Select a Carrier Rate".
Rate Staleness
Carrier rates expire after 24 hours. This ensures accurate pricing at the time of booking.
When Rates Become Stale
- 24 hours have passed since rate selection
- Order items have been modified
- Shipping address has changed
- Due date has changed
Visual Indicators
When rates are stale, you'll see:
- Yellow warning banner — Rates are outdated
- "Regenerate Rates" button — With pulse animation
- "Outdated" badge — On the selected rate card
Refreshing Rates
- Open the Carrier Services modal
- Click "Get Rates" to fetch fresh rates
- Select a new rate
- Save the order
Shipping Cost on Orders
How Shipping Cost is Calculated
| Shipping Method | Cost Calculation |
|---|---|
| Carrier Services | From selected carrier rate + your markup |
| Flat Rate | Fixed amount from delivery option settings |
| Dynamic (Per-Weight) | Price per pound × order weight |
| Free Shipping | $0 |
| Local Pickup | $0 (or custom fee if configured) |
Shipping Markup
Add markup to carrier rates to cover handling and packaging:
- Percentage Markup — e.g., 10% added to carrier rate
- Fixed Markup — e.g., $10 added to all shipments
Configure in Settings → Orders → Shipping.
After the Order: Booking & Shipping
Once the order is ready to ship:
1. Book the Shipment
- Navigate to the order
- Click "Book Shipment"
- Confirm package details
- Shipment is booked with carrier
- Labels are generated automatically
2. Print Labels
- Download as PDF
- Print directly to thermal printer
- Email to shipping station
3. Ship & Track
- Attach labels to packages
- Arrange carrier pickup or drop-off
- Mark order as Shipped
- Tracking updates automatically
For detailed booking and tracking information, see:
Adding a tracking number by hand
You don't have to book through Carrier Services to keep an order tracked. The Tracking Numbers section on the Shipping tab is available for every order, so you can paste in a tracking number for a shipment you arranged elsewhere (a local courier, a customer pickup carrier, your own freight account).
- Open the order's Shipping tab.
- In Tracking Numbers, click Add Tracking Number.
- Enter the number and save.
Once added, TimberCloud monitors that tracking number and pulls in real-time status updates automatically — so a manually-entered number behaves just like one from a booked shipment, and the order can advance to Delivered on its own when tracking confirms delivery. See Tracking Numbers for more.
Self-fulfillment: packing slip & Avery labels
For orders you pack and ship yourself, the Packing Slip section lets you generate a Packing Slip & Avery Labels in one step. Generating the packing slip also marks the order Completed, moving it out of production and into your ship queue. Print the packing slip to include in the box, and print the Avery labels to stick on your packages. See Self-Fulfillment for the full workflow.
Shipping on Different Order Types
Quote Orders
- Carrier rates can be selected during quote creation
- Rates may become stale before quote acceptance
- Refresh rates when converting quote to order if needed
Ordered Status
- Rate should be current before booking
- Check for stale rate warnings
- Book when ready to ship
Storefront Orders
- Carrier rate data is saved with the order
- All booking data ready for fulfillment
- Package configuration preserved
Troubleshooting
"Get Rates" Button Not Appearing
- Ensure shipping method is set to a Carrier Services delivery option
- Check that you're in edit mode
- Verify the order has items with products
No Rates Returned
- Verify products have dimensions and weights configured
- Check that shipping address is complete
- Ensure freight class is set for LTL-eligible items
- Verify carrier accounts are configured in settings
Can't Save Order with Carrier Services
- You must select a specific rate first
- Open the Carrier Services modal and select a rate
- If no rates available, check product configuration
Rates Seem Too High
- Check product dimensions and weights
- Review freight class settings
- Verify package consolidation settings
- Try editing packages manually in the modal
Related Documentation
- Shipping & Logistics Overview — Complete shipping documentation
- Shipping Dashboard — Manage shipments across all orders
- Smart Packaging — How the packaging algorithm works
- Rate Shopping — Detailed rate shopping guide
- Booking & Labels — Booking shipments and printing labels
- Tracking Numbers — Adding and monitoring tracking numbers
- Self-Fulfillment — Packing slips and labels for orders you ship yourself
- Package Tracking — Tracking shipments
- Configuration — Shipping settings