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updatedAt: 2026-04-07T14:54:51.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://documentation.safecube.ai/llms.txt
---

# Understand Shipment Billing

This document defines the rules for what counts as a **billable shipment** when using Safecube tracking services.

> 📌 Shipments are billed once per each month they are tracked. If a shipment is tracked over the course of several months, it will appear on each month's invoice and billed accordingly. 

## Definition of a Shipment

A **shipment** is defined as a **unique Shipment Number which can be a container number, a Bill of Lading number or a Booking number**. Tracking the same Shipment Number through different methods or platforms **counts as one shipment**.

### ✅ Cases That Count as a Single Shipment

* **Multiple Tracking Methods**<br />If a shipment is tracked via multiple channels (e.g., **Webhooks**, **Container Tracking API**, and the **Safecube Application**), it is considered **one shipment**.
* **Different Shipment Types or Sealines**<br />Tracking the same shipment with varying `shipmentType` values or different shipping lines (sealines) **does not create additional billable shipments**.
* **Tracking by BL or BK** : a Bill of Lading or Booking reference only counts as 1 shipment, regardless of the number of associated containers. This is the most cost-effective way to track shipments in Safecube.

### 🔁 Cases That Count as Multiple Shipments

* **Bill of Lading + Containers Tracked Separately**<br />If you track one **Bill of Lading (BOL)** and the **individual containers** associated with it as separate entries, each counts as a shipment.
  *Example: 1 BOL + 5 containers = 6 shipments.*

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## 🚫 Non-Billable Shipments

If a shipment is tracked but **Safecube never successfully contacts the shipping line**, it will **not be invoiced**.

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### ⚠️ Shipments With No Data Returned

If the shipping line is contacted successfully but returns **no data** (e.g., due to a **cancelled shipment**), the shipment **is still billable**.

For more details on error types, please refer to:<br />👉 [Safecube Documentation: Possible Error Codes](https://documentation.safecube.ai/reference/possible-error-codes#/)

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## 🛑 How to Stop Being Billed for a Shipment

Safecube will continue to bill for tracked shipments **until 7 days after they have reached DELIVERED shipping status**.

### Safecube Application & Webhook API

These systems **automatically synchronize** and **continuously track** shipments that have been added.

Shipments stop being updated 7 days after they reach the DELIVERED shipping status and are moved to the Archived folder 30 days after they reach the DELIVERED shipping status. 

### Container Tracking API

This API only triggers tracking when explicitly called.

To stop being billed:

* **Simply stop calling** the Container Tracking API with the shipment number you wish to stop tracking.

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If you have any questions or need help managing your tracked shipments, please contact our support team.