Introduction
You can set up cost calculations that will help to calculate what each trip costs. Once a price list is configured, the cost will be shown on each order that matches the configured criteria . The default cost distribution is based on either Distance or Time, however other options can be configured.
Chargeable Weight
Loading meters
Pallet Spaces
Volume
Weight
📚 Please contact Qargo Support if you would like to update the method of cost calculation distribution.
Based on the rate cards, the revenue will also be calculated for that same order. The difference between the revenue and the costs is the profitability shown on each order.
Setup Cost Calculations
Navigate to Rates
Click on Cost calculation trip in the header
Here you can configure cost calculations for your own drivers and vehicles (internal cost calculation) as well as for subcontractors. These calculations are setup the same way as the rate cards.
👉 Click HERE to see how to set up the Internal Cost Calculations.
Cost charges linked to a trip can now be split across multiple orders for accounting connectors and exports. Using a new 'Split lines by cost distribution' toggle, costs are automatically allocated per order based on configured trip cost distributions, with separate accounting lines created for each split.
📚 Restricted to Qargo Admin and Super Admin users.
Compatible Resources
Select resources that are linked to the specific cost card that is created.
Under RATES > Cost Trip Calculations, navigate to the 'Linked Resources' panel if the toggle 'use price list for all' is OFF, the Resource Type options will show.
Click into the appropriate line to open the resource types
Select single, multiple or all with a simple click.
Set up a subcontractor price list
Click on New subcontractor price list
You can create a Subcontractor Price List that is the default for all subcontractors, or you can opt to only use it for only one or a set of subcontractors. Once the subcontractor is chosen and a name for the price list is completed, you can link the resources. Be cautious when setting up subcontractor price lists to avoid situations where duplicate costs may arise. For example, ensure the same resource is not allocated more than once within the same trip.
You can opt to use that price list for all resources that are linked to that subcontractor(s):
If you only want to use that price list for a set of resources, click the toggle off for "Use price list of all" and pick the resources of your choice.
Here you can select the resources that are linked to that subcontractor. This can be set in Resources (Combinations, Drivers, Vehicles).
Once selected, save the price list. Now you can add the prices to your price list. You can edit prices for these costs the same way as you did for price list for customers.
Below you watch a video where we explain how to set up subcontractor cost calculations and add a price list to these cost calculations.
Set up a internal cost calculation
Click on Internal cost calculation
Click on New internal cost calculation
Follow the same steps as above for subcontractors.
Below you watch a video where we explain how to set up Internal Cost Calculations for own drivers, and add a price list to these cost calculations.
Calculate charges per order
When creating an internal cost, the "Calculate charges per order" toggle controls whether the cost is calculated separately for each order on a trip, or once for the entire trip.
The switch is set at rate card (cost price list) level. Once it is active on the rate card, each individual charge on the price list gets its own "Calculate charges per order" toggle in the Edit price window, so you can still switch the behaviour on or off per charge. A charge-level toggle only becomes available once the setting is enabled on the rate card itself.
Toggle On: Qargo calculates the cost per individual order, then sums those order-level costs for the trip.
Example:
Rule: 90% of assigned revenue per order
Orders: €400, €300, €300
Cost: €360 + €270 + €270 = €900
Outcome: Clear per-order costs that sum to trip total
Toggle Off: Qargo calculates one cost for the whole trip based on trip-level totals, not per-order breakdowns.
Example:
Rule: 90% of trip's total assigned revenue
Trip total revenue: €1,000
Cost: €900
Outcome: One trip-level cost, no per-order breakdown
‼️ If "Calculate charges per order" is enabled, subcontractor costs may be applied repeatedly for each order in a trip, potentially leading to duplicate charges.
Consolidate order revenue on the same trip
By default, the revenue distribution override table evaluates each order's metrics independently. For carriers whose rates are based on the combined volume of all orders on a trip, this produces inaccurate cost and profit figures - the per-order lookup does not reflect the actual negotiated rate.
The Consolidation setting on a transport service lets you pool all orders on the same trip together, use their combined metrics, and split the result equally across those orders.
Configure consolidation
The Consolidation setting is on the transport service, under the revenue distribution configuration. It applies uniformly to all exceptions in the override table for that service — there is no mix-and-match per exception.
NAVIGATE to RATES > Order Input > Transport Services and open the relevant transport service.
SCROLL to the Revenue calculation panel.
SET the Consolidation dropdown to the appropriate option:
Don't consolidate (default). Each order's metrics are looked up individually per exception. This is the existing behaviour.
Consolidate per trip — all orders on the same trip are pooled. The combined metrics are used, and the resulting amount is split equally across all orders on that trip.
CLICK Save.
📚 The consolidation setting applies to all exceptions configured on that transport service. If a trip includes orders from multiple transport services with different consolidation settings, each transport service is evaluated independently.
How it works
When Consolidate per trip is set:
Qargo sums the metrics (e.g. chargeable weight) across all orders on the trip.
That amount is split equally across all orders on the trip.
If an order is added to or removed from the trip, the calculation updates automatically for all orders in the consolidated group.
Cancelled orders are excluded from the consolidation group.
Example
Two orders are planned on the same pickup trip. The override table uses a fixed charge (€250) and a metric charge (€1/kg). The transport service is set to Consolidate per trip.
| Order 1 | Order 2 |
Weight | 200 kg | 100 kg |
Revenue | €175.53 | €175.53 |
Without consolidation — each order looked up individually:
Order 1: €250 + (200 kg × €1) = €450
Order 2: €250 + (100 kg × €1) = €350
These amounts do not reflect the actual negotiated rate, which is based on the combined weight.
With Consolidate per trip:
Combined weight: 200 + 100 = 300 kg
Override table lookup on 300 kg → €250 fixed + (300 kg × €1) = €550 total
Equal split across 2 orders: €550 ÷ 2 = €275 per order
The consolidated lookup matches the actual negotiated rate. Note that the equal split means smaller orders absorb a higher percentage of the total than their individual metrics would suggest.
Limitations
Revenue is split equally across all consolidated orders. Proportional split — for example, by order revenue or by each order's individual metric contribution — is not available.
🔎 Troubleshooting Common Cost Calculation Errors
Edit icon missing on the resource assignment: The linked cost price list isn’t Active at the time of assignment, or the assignment doesn’t allow inline edits.
Fix:
Verify the intended cost price list is Active.
If the icon still isn’t available, remove the resource from the trip, re‐assign the resource and select the correct Active cost price list.
Tips to Avoid Future Errors
Regularly audit rate card configurations to ensure they align with billing policies.
Verify that resources are assigned only once within a trip to prevent duplicate allocations.
Perform periodic checks on subcontractor setups to ensure accuracy.
Duplicate subcontractor costs due to rate card configurations: When the "calculate charge per order" setting is enabled, subcontractor costs may be applied to each order on a trip, leading to repeated charges.
Fix: Review the rate card configuration and adjust the setting as needed.
Duplicate resource allocation: Adding the same subcontractor resource in multiple roles (e.g., as a trailer and a primary resource) can result in duplications.
Fix: Review resource allocations within the trip and remove any duplicates.








