Booking & Labels
Once a rate is selected and the order is confirmed, you can book the shipment directly in TimberCloud. This page covers the booking process, label generation, and shipment management.
Booking Process
Prerequisites
Before booking, ensure:
- A shipping rate is selected on the order
- The rate is not stale (less than 24 hours old)
- Shipping address is validated
- Payment method is configured (for carrier charges)
How to Book
- Navigate to the order
- Click "Book Shipment"
- Confirm package details
- Authorize payment (if applicable)
- Shipment is booked with carrier
- Labels are generated automatically
What Happens During Booking
The booking process completes several steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Payment Authorization | Validates payment will succeed |
| 2. Carrier Booking | Creates shipment with selected carrier |
| 3. Payment Confirmation | Charges shipping cost |
| 4. Label Generation | Generates shipping labels |
| 5. Tracking Creation | Tracking numbers are assigned |
| 6. Order Update | Shipment info saved to order |
Booking Confirmation
After successful booking:
- Tracking number(s) assigned to order
- Shipping labels available for download
- Customer notified (if enabled)
- Order status updated
Label Printing
After Booking
Labels are immediately available:
- Download as PDF - Save to your computer
- Print directly - Send to connected printer
- Thermal printer - Compatible with Zebra, DYMO, etc.
- Email to shipping station - Forward to your warehouse
Label Formats
| Format | Best For |
|---|---|
| 4×6 Thermal | Parcel shipping (standard) |
| 8.5×11 Letter | Office printers |
| 4×8 Freight | LTL shipments |
Batch Label Printing
Print labels for multiple orders at once:
- Go to Orders list
- Select orders to print
- Click "Print Labels"
- Labels download as a single PDF
Shipment Management
Viewing Shipment Details
After booking, view shipment information on the order:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Tracking Number | Carrier tracking number |
| Carrier | Shipping carrier |
| Service | Service level |
| Ship Date | Actual ship date |
| Estimated Delivery | Carrier-provided ETA |
| Status | Current shipment status |
Canceling a Shipment
If you need to cancel a booked shipment:
- Open the order
- Click "Cancel Shipment"
- Confirm cancellation
- Shipment is voided with carrier
- Labels become invalid
Note: Cancellation policies vary by carrier. Some carriers charge for late cancellations.
Multiple Shipments
For orders that require multiple shipments:
Split Shipments
Ship portions of an order separately:
- Book first shipment with selected items
- Remaining items stay on order
- Book additional shipments as needed
- Each shipment has its own tracking
Multi-Package Shipments
One shipment with multiple packages:
- All packages ship together
- Single tracking number (with package-level tracking)
- One booking transaction
Carrier-Specific Requirements
Parcel Carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS)
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Max Weight | 150 lbs per package |
| Max Dimensions | 108" longest side, 165" length+girth |
| Address Validation | Addresses validated before booking |
| Residential Flags | Automatically detected |
Freight Carriers (LTL)
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Freight Class | Required for all items |
| NMFC Codes | May be required by some carriers |
| Pickup Scheduling | Required for most LTL shipments |
| BOL Generation | Bill of Lading generated with labels |
Payment Processing
Shipping Charges
Shipping charges are processed through your configured payment method:
- Credit card on file
- Carrier account billing
- Invoice billing (enterprise)
Charge Timing
| Carrier Type | When Charged |
|---|---|
| Parcel | At booking |
| LTL Freight | At pickup or delivery |
Rate Adjustments
Carriers may adjust rates after delivery for:
- Incorrect dimensions/weight
- Address corrections
- Residential delivery surcharges
- Accessorial services used
Label Storage
Accessing Past Labels
Retrieve labels for previously booked shipments:
- Open the order
- Go to Documents section
- Click "Shipping Label"
- Download or print
Label Expiration
- Parcel labels typically expire after 14-30 days
- LTL BOLs expire per carrier policy
- Re-book if labels expire before shipping
Integration with Workflow
Order Status Updates
Booking triggers status changes:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Ready to Ship | Shipped |
| Awaiting Shipment | In Transit |
Customer Notifications
When booking completes:
- Customer receives shipping confirmation
- Tracking number included in email
- Link to tracking portal
Inventory Updates
For inventory-tracked items:
- Stock levels adjusted
- Committed inventory released
- Shipped quantities recorded
Best Practices
- Verify Address - Double-check before booking
- Confirm Packages - Review calculated packages
- Check Rate Freshness - Refresh stale rates
- Print Labels Promptly - Avoid expiration
- Note Tracking Numbers - Record for reference
- Schedule Pickups - For LTL, schedule carrier pickup
Troubleshooting
Booking Fails
- Confirm payment method is valid
- Check carrier account status
- Verify address validation passed
- Review package dimensions against carrier limits
Labels Won't Print
- Check printer connection
- Verify label format matches printer
- Try downloading PDF and printing manually
- Check for printer driver updates
Tracking Not Showing
- Allow a few hours for carrier systems to update
- Verify tracking number is correct
- Check carrier website directly
- Contact carrier if persists after 24 hours
Cancellation Issues
- Some carriers require phone cancellation
- Check carrier's cancellation window
- Void label in TimberCloud regardless
- Contact support for stuck cancellations
Next Steps
- Package Tracking - Track shipments
- Rate Shopping - Compare carrier rates
- Configuration - Shipping settings