Rate Shopping
Compare shipping rates across multiple carriers in real-time. TimberCloud fetches rates from parcel and freight carriers, applies your markup, and lets you select the best option for each order.
Opening the Rate Shopping Modal
- Navigate to an order
- Ensure Delivery Option is set to "Carrier Services"
- Click "Shop Rates" button
- The Carrier Services Modal opens
Shipping Mode Selection
Choose how you want to ship:
| Mode | Icon | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto | 🔄 | Algorithm decides based on package type | Most orders |
| Small Parcel | 📦 | FedEx, UPS, USPS carriers | Light shipments |
| LTL Freight | 🚚 | Freight carriers | Heavy/pallet shipments |
Auto Mode is recommended—boxes automatically route to parcel carriers, pallets to freight carriers.
Package Preview
Before fetching rates, review your auto-calculated packages:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Box or Pallet |
| Dimensions | Width × Length × Height |
| Weight | Calculated from products |
| Freight Class | For LTL shipments |
| Quantity | Number of identical packages |
Editing Packages
Click "Edit Packages" to manually adjust:
- Adjust dimensions
- Change weights
- Add or remove packages
- Convert boxes to pallets
- Consolidate multiple boxes
Shipping Options
Select additional services based on delivery requirements:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Liftgate Required | For deliveries without loading dock |
| Residential Delivery | Non-commercial addresses |
| Inside Delivery | Carrier brings items inside |
| Appointment Required | Scheduled delivery window |
| Insurance | Extra insurance coverage |
Note: Some options are automatically applied based on shipping location settings.
Fetching Rates
Step 1: Select Carriers
Choose which carriers/providers to fetch rates from:
Parcel Carriers:
- FedEx (Express, Ground, Home Delivery)
- UPS (Next Day Air, Ground, SurePost)
- USPS (Priority, Express, First Class)
- DHL (Express Worldwide)
Freight Carriers:
- ABF Freight
- Estes Express
- XPO Logistics
- Saia LTL
- R+L Carriers
- Old Dominion
Step 2: Configure Options
Select any additional shipping services needed.
Step 3: Get Rates
Click "Get Rates" to fetch real-time rates from all selected carriers.
Comparing Rates
Rates load from all selected carriers with:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Carrier | Name and logo |
| Service Level | Ground, Express, etc. |
| Price | With your markup applied |
| Delivery Time | Estimated transit time |
| Delivery Date | Based on ship date and lead time |
Filtering & Sorting
Refine your options:
- Sort by: Price (lowest first) or Time (fastest first)
- Price Range: Filter by min/max price
- Delivery Time: Filter by delivery window
Selecting a Rate
- Click on your preferred rate card
- Review the details
- Click "Select Rate"
- Rate is saved to the order
Saved Rate Data
When you select a rate, the following is saved:
- Complete pricing breakdown
- Carrier and service information
- Package configuration
- All data needed for booking
Rate Staleness
Shipping rates expire after 24 hours. This ensures customers always receive accurate, current pricing.
How It Works
- Customer or admin selects a shipping rate
- Timestamp is recorded when rate is selected
- System marks rate as "stale" after 24 hours
- Warning appears prompting rate refresh
- Fresh rates are fetched with current pricing
Visual Indicators
- Yellow warning banner when rates are outdated
- "Regenerate Rates" button with pulse animation
- "Outdated" badge on selected rate card
- Automatic detection when order items change
When Rates Become Stale
- 24 hours have passed since rate selection
- Order items have been modified (quantities, products)
- Shipping address has changed
- Estimated ship date has changed
Shipping Markup
Add your markup to shipping costs to cover handling and packaging materials.
Markup Options
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage | Add X% to carrier rates | 10% → $50 becomes $55 |
| Fixed Amount | Add flat fee to all shipments | +$10 handling |
Configure markups in Settings → Orders → Shipping.
Multi-Location Shipping
Ship from multiple fulfillment locations:
- Configure locations with addresses
- Set primary and backup locations
- Location-specific carrier accounts
- Split shipments across locations
Location-Based LTL Services
Each shipping location can have default LTL services configured:
- Liftgate availability
- Dock availability
- Limited access requirements
These are automatically applied to freight shipments from that location.
Freight Class Reference
For LTL shipments, freight class determines shipping costs:
| Class | Density | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|
| 50-70 | 35+ lbs/ft³ | Metal, machinery |
| 85-100 | 12-15 lbs/ft³ | Appliances, steel |
| 125-150 | 8-10 lbs/ft³ | Small furniture |
| 150-175 | 5-8 lbs/ft³ | Cabinet doors, wood products ⭐ |
| 175-200 | 4-5 lbs/ft³ | Large boxed items |
| 200-250 | 2-4 lbs/ft³ | Lightweight furniture |
Best Practices
- Use Auto Mode - Let the algorithm optimize carrier selection
- Compare Multiple Carriers - Prices vary significantly
- Check Delivery Dates - Consider production lead times
- Apply Appropriate Markup - Cover your handling costs
- Refresh Stale Rates - Always get fresh rates before confirming
- Review Package Configuration - Verify before fetching rates
Troubleshooting
No Rates Returned
- Verify carrier accounts are configured
- Check shipping address is complete and valid
- Ensure products have weight and dimensions
- Review destination for carrier service availability
Rates Are Stale
- Normal for quotes older than 24 hours
- Click "Regenerate Rates" for fresh pricing
- System ensures accurate pricing before booking
Prices Seem High
- Check product dimensions and weights
- Review freight class settings
- Verify package consolidation settings
- Compare with manual package editing
Next Steps
- Booking & Labels - Book shipments
- Smart Packaging - Package optimization
- Configuration - Settings and customization