3PL Inbound and Outbound Cost Scenarios for Client Billing

3PL Inbound and Outbound Cost Scenarios for Client Billing

Overview

When it comes to invoicing, there will be different charges if the way the goods are received on inbound, differs to how goods need to be stored and subsequently fulfilled. We have included below, some of the most common Inbound Vs Outbound cost scenarios, to give you an overview of what these charges would look like, which will we hope, explained some of the invoice queries you may have regarding invoice-costs. 
Please Note: these scenarios have been created using our NL rates. If in the UK, the UK rate would be applicable, which can be found on our rate card.

Inbound Process

Scenario 1: Floor-Loaded 4ft container
Quantity Received: 220 large boxes (6x units per box)
Costs:
Unloading labour - €60.10 per hour (manhours for unloading)
Per-box charge - €3.45 per box received for large box (applies to the entire 220 boxes)

Options for Storage:

1. Pallet Storage
Pallet creation costs: €29 per pallet creation. 
Standard pallet: Up to 6 boxes/pallet, 28 pallets can be built. 
Oversize pallet: Up to 10 boxes/pallet, 22 pallets can be built. 
Storage cost per day: 
Standard pallet - €0.93 per day x 28 = €26.04/day. 
Oversize pallet - €1.10 per day (limited space available) x 22 = €24.20/day. 

2. Shelf Storage
Capacity: 5 boxes per shelf. 
Storage cost per day - €0.63 per day (no pallet creation charge). 
No additional charge for putting away boxes on shelves beyond the standard inbound per-box cost. 

Scenario 2: Pre-Palletised Euro Pallets

Pallet Specifications - Euro pallets with a maximum height of 1.5 meters, containing only one SKU per pallet. 
Costs: 
If pallets exceed 1.5 meters in height or contain mixed SKUs, there’s a pallet creation charge of €29. 
Per-pallet charges: 
For 10+ pallets - €12 per standard pallet received. 
For fewer than 10 pallets - €18 per standard pallet received. 
For oversized pallets - €20.70 per pallet received. 

Outbound Process (Orders/Shipping)

Scenario 1: Large Orders (Items stored on pallets)
Picking Cost - €18 per pallet
Pallet forwarding costs - €12 per standard pallet, €20.70 per oversize pallet (over 1.50 m). 
Scenario 2: Large Orders (Items stored on shelves)
Picking Cost - €4.14 per carton. 

  • If picking individual items: 

  • €1.93 for the first item

  • €0.48 for each additional item

Labelling cost per box - €0.33. 

If orders are palletised, to be shipped as pallets - €29 for pallet creation + €18 (standard pallet) or €20.70 (oversize pallet) for shipping

Process Summary

Inbound
  1. Floor-loaded containers incur charges for manhours and per-box receiving, with additional costs for pallet creation and storage depending on pallet type or shelf use. 
  2. Pre-palletized euro pallets incur lower costs unless pallets need to be reconfigured. 
Outbound
  1. Large orders shipped on pallets incur charges per pallet (picking, labelling, forwarding, and pallet creation if necessary). 
  2. Large orders with shelf-stored items are charged per carton or individual item picked, along with labelling costs if shipped as cartons, if shipped as pallet, will also incur charges for pallet creation, pallet forwarding, pallet labelling, and if a pallet is used from GEE inventory, also the cost for that. 

Inbound Costs Calculations

Scenario 1: Floor-loaded 40ft container (220 boxes) 

  • Unloading manhours: €60.10 per hour. 

  • Per box charge: 220 boxes × €3.45 = €759. 

  1. Option A: Standard Pallet Creation 

  • Number of standard pallets: 28 pallets. 

  • Cost of pallet creation: 28 pallets × €29 = €812. 

  • Daily storage cost: 28 pallets × €0.93 per day = €26.04. 

  1. Option B: Oversize Pallet Creation 

  • Number of oversize pallets: 22 pallets. 

  • Cost of pallet creation: 22 pallets × €29 = €638. 

  • Daily storage cost: 22 pallets × €1.10 per day = €24.20. 

  1. Option C: Shelf Storage 

  • Boxes placed on shelves: 220 boxes. 

  • Storage cost per day: 220 boxes ÷ 5 boxes per shelf = 44 shelves. 

  • Daily storage cost: 44 shelves × €0.63 per day = €27.72 per day. 

 

Scenario 2: Pre-palletized Euro Pallets (assuming 20 pallets) 

  • Unloading cost: Already included. 

  • For 10+ pallets: 20 pallets × €12 = €240. 

  • For fewer than 10 pallets: 8 pallets × €18 = €144 (for comparison). Shape 

Outbound Costs Calculations

Scenario 1: Large Orders (Stored on Pallets) 

  • Picking cost: €18 per pallet. 

  • Forwarding pallet cost: €12 per standard pallet, €20.70 per oversize pallet. 

  1. For standard pallets: 

  • Picking: 28 pallets × €18 = €504. 

  • Forwarding 10+ pallets: 28 pallets × €12 = €336. 

  • Forwarding less than 10 pallets: 8 pallets × €18 = €144. 

  1. For oversize pallets: 

  • Picking: 22 pallets × €18 = €396. 

  • Forwarding oversize pallets (regardless of quantity): 22 pallets × €20.70 = €455.40. 

Scenario 2: Large Orders (Stored on Shelves) 

  • Picking cost for cartons: 

  • Picking cost: 44 cartons × €4.14 = €182.16. 

  • Labelling cost: 44 cartons × €0.33 = €14.52. 

  • If shipped as cartons: No additional pallet creation or forwarding charges. 

Shape 

Total Invoice Calculations for different scenarios

1. Inbound via Standard Pallet, Outbound via Standard Pallet: 

  • Inbound cost (unloading + pallet creation + storage): 
    €759 (unloading) + €812 (pallet creation) + €0.93 per day × 28 pallets. 

  • Outbound cost (picking + labelling + forwarding): 
    €504 (picking) + €336 (labelling) + €504 (forwarding). 

2. Inbound via Oversize Pallet, Outbound via Oversize Pallet: 

  • Inbound cost (unloading + pallet creation + storage): 
    €759 (unloading) + €638 (pallet creation) + €1.10 per day × 22 pallets. 

  • Outbound cost (picking + labelling + forwarding): 
    €396 (picking) + €455.40 (labelling) + €455.40 (forwarding). 

 

3. Inbound via Shelf Storage, Outbound via Cartons: 

  • Inbound cost (unloading + shelf storage): 
    €759 (inbounding large boxes) + €27.72 per day / 44 shelves. 

  • Outbound cost (picking + labelling): 
    €182.16 (picking) + €14.52 (labelling). 

4. Inbound via Euro Pallet, Outbound via Standard Pallet (20 pallets): 

  • Inbound cost: €240 for 20 pallets. 

  • Outbound cost (picking + forwarding for 20 pallets): 
    €360 (picking) + €240 (forwarding).  


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