Custom Rate Engine & Shipping Calculator Software

Accurate pricing is one of the most important parts of any logistics operation. When rates are stored in spreadsheets, scattered across departments, or updated manually, the result is inconsistent quoting, slow response times, and unnecessary errors.

We build custom rate engine and shipping calculator software that centralizes all your pricing logic into one reliable system, so every quote, API call, and invoice uses the same rules.

A Structured Model for Your Logistics Pricing Rules

Logistics pricing is naturally complex: tariffs, zones, mileage tables, service levels, weight breaks, fuel indices, accessorial fees, customer-specific logic, and contract exceptions.

A proper rate engine turns all of that into structured, machine-readable rules instead of scattered spreadsheets. The system calculates the correct price every time, regardless of who is quoting or where the request comes from.

With all pricing rules stored and versioned in one place, you stop reconciling conflicting quotes and maintaining multiple copies of the same tables. Every system uses the same logic, which improves accuracy and reduces operational overhead.

Core capabilities of a dedicated rate engine

Centralized Contract & Tariff Engine

Pricing logic often lives in spreadsheets, disconnected tools, or brittle code that’s difficult to maintain and nearly impossible to scale. A dedicated rate engine consolidates every tariff model into one reliable foundation, supporting:

• lane-based, zone-based, and mileage-based tariffs
• weight, volume, and dimensional brackets
• minimum charges and tiered structures
• fuel surcharges tied to published indices
• accessorial rules with precise triggers
• multi-currency and region-specific logic
• effective dates, versioning, and audit trails

Instead of reinventing pricing for every new contract or region, the system adapts predictably and keeps logic consistent across all workflows.

Dynamic Pricing for Changing Conditions

Static rate sheets break the moment market conditions shift — demand spikes, lane imbalance grows, utilization drops, or customers push for new terms. A custom rate engine lets you update pricing without breaking contracts or resorting to manual overrides:

• adjust margins based on utilization, demand, or profitability
• apply customer- or segment-specific strategies
• activate seasonal or promotional pricing
• test scenarios and simulate financial impact before rollout

This keeps pricing competitive, protects margin, and eliminates the spreadsheet chaos that slows down decisions.

Real-Time Rating API for All Your Systems

Pricing only works when every system uses the same logic. The rate engine exposes a fast, stable rating API so any workflow can retrieve accurate prices instantly:

• TMS during planning, tendering, auditing
• customer and partner portals for live quoting
• internal sales and support tools
• mobile and web apps for self-service pricing

Each response can include a detailed calculation breakdown, removing ambiguity and giving every team full transparency into how a rate was produced.

Customer-Facing Shipping Calculator

Manual quoting slows down sales cycles and creates mismatched expectations between what customers see and what operations approve. A shipping calculator embedded into your website or portal connects directly to your rate engine so:

• customers receive accurate, real-time prices based on shipment details
• sales and operations stop re-quoting what the site already calculated
• internal and external pricing finally match

This shortens decision time, improves customer experience, and cuts repetitive manual work for your teams.

Integrations That Support Operations

A rate engine works best when it connects seamlessly with the rest of your logistics ecosystem. The system can integrate with internal and external platforms through APIs, webhooks, scheduled syncs, or file-based exchanges - depending on what your workflows require.

Typical integrations include:

• TMS platforms - To calculate shipment costs during planning, tendering, carrier selection, or auditing.
• Carrier systems - To synchronize contract versions, accessorial updates, fuel indices, or service-level changes.
• ERP, WMS, and OMS - To automate billing, validate order data, or align shipment information with accounting and inventory.
• Customer or partner portals - To generate instant quotes, return pricing options, or support multi-carrier price comparison.

This integration model ensures pricing stays synchronized across the entire organization without manual updates or duplicated spreadsheets.

Where a Custom Rate Engine Provides the Most Value

Custom pricing systems are not required for every organization, but they become essential when standard tools no longer support the operation. The need usually becomes clear in several scenarios:

• Multiple carriers and diverse pricing methods - When each carrier uses its own tariff structure, maintaining consistency manually becomes impractical.
• High quoting volume - Sales, dispatch, and customer support need instant, accurate results without depending on a pricing specialist.
• Flexible or negotiated pricing models - Companies that adjust margins or run seasonal programs need logic that can adapt quickly.
• Digital freight platforms - A rating API becomes a core part of marketplace or self-service workflows.
• Regional or international operations - Multi-currency, multi-market logic requires a system that supports variations cleanly.
• Operational accuracy requirements - When finance needs clear breakdowns, audit trails, and predictable calculations, a dedicated engine becomes the safest option.

These are the conditions where custom software outperforms generic calculators or SaaS tools.

Why TwinCore for Rate Engines and Shipping Calculators

Pricing in logistics is rarely linear. Real rates depend on contracts, tiers, zones, fuel, accessorials, and edge cases that don’t fit into simple formulas.

Our approach treats pricing as a core system, not a feature:

• Rates are modelled as structured rules instead of hardcoded values
• Contracts, customer-specific pricing, and carrier agreements are built into the foundation
• Exceptions are part of the design, not afterthoughts patched on later
• Architecture is built for change, so you can introduce new pricing models and carrier logic without rewriting everything

In real operations, that means fewer disputes, more predictable margins, and systems that can keep up as your network, contracts, and volumes evolve.