Use Your Typical Case (Default Box) in Shipper Search

Enter a representative case size, packed weight, items per case, pallet pattern, and monthly volumes so Fulfield can rank shippers and estimate fit consistently.

Who can do this

• Anyone can open Scenario Calculator on public search and enter a one-time scenario.
• Signed-in clients can save the representative values in their client profile; search pre-fills those values on later visits.

Before you start

• Run a valid location search first; the calculator ranks shippers within the current location result set.
• Choose one representative packed case that reflects normal operations, plus realistic average inbound and outbound monthly volume.

Steps

1. On Search Results, expand Scenario Calculator in the left panel. A signed-in client may see it open automatically when its saved profile contains monthly volume.
2. In Case Size, enter the representative packed case length, width, and height in L, W, H order. Choose cm or inch before relying on the values; changing the unit converts existing entries.
3. In Weight, enter the packed case weight, not one item weight, and choose kg or lb. Changing the unit converts the displayed number.
4. In Items/Case, enter how many sellable units are normally inside that representative case. If omitted, ranking calculations use one item per case.
5. Select Palletized shipments when Monthly Shipments will be the expected number of inbound pallets. Leave it off when Monthly Shipments will be inbound cases/cartons.
6. Enter Monthly Shipments as average inbound cases when not palletized or average inbound pallets when palletized. Fractions can be used in the saved client profile when volume is irregular.
7. Enter Monthly Orders as expected outbound items per month. The current estimator assumes one outbound item per order for its storage-flow model, so multi-item order patterns need additional judgment.
8. Choose Calculate Best Match. At least Monthly Shipments or Monthly Orders is required; dimensions and weight improve capacity/cost interpretation but do not enable the button by themselves.
9. Compare the new Match percentage, estimated monthly cost when available, result order, and storage-capacity warning. Keep the same scenario across shippers.
10. Choose Clear Scenario to remove the current scenario and refetch location-only results. Clear All below the filters does not clear the scenario.

Fields and decisions

• Default box, exemplary case, typical case, and representative case refer to the same planning concept: a normal inbound case used for comparison, not a mandatory packaging type.
• Use outside packed dimensions and packed weight that affect receiving/storage, not the retail unit dimensions unless the retail unit itself is the inbound case.
• For a mixed catalog, use the case that best represents most inbound volume. Run a second manual scenario for unusually large, heavy, fragile, or palletized products.
• When palletized is selected, Fulfield estimates cases per standard pallet from the representative case and treats pallet storage as floor-space demand. Without it, inbound volume is cases and storage can use cubic volume.
• The estimator models net storage from estimated incoming items minus outgoing items and never goes below zero. It is a planning approximation, not an inventory forecast.
• Package weight can affect fit/cost inputs where supported, but missing provider pricing or different service drivers can prevent an estimate.
• Signed-in search loads saved profile values stored in standardized units and converts them to the current display preference. Changing the display unit should not be followed by re-entering the old number.

Finished when

• Scenario Applied is reflected by match/estimate data and the results are ranked by scenario relevance.
• The values describe one coherent operating scenario with the correct units and pallet interpretation.

What this changes

• Calculate Best Match sends the scenario to public search, reorders the current eligible shippers, resets Sort By to Relevance, and can add estimated cost and capacity-fit indicators.
• A public scenario is temporary. A signed-in client profile remains the prefill source after reload until the profile is edited.

Common problems

Calculate Best Match is disabled.

Enter a positive Monthly Shipments or Monthly Orders value. Case dimensions alone do not create service volume.

The scenario shows an unexpectedly large storage need.

Check palletized status, case units, items per case, and whether Monthly Shipments was entered as pallets versus cases.

No estimated monthly cost appears for a shipper.

The provider may not have compatible pricing for the scenario-generated services/drivers. Open its profile and compare actual service pricing or contact it.

Clearing filters did not remove Match or the estimate.

Use Clear Scenario inside Scenario Calculator. Clear All affects filters/sort only.

Saved values return after reload.

Signed-in client search intentionally pre-fills from Client Profile. Edit the fulfillment details in Profile when the representative case or volume has changed.

Safety checks

• Do not enter inches while cm is selected, pounds while kg is selected, or pallet count while palletized is off.
• Do not use a promotional peak or one exceptional SKU as the default case unless that is the capacity condition you are intentionally testing.
• Do not treat Match or estimated monthly cost as guaranteed capacity, a quote, or accepted contract pricing.

When to contact support

• Contact support when unit conversion changes values incorrectly, a coherent scenario consistently returns impossible estimates, or saved client values do not match Profile. Include inputs, units, pallet setting, location, and screenshots.

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Owner: Fulfield Product Support | Content version: 2026.09.01.1 | Last verified: 2026-09-01