Shipment Planner
Warp doesn't just price freight — it decides how your freight should move. Enter lane, pallets, weight, and timing. Get a recommended execution mode, the reasoning behind it, and tradeoff comparison across every option.
How it works: the planner scores every candidate mode — cargo van, box truck, Warp LTL, Warp FTL, and consolidation — against your shipment, then returns the winner with a transparent score, cost range, transit window, and the reasons other modes lost.
How the planner scores modes
Every candidate mode starts with a baseline score, then adjusts up or down based on capacity fit, urgency preference, reliability history, damage risk, and the pallet-count sweet spot for that mode. Cargo van scores highest on 1–2 pallet fast lanes. Box truck wins the 4–10 pallet band. Warp LTL is strongest at 1–6 pallets when cost matters more than transit. Warp FTL only wins when you have 13+ pallets or a special-handling requirement. Consolidation scores highest on small, non-urgent shipments with 3+ days of slack.
Structural disqualifiers are enforced separately. A 22-pallet load cannot run on a cargo van, period — it gets ruled out with a surfaced reason, not quietly penalized. Hazmat on a cargo van, temperature control on LTL, too-tight deadlines for consolidation — all ruled out explicitly so you can see why the mode lost.
Why mode selection is the real decision
Rate shopping a single mode is the wrong starting point. A shipper who always quotes LTL will overpay on lanes where a cargo van would run 30% cheaper in half the transit time. A shipper who always quotes FTL will overpay by 2x on partial loads. The highest-value decision in freight is not "which carrier" — it's "which mode." The planner makes that decision explicit.
Warp operates across every mode on this planner, so the answer the tool gives is an answer Warp can execute. Cargo van, box truck, LTL, FTL, and cross-dock consolidation all book through the same quote flow.
Shipment Planner FAQ
What is the Shipment Planner?
A structured decision tool. You enter lane, pallets, weight, and timing. The planner evaluates cargo van, box truck, Warp LTL, Warp FTL, and consolidation — and returns a recommended mode with the reasoning behind it.
How does the planner decide which mode wins?
Each mode is scored 0–100 against the shipment. The score factors in capacity fit, lane distance, urgency preference, expected touches, reliability, and damage risk. Modes that structurally cannot run are marked non-viable. The winning mode has the highest score among viable options.
Are the cost estimates live rates?
No. The planner returns cost ranges, not live quotes. Ranges are based on typical per-pallet economics and dry-van rate-per-mile norms for each mode. Use the "Plan this shipment" output to jump to a live Warp quote with all fields pre-filled.
When should I hold for consolidation?
On partial loads under 6 pallets when the delivery deadline has 3+ days of slack. Consolidation offers the lowest cost per pallet but adds transit variability. The planner rules it out automatically on tight deadlines or large loads.
Why does the planner ask for a priority preference?
Cheapest, fastest, and best-balance produce different winners on the same shipment. The preference lets the planner weigh cost vs. speed without second-guessing you.
Does Warp actually run cargo vans and box trucks?
Yes. Warp operates across cargo van, box truck, LTL, and FTL with per-pallet pricing on LTL. Any mode the planner recommends is bookable through the same Warp quote flow.
Stop guessing execution. Plan it.
Most shippers pick a mode out of habit and overpay for it. The Shipment Planner makes mode selection a decision, not a default. When the plan's right, Warp runs it.