Zones

Freight rates are based on distances and zones, and a few other optional elements, such as weight, service level, or carrier. The distances are defined by the distances entered in the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session of the Pricing module and by the zones defined in Freight. A zone consists of the following elements:

  • Zone identification
  • Zone Type
  • A carrier
  • Zone information
Zone identification

A Zone identification consists of a code and a description.

Zone Type

A Zone Type determines the type of zone information that makes up a zone. In Freight, the following zone types are defined:

  • ZIP
  • City
  • Distance
Carrier

Some carriers use their own zone system, on which these carriers base their rates. You can specify a carrier to indicate that a given zone is only used by that particular carrier.

Zone information

Zone information includes the details, such as the origin and destination countries, zip code ranges, cities, or distances, that make up the zone. The Zone Type of a Zone determines the type of zone information of which a zone consists.

How to define zones

To define a zone, proceed as follows:

  1. In the Zones by Zone Type and Carrier (fmfrc1110m000) session, define the following data:
    1. The Zone Type. To select a Zone Type, click the New Group button on the toolbar.
    2. The Carrier, if required.
    3. The code and the description of the Zone. To add a code and a description, click the New Record button on the toolbar.
  2. Start the Zones by ZIP (fmfrc1120m000) session, the Zones by City (fmfrc1130m000) session, or the Zones by Distance (fmfrc1140m000) session to enter the relevant zone information.
The use of zones

Zones by ZIP, zones by City, and zones by Distance are used to define freight rates. In the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session, the code of a zone is linked to a freight amount. As a result, all goods transports that take place in regions falling within the zip code ranges, the city ranges, or the distance defined for the zone, have the same basic rate, as long as the other factors that make up the freight rate, such as basic weight or carrier, apply.

Note

You cannot select zone codes of the Distance type in the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session. To define a freight rate by Distance in the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session, you manually enter a distance and the pertaining freight amount. In the background, the distance entered manually is linked to the corresponding zone by Distance defined in Freight.

The zone functionality of the Freight Rates and Cost module is very flexible and enables you to set up zones in various ways.

Example

You can define zones by ZIP code in the following way:

ZoneZC1
Origin CountryThe Netherlands
Origin Zip Code from1000 AA
Origin Zip Code to1050 ZZ
Destination countryDestination Zip Code fromDestination Zip Code toZone
The Netherlands2500 AA2550 ZZZC1

 

This is an example of a zone that covers two delivery areas, or one collect and one delivery area. The origin ZIP code From and the origin ZIP code To mark the origin area. ZIP code range 1000 AA to 1050 ZZ covers Amsterdam and surrounding area. The destination ZIP code from and the destination ZIP code to mark the destination area. ZIP code range 2500 AA to 2550 ZZ covers The Hague and surrounding area. If this zone is linked to a freight rate in the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session, transport from addresses in the origin range to addresses in the destination range are charged with the freight rate.

ZoneZC2
Origin CountryBelgium
Origin Zip Code from2000
Origin Zip Code to2099
Destination countryDestination Zip Code fromDestination Zip Code toZone
The Netherlands2500 AA2550 ZZZC2

 

This zone is similar to the previous zone, ZC1. The difference is that this zone crosses national borders. The origin range covers Antwerp and its immediate surroundings. Transports from addresses in the origin range to addresses in the destination range are rated according to the freight rate linked to Zone ZC2.

ZoneZC3City
Origin CountryBelgium
Origin Zip Code from2000
Origin Zip Code to2099
Destination countryDestination Zip Code fromDestination Zip Code toZone
The Netherlands2500 AA2550 ZZZC3
The Netherlands1000 AA1099 ZZZC3

 

This zone is similar to the previous zone, ZC2. The difference is that this zone has more than one destination area. You can add any number of destination areas.

Origin CountryThe NetherlandsCity
Origin Zip Code from3100 AARotterdam
Origin Zip Code to3145 ZZRotterdam
CarrierSpeedex International Ltd
Destination countryDestination Zip Code fromDestination Zip Code toZone
The Netherlands3500 AAUtrecht3599 ZZUtrechtZC4
The Netherlands4800 AABreda4850 ZZBredaZC4
The Netherlands6200 AAMaastricht6228 ZZMaastrichtZC5

 

This table actually displays two zones: ZC4 and ZC5. ZC4 has ZIP code range 3100 AA-3145 ZZ as origin area; and 3500 AA-3599 ZZ and 4800 AA-4850 ZZ as destination areas. ZC5 has ZIP code range 3100 AA-3145 ZZ as origin area; and 6200AA-6228 ZZ as destination area. If these zones are linked to a freight rate in the Freight Rate Books (tdpcg0150m000) session, transport from addresses in the origin ZIP ranges to addresses in the destination ranges are charged with the freight rate.

Caution!

The Zones by ZIP (fmfrc1120m000) session and the Zones by City (fmfrc1130m000) session enable you to enter an unlimited number of ZIP code or city ranges for a single zone. Very large zones can be difficult to maintain.