An Automation Rule can include one or more Actions. Each Action sets a shipment attribute, such as the shipping service that is fastest and least expensive. A ship action in an Automation Rule determines the Shipment processing. See Managing Automation Rules for step-by-step instructions on creating an Automation Rule.

Note: ShipRush provides over 260 action types organized into categories including contact information, shipment details, rate shopping, international shipping, COD, references & tags, automation, delivery options, carrier-specific actions, LTL freight (40+ accessorials), returns, and pickup management. For a complete categorized reference with descriptions and examples, see Automation Rules - Action Types Reference.

The Actions in a rule are applied if an Order/Shipment matches the specified Filter(s). Common action categories are:

• Set the Shipment Weight, Package Dimensions, type of packaging, or Shipping Service

• Rate shopping: Compare services and select based on cost, delivery time, or guaranteed delivery

• Automate shipping: Ship orders, mark as shipped, apply presets, print packing lists

• Nested rules: Run other automation rules to create complex workflows

• International: Set customs documentation, declared value, duties payment

• Delivery options: Signature confirmation, Saturday delivery, residential classification

Please note the following:

• The order in which Actions are listed in the Automation Rule is important. For example, if an Action sets the Shipment Weight or Shipping Service, that Action should come before an Action that ships only the order. Use the arrow button at left of the Action to move it up or down in the list.

• Remember to set the needed values before the Action is executed. For example, some shipping services have options that are specific to that service. If a Rate or Ship Action is attempted without that value being set, then the Rate or Ship Action may fail. In some cases, such as a rate-shop, the failure may go unnoticed (for example, one rate operation may fail, leaving the rate shop to choose among the remaining rates).

• Before applying an Automation Rule to a large block of orders, test it on two or three test orders to confirm that it works as expected.

Rate Shopping Actions

ShipRush provides several rate shopping actions that automatically compare rates across carriers and services to select the optimal shipping method:

• Rate and Pick Cheapest - Compares rates and selects the lowest-cost service option

• Rate and Pick Cheapest with Time In Transit - Selects the cheapest service that delivers within a specified number of calendar days

• Rate and Pick Cheapest with Time In Transit Business Days - Selects the cheapest service that delivers within a specified number of business days (excludes weekends)

• Rate and Pick Fastest - Compares transit times and selects the service with the shortest delivery time

• Rate and Pick Cheapest with Guaranteed Delivery Date - Selects the cheapest service that includes a delivery guarantee

Tip: Rate shopping actions can compare rates across multiple carrier accounts. Configure which accounts and services to compare in the action settings. For best performance, limit comparisons to 2-4 services rather than all available options.

Nested Rules (Run Business Rule Action)

Automation Rules can execute other Automation Rules using the Run Business Rule action. This enables you to create modular, reusable rules and build complex multi-step workflows.

Example Use Cases:

• Master Processing Rule: Create a master rule that runs multiple specialized sub-rules in sequence (e.g., "Validate Address" → "Rate Shop" → "Apply Packaging" → "Ship")

• Reusable Components: Create common setup rules (like "Set Standard References") that can be called by multiple rules

• Conditional Workflows: Route orders to different processing rules based on attributes (e.g., domestic vs international, wholesale vs retail)

Important: ShipRush automatically detects and prevents circular references (Rule A → Rule B → Rule A). As a best practice, avoid nesting rules more than 2-3 levels deep to maintain performance and clarity.

Ground services vary depending on whether the destination is residential. Obtaining the best results requires that address verification is enabled for the Carrier account(s). For example, Descartes ShipRush Web will automatically select FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery, as appropriate, if these two conditions are true:

• The FedEx account has address verification enabled in SETTINGS.

• The Action in the Automation Rule attempts to use FedEx Ground as the default.

Note: Perfect results are not possible in an automated system because the address verification system is not exacting. A percentage of shipments (typically, less than 2%) are incorrectly not flagged as residential by the automated system and are thus billed as residential, later. This is generally the same result attained with manual shipping with address verification enabled.

Examples of Actions in relation to ground services:

• Package - Set Package Weight: This Action can be used to set the package weight of all packages in the Shipment or a specific package in the Shipment.

• Package - Add Package Weight: This Action can be used to add weight to the package and is only applicable to single parcel Shipments.

• Shipment - Set Ship Date: This Action can be used to set the ship date for the future. The Shipment - Set Ship Date Action does not apply to UPS shipments.

Reference Field Merge Codes

In an Automation Rule, merge codes for Reference fields can be used when creating an Action. For example:

In the above graphic, the first column shows the three Set Reference options, which are listed in the dropdown under Package.

The values in the second column, beginning and ending with %, are merge codes. When the Automation Rule is run, the corresponding values are pulled from the order and entered into the Reference fields. For example, %OrderNumber% would be replaced by the actual order number.

Listed below are the available merge codes for Reference fields along with explanations.

Setting Address Validation

Actions like Ship use the settings relevant to the shipping account in use. Therefore, be sure that Address Validation is enabled for FedEx and UPS accounts, so Descartes ShipRush Web can best estimate residential/commercial rates. To enable Address Validation:

1. Open the UPS or FedEx Settings page (SETTINGS > ACCOUNT SETTINGS; select a UPS or FedEx account).

2. Under Address Validation, select Validate all USA addresses prior to shipment processing (see graphic, below).

3. Select additional options, as needed.
   
   

See also:

• Automation Rules - Introduction

• Automation Rules - Action Types Reference (Complete list of all 260+ available action types)

• Automation Rules - Filters

• Automation Rules - Best Practices

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