Screenshot suggestions:
Screenshot 1: Configuration > Rules — Stop Duration menu item selected in left-hand panel, showing the rule list
Screenshot 2: New rule form — showing Rule Type selector (Fixed / Formula) and Activity Type field
Screenshot 3: Fixed rule example — a flat duration value set for a specific activity type
Screenshot 4: Formula rule example — goods metric selected (e.g. pallets) with a per-unit time value (e.g. 5 min/pallet), and a second calculation added for a fixed base time
Screenshot 5: Conditions panel — showing available condition types such as transport service, vehicle category, and customer
Screenshot 6: Route view — stop duration automatically updated after goods data change
Summary
What?
A rules-based feature that dynamically calculates stop activity durations based on cargo characteristics and operational conditions
Configured under Configuration > Rules, following the same pattern as other rule types in Qargo
Why?
Fixed stop durations do not scale with cargo volume or transport context, leading to inaccurate route ETAs
Planners were performing manual updates to duration values — a time-consuming and error-prone process
How?
Create Stop Duration rules that define either a flat time (fixed) or a per-unit formula (e.g. 5 minutes per pallet)
Scope rules with conditions such as transport service, vehicle category, customer, or activity label
Durations recalculate automatically on each route calculation trigger
Terminology
Term | Definition |
Stop Activity | The action performed at a stop, such as Collection, Delivery, or Depot Unload |
Stop Activity Group | All stop activities at the same location within a route — duration is calculated based on the combined goods workload across the group |
Stop Duration | The time a vehicle spends at a stop, used by the planning engine for ETAs and route optimisation |
Fixed Rule | A duration rule applying a flat time value to a matched stop activity, regardless of cargo volume |
Formula Rule | A duration rule calculating stop time dynamically based on a goods metric (e.g. pallets, loading meters, weight) |
Calculation Collection | One or more calculations combined to produce a final stop duration (e.g. a fixed base time plus a per-pallet formula) |
Goods Metric | A measurable cargo characteristic used in a formula rule, such as pallet count, loading meters, or weight |
Condition | A filter applied to a rule that restricts when it applies — for example, only for a specific transport service, vehicle category, or customer |
Overview
Stop activity durations tell the planning engine how long a vehicle spends at each stop; previously, configured as fixed values per activity type under Configuration > Order Input.
Calculated Activity Duration Rules feature introduces a more powerful approach: rule-based duration calculation under Configuration > Rules, allowing durations to scale dynamically with cargo volume and operational context.
Duration Priority Order
When a stop duration is determined, the system applies the following priority order:
Location-specific duration — a duration configured directly on the location in Locations > Locations always takes precedence
Calculated Activity Duration Rule — if a matching rule is found under Configuration > Rules > Stop Duration, it is applied
Activity default — if no rule matches, the value configured per activity type under Configuration > Order Input: Stop options > Activities is used as a fallback
🧰 Internal stop default change: Internal stops (e.g. depots, parking locations) without an explicitly configured duration now default to 01:00 instead of 00:00. To keep a 0-minute duration on an internal stop, this must be set explicitly on the stop action in Locations > Internal stop actions.
Configuring Stop Duration Rules
NAVIGATE to Configuration > Rules.
SELECT Stop Duration from the left-hand side menu to open the rule list.
CLICK Add item to create a new stop duration rule.
NAME the rule for easy identification — for example, "Pallets – Groupage" or "Fixed – General Haulage".
Select the Rule Type
Two rule types are available:
Fixed — applies a flat time value to the matched stop activity. Suitable when stop time is consistent regardless of cargo volume.
Formula — calculates stop duration dynamically based on a goods metric. Suitable when stop time should scale with the amount of cargo being loaded or unloaded.
Configure a Fixed Rule
SELECT Fixed as the rule type.
ENTER the duration value (hours and minutes) to apply to matching stops.
Configure a Formula Rule
SELECT Formula as the rule type.
SELECT the goods metric to calculate against — available options include pallet count, loading meters, weight, and volume.
ENTER the time value per unit (for example, 5 minutes per pallet).
Multiple calculations (optional) can be combined within a single rule to form a Calculation Collection. For example, a base loading time of 15 minutes plus 5 minutes per pallet.
CLICK Add calculation to add further steps to the same rule.
📚 Rules can be scoped to specific stop activity types — for example, Collection or Delivery. If no activity type is set, the rule applies across all activity types.
A single rule cannot combine an activity type condition with an internal stop type condition. Where both scenarios require coverage, create two separate rules.
Add Conditions (Optional)
Conditions restrict when a rule applies, allowing different durations for different operational contexts. The following condition types are available:
Transport service
Vehicle category
Customer
Container type
Service level
Stop action
Stop activity label
Location
Goods-related metrics (e.g. quantity, loading meters)
CLICK Add condition
SELECT the relevant metric, operator, and value
📚 Rules are evaluated in the order they appear in the rule list. The first matching rule is applied. To adjust priority, DRAG rules to reorder them.
Calculation Behaviour
Stop durations are recalculated on each route calculation trigger. The following actions trigger a recalculation:
Adding or removing a stop from a route
Reordering stops on a route
Updating consignment goods data (e.g. changing pallet count)
Duration is calculated at the stop activity group level. This means the system sums goods data across all consignments sharing the same stop location. For example, if three consignments are collected at the same warehouse, the system combines their pallet counts to determine the total stop duration.
‼️ Changes to certain order-level condition fields (such as transport service or customer) do not immediately trigger a duration recalculation. The updated duration will be applied on the next route recalculation — for example, when a stop is next added, removed, or reordered.
Additional Use Case Examples
Multi-service operations: A transport company running both FTL and pallet-network services configures a fixed 45-minute rule for FTL deliveries and a formula rule of 8 minutes per pallet for pallet-network deliveries. Durations are applied automatically based on the transport service on each order.
Customer-specific loading times: A logistics provider creates a condition-based rule scoped to a specific customer whose depot consistently requires longer handling time, improving ETA accuracy for that customer's orders.
Vehicle category differentiation: A carrier sets distinct durations for vans (shorter) versus articulated lorries (longer) at the same stop type, reflecting real-world differences in handling time per vehicle category.
Troubleshooting
Issue | Likely Cause | Resolution |
Duration not updating after changing goods data | Route recalculation may not have fired | Add or remove a stop to trigger a new route calculation |
Wrong rule being applied | A higher-priority rule is matching first | Review rule order in Configuration > Rules > Stop Duration and drag rules to reorder |
Rule not applying at all | Conditions on the rule do not match the order context | Verify that the rule's conditions (transport service, vehicle, activity type) match the order being planned |
Stop showing 00:00 duration unexpectedly | Internal stop defaults have changed | If 0 minutes is required, configure this explicitly on the stop action in Locations > Internal stop actions |
Need to cover both activity type and internal stop type in one rule | This combination is not supported in a single rule | Create two separate rules — one scoped to the activity type and one to the internal stop type |
Duration recalculation not reflecting a condition change | Order-level condition changes do not trigger recalculation | The updated duration will apply on the next route recalculation |