An important concept when working with Rates & Services is rate hierarchy. Rate tables are evaluated from top to bottom, and the order of your rates determines which one is applied to a trip. Once a matching rate is found, the system stops looking at the remaining line items.
The rule: Put your most specific rates at the top and your most general rates at the bottom.
Rates with additional requirements or modifiers should appear higher in the table. Your general Base and Mileage rates, which apply to trips without any additional conditions, should always be at the bottom.
How rate order affects which rate applies
In the example below, each line item has specific requirements that determine when it applies to a trip.
For the mileage rates:
First rate: Applies to trips that are 15 miles or more.
Second rate: Applies to trips that are more than 5 miles but less than 15 miles.
For the base rates, the same logic applies:
First rate: Applies when the trip is specifically marked as one-way.
Second rate: Applies when no one-way specification is provided.
Another example: Zone surcharges
Let's say you charge a standard base rate plus mileage for all trips, but trips that pick up in three specific zones have an additional $10 surcharge.
The zone surcharge line must appear above your general Base and Mileage lines. If it appears below them, the trip will match the general rate first, and the additional $10 surcharge will not be applied.
Remember: Always place rates with additional conditions or modifiers above your general rates to make sure trips are billed correctly.