Understanding Routing Entry Setup

You set up the routing entries for each of the carriers and modes of transport, or a private fleet. The system then uses these routing entries to route and rate shipments or loads. Routing entries are stored in the Routing Entries table (F4950) and must contain this information:

• Origin

• Destination

• Carrier

• Mode of Transport

• Rate Schedule

  Note: When you define the origin for routing entries, you can only define origin, origin branch/plant, or origin postal code (and country code). If you define more than one of these in a single routing entry, the system displays an error message. The Business Unit Master table (F0006) must contain the address book number for the origin depot. Otherwise, shipments and any routing entries that are set up by origin or origin postal code are not valid. If you use a country code in the routing entry, to enable selection of the route Ship To addresses of the shipment or load, you must specify country codes in the address book record.

After you define the origin, you can define the destination by destination postal code, destination postal code and country code, route code, city and state, city and country code, county and state, county and country code, or address number. The system generates an error if a previous entry or entry combinations are defined.

The system does not select multiple routing entries for the same combination of carrier and mode. For example, if you have two entries for the same mode, both of which service the origin and destination, the system uses the most specific entry, based on the routing hierarchy. The routing hierarchy determines how the system searches for routing entries, based on their destination information. You use several criteria to define destinations, including address book number, route, carrier zone, city, state, and country.

When the system selects a routing entry, the rate schedule links to the rating tables and retrieves a rate. The system then calculates the billable charges, payable charges, or both.

When defining the rate definition, you can specify a business function to create a user-defined program to calculate a promised delivery date or additional restrictions, to perform user-defined tasks, or to determine whether a specific carrier is eligible for a shipment.

You can copy routing entries to create new entries.