Shipping Configuration
Set up how TimberCloud's shipping works for your company: packaging rules, the default shipping mode, your markup, pallet specs, and fulfillment locations. Get these right once and every order you ship shops accurate rates.
Availability: Carrier Services — rate shopping, booking, labels, and tracking — is included on Commerce and up (paid plans). The Free plan is inquiry-only with no shipping. See Subscriptions & Plans.
Where the settings live
There is no "Settings → Orders → Shipping" tab. Shipping configuration is split across two clearly separated places:
| Setting | Where it lives |
|---|---|
| Packaging — mode, consolidation, custom boxes, pallet specs, default shipping mode | Settings → Orders → Packaging tab (Packaging settings) |
| Shipping markup — your handling markup on carrier rates | Settings → Orders → Delivery Option → the Carrier Services info modal |
| Fulfillment locations — origin address + LTL defaults | Settings → Company → Locations (Locations) |
Packaging mode
Control how the engine packages products company-wide (on the Packaging tab):
| Mode | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Auto (recommended) | The engine picks boxes or pallets from item dimensions and weight. | Most companies |
| Boxes Only | Everything goes in boxes (may produce many small boxes). | Shops that never ship freight |
| Pallets Only | Everything goes on pallets (requires freight). | Bulk / industrial shipping |
Default shipping mode
Separately from packaging, choose which carrier type to use by default. You can override it per order when you shop rates.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto | Boxes route to parcel carriers; pallets route to LTL freight. In Auto, TimberCloud uses LTL when any package is a pallet or the total weight exceeds 150 lbs. |
| Small Parcel Only | Always use small-parcel carriers, whatever the package type. |
| LTL Freight Only | Always use freight carriers — often cheaper for heavy shipments, even boxes. |
Consolidation rules
Two controls on the Packaging tab shape how aggressively items combine:
- Maximum boxes before consolidating to pallet — if an order would exceed this many boxes, everything moves onto pallets instead. A single freight shipment often beats many parcel packages. Set to 0 to disable.
- Prefer fewer packages — on by default; favors larger boxes to minimize package count.
Custom box sizes
By default the engine packs into a library of 19 standard box sizes. To pack against the cartons you actually stock, turn on Use Custom Box Sizes and add each box's name, interior width, length, height, and max weight. A quick-add shortcut pulls common sizes (Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, Oversized) from the defaults.
Tips:
- Measure interior dimensions of real boxes.
- Cover your product range, including long boxes for stiles, rails, and trim.
- Match max weight to your packaging materials.
Pallet configuration
Set your default pallet on the Packaging tab. The default follows the standard US GMA footprint.
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Width | 48" |
| Length | 40" |
| Max height (including pallet) | 96" |
| Max weight (loaded) | 2000 lbs |
| Empty pallet weight (added to shipment) | 40 lbs |
Shipping & handling markup
Your markup covers handling, packaging materials, and labor on top of the carrier's cost. It's configured in the Delivery Option info modal, not on a Packaging or "Shipping" tab.
To set it:
- Go to Settings → Orders → Delivery Option.
- Open the Carrier Services info modal.
- Choose a Markup Type — Percentage or Fixed Amount — and enter the value.
- Save.
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage | Add X% on top of the carrier rate. | 10% |
| Fixed Amount | Add a flat handling fee to every shipment. | $10 |
TimberCloud layers a small base buffer under your configured markup; your markup sits on top of that. Every rate shown during rate shopping already includes this, and booking charges your card the carrier rate plus your markup as a "shipping" platform charge.
Fulfillment locations
Orders ship from a configured location whose address becomes the rate origin. Manage locations under Settings → Company → Locations.
Important: Shipping from more than one location (multi-warehouse fulfillment) is a Production (and Enterprise) capability. On Commerce and Build you ship from a single fulfillment location. See Locations.
Location LTL services
Each location can carry default LTL freight services so freight quotes reflect what's true at that origin:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Has dock | A loading dock is available. |
| Liftgate available | A liftgate is available at origin. |
| Limited access | Special access requirements at the origin. |
These defaults are merged into your rate requests automatically — you only add per-shipment accessorials in the rate modal. See Rate Shopping.
Per-product shipping data
The settings above tell the engine how to package; each product tells it what it's packaging. Set dimensions, weight, freight class, and assembled-vs-parts on every product's Shipping Options tab — accurate data there is what makes rates correct.
Next Steps
- Packaging Settings — the full Packaging tab
- Smart Packaging — how packing decisions are made
- Rate Shopping — where markup and accessorials show up
- Shipping Options — per-product dimensions and freight class
- Locations — fulfillment origins and LTL defaults