Description List & Freight Items

Description List & Freight Items

Description List and Freight Items

This article explains how to configure your description list and freight items. These are related but serve different purposes in consignment creation and pricing. 

Understanding the Difference

Description Lists provide user-friendly labels when creating consignments (e.g., "parcel," "box," "container"). They can include default dimensions and weights to speed up data entry.

Freight Items define the freight categories used for pricing and system processing (e.g., "carton," "pallet," "skid"). They determine how freight is charged and handled.

Example: An account may offer multiple descriptions to use like "large parcel," "box," or "carton" that all map to one Freight Item called "Carton" for pricing purposes.


Set Up Description Lists

Page URL: Settings



Configure Global Descriptions

  1. Navigate to Configuration > General > Global Setup > Consignment Related Rules Tab
  2. Click Add Description
  3. Enter a name for the description
  4. Click Add






Add Default Dimensions and Weight (Optional)

  1. Double-click the description
  2. Enter default values for:
    • Length
    • Width
    • Height
    • Weight
  3. Click Save
When users select this description during consignment creation, these values will auto-populate.





Use Descriptions in Consignment Creation

Descriptions appear in the dropdown when creating a consignment at Transport > Operational Tasks > Consignments > Create New.



Descriptions with default dimension and weight values will populate the length, width, height and weight fields upon selection:



Set Up Customer-Specific Descriptions (Optional)

To create unique description lists for individual customers:

  1. Navigate to Transport > Configuration and Setup > Card Files > Customers
  2. Select the customer card
  3. Go to the Consignment Related Rules tab
  4. Enable customer-specific descriptions
  5. Add descriptions using the same steps as above

Customers will only see descriptions configured on their card file when creating consignments.

To remove a description for a customer, click the bin icon.










Setup Freight Items



How To

Create a Freight Item

  1. Navigate to Configuration > Lists and Zones > Freight Items
  2. Click Create Freight Item
  3. Enter a name (e.g., "Carton," "Pallet," "Skid")
  4. Click Create









The Freight Item will appear in orange in the grid on the left.

Configure Freight Item Settings

Click the Freight Item to view settings on the right:

Freight Item

  • The name of the Freight Item
  • Can be changed if needed

Short Name (Used Export Only)

  • Shortened version of the name
  • Used for integration exports
  • Optional in most cases

Priority for Finance

  • Acts as a tie-breaker when multiple Freight Items could apply to pricing
  • Higher numbers take priority

Other Names (AKA)

  • Alternate names for the Freight Item
  • Allows the system to match different descriptions to the same Freight Item
  • Example: Add "boxes" as an alternate name for "Carton" so both terms map to the same pricing rules

Label Print Qty

  • Number of labels to print for this Freight Item
  • Example: Set to 4 for pallets to print labels for all four sides

Enable Freight Item

  • Set to YES and click Update to activate

Data Filter

  • Not typically required
  • Freight Item application is handled by rate cards directly

FAQs

Can I import a Description List?

Yes. See the related articles below for import instructions.

What is the difference between a Description List and a Freight Item?

Description lists are user-facing labels that make consignment creation easier. Freight Items are system categories that control pricing and processing. Multiple Descriptions can map to the same Freight Item.

Do Freight Items need to be set up before creating consignments?

No, but they should be configured before configuring your rates to ensure accurate pricing.


Related Articles + Videos

Description Lists

Freight Items

Rate Cards