Relay
Cross-dock parcel injection into domestic networks.
ReceivedScannedInjected
Global eCommerce operations gateway
Bulk into market.
Delivered like local.
Portluma helps eCommerce brands move consolidated parcels into new markets, route them through domestic delivery networks, and consolidate returns through one smarter operations layer.
Built for eCommerce brands scaling into the US, UK and global markets.
Portluma · US market model
Example modelBulk manifest
Parcels4,000
Avg weight1.2 kg
LaneAU → US
Portluma node
- Received
- Scan
- Validate
- Route
Domestic network
- Standard3-5 day
- Express2-day
- Economycost-first
- Returnsreverse
Cost stack / order$14.10
Bulk leg3PLDomesticResidentialDASFuel
Why now
Cross-border delivery was built for parcels. Modern eCommerce needs a system.
The cost is no longer just freight. It is residential surcharges, delivery-area surcharges, fuel, dimensional weight, returns, node placement and the customer delivery promise.
01
International parcel pricing hides margin.
Per-parcel cross-border rates get baked into every order, quietly eroding contribution before a product reaches a doorstep.
02
Residential surcharges change the domestic economics.
Residential delivery fees apply to most eCommerce parcels and rarely show up in a blended, headline rate.
03
Delivery-area ZIPs distort average rates.
Delivery-area and remote surcharges concentrate in specific ZIPs, so a national average rarely reflects the real cost to serve.
04
Returns become expensive when every parcel moves internationally.
Sending each return back across a border, one parcel at a time, turns reverse logistics into a margin problem instead of a retention one.
05
The shiftModel the true cost before the volume moves.Brands need ZIP-level visibility before entering a market.
Demand and cost concentrate in specific ZIPs and zones. Without that map, a market model is an average, not a plan.
How it works
One clean handoff between international freight and domestic delivery.
Bulk parcels arrive at a US node, get deconsolidated, scanned and routed into the right domestic delivery flow.
Cross-dock relay · Node LA-01
InboundScanValidateRouteInject
- Master carton receivedCTN-4471
- Parcel scan matched·
- Destination ZIP validated·
- Residential flag applied·
- DAS checked·
- Carrier service assigned·
- Manifest ready·
- Injected·
Current parcelPCL-8823
- Dest ZIP
- 30144 · GA
- Billed weight
- 0.94 kg
- Residential
- Yes
- Service
- Standard Ground
Routing
StandardExpressEconomyReturns
Manifest MFT-091 · deconsolidated at node LA-018 events · 1 parcel shown
- 01
Consolidate
Parcels packed and shipped in bulk from origin.
Origin - 02
Receive
A US node receives master cartons or pallets.
Received - 03
Deconsolidate
Cartons opened; parcels scanned and matched.
Scanned - 04
Validate
Destination ZIP, residential flag and DAS checked.
Validated - 05
Inject
Carrier service assigned; injected into the network.
Injected - 06
Deliver
Customers get local-style tracking and delivery.
Delivered
- 01
Consolidate
Parcels packed and shipped in bulk from origin.
Origin - 02
Receive
A US node receives master cartons or pallets.
Received - 03
Deconsolidate
Cartons opened; parcels scanned and matched.
Scanned - 04
Validate
Destination ZIP, residential flag and DAS checked.
Validated - 05
Inject
Carrier service assigned; injected into the network.
Injected - 06
Deliver
Customers get local-style tracking and delivery.
Delivered
Cost intelligence
Know the true cost before you move the first parcel.
Upload historical orders, map ZIP-code demand, expose residential and delivery-area surcharges, and compare domestic carrier options before committing to a market model.
Rate intelligence
Example model
Domestic delivery · per order
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
18.6%exposed
| Service | Base | Surch. | Transit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom / regionalbest | $4.90 | $1.10 | 3-5d | $6.00 |
| Standard Ground | $5.20 | $1.35 | 2-5d | $6.55 |
| Ground Saver | $5.80 | $1.20 | 3-6d | $7.00 |
| 2-Day Express | $9.40 | $1.55 | 2d | $10.95 |
Published, list-rate baseline.best modelled: $6.00 · Custom / regional
Model published, list-rate baselines - then apply negotiated discount scenarios on top.
ZIP-level cost modelling
Resolve demand and delivery cost down to the ZIP, not a national average.
Residential & DAS surcharge exposure
Quantify residential, delivery-area and remote surcharges across your order mix.
Carrier & service comparison
Compare standard, economy, express and custom providers on real order data.
Bulk freight + domestic delivery cost stack
See the full stack - AU-to-US bulk leg, handling, base rate and surcharges - in one view.
Published, negotiated & quote-based scenarios
Start from list rates, then model negotiated discounts and quoted rates side by side.
USD / AUD modelling
Model the AU-to-US bulk leg and domestic delivery in either currency, side by side.
The model
Stop paying international parcel rates for domestic delivery problems.
Portluma separates the cross-border leg from the domestic delivery layer, so teams can compare the true cost before they commit.
Old model
- International parcel per order
- Limited domestic optimisation
- Returns one by one
- Hard to forecast surcharges
Portluma model
- Bulk freight into market
- Cross-dock injection
- Domestic network routing
- Consolidated returns
- ZIP-level cost intelligence
Cost stackExample model
Bulk leg$3.40
3PL handling$1.20
Domestic base$5.60
Residential$1.50
DAS / remote$0.90
Fuel$0.70
Returns allowance$0.80
Modelled / order$14.10
Modelled figures for illustration only. Actual outcomes depend on volume, destination mix and negotiated rates.
Returns
Returns, consolidated back into control.
Give customers a local return path, then consolidate, inspect, restock, dispose or return parcels to origin weekly or monthly.
Portluma · Returns · Node LA-01
Weekly consolidation
Restock 58%Return to AU 22%Donate 20%312 units · next Fri
“Not every return needs to cross the world one parcel at a time.”
Local return address
Customers return to a domestic address, not across a border.
Inspection workflow
Receive, grade and disposition each returned parcel.
Consolidated bulk return
Batch returns into scheduled weekly or monthly movements.
Restock or disposition
Put stock back into market, donate or send it home in bulk.
Return reason intelligence
See why product comes back, by reason and by SKU.
Margin visibility
Understand the true cost and inventory impact of returns.
Network
Carrier-neutral by design.
Portluma models and routes across domestic services on cost, speed, surcharge exposure and customer promise - not a single locked-in carrier. Neutral service tiles, not carrier logos.
Domestic routing matrix
carrier-neutral
| Service | Cost | Speed | Surcharge exposure | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Ground | 3-5 day | Medium | Default domestic | |
| Economy Residential | 4-7 day | Low | Cost-first, non-urgent | |
| 2-Day Express | 2 day | Medium | Delivery promise | |
| Overnight | Next day | High | Urgent / high-value | |
| Returns | Batched | Low | Reverse logistics | |
| Consolidator | Varies | Low | Injection partner | |
| Custom Provider | Negotiated | Negotiated | Low | Your negotiated rates |
Model UPS, FedEx, USPS and custom providers on the same order data. Published and negotiated-rate scenarios. 3PL and consolidator compatible.
Platform
A smarter operating layer behind every parcel.
Six modules that turn cross-border movement into a domestic delivery operation you can model, route and control.
Cost Intelligence
ZIP, zone and surcharge cost modelling.
ZIP cost by zone$6.00 best
Returns
Consolidated reverse logistics and disposition.
Restock 58%Return 22%Donate 20%
Node Optimiser
Model LA, Dallas, Chicago, New Jersey or Atlanta.
- Los AngelesLA-01
- DallasDFW-02
- AtlantaATL-03
Carrier Compare
Standard, economy, express and custom providers.
Custom / regional$6.00
Standard Ground$6.55
Market Model
Bulk leg plus 3PL handling plus domestic delivery.
Bulk leg + 3PL$4.60
Domestic + surcharge$8.70
Modelled / order$14.10
Who it's for
Built for eCommerce brands outgrowing one-size-fits-all cross-border shipping.
From first US order to multi-node operation, Portluma models the market before you commit the volume.
Fashion
Footwear
Beauty
Wellness
Accessories
Lifestyle
Subscription brands
Where brands put Portluma to work
- US market entry
- Domestic delivery injection
- Cross-border returns
- 3PL transition
- Surcharge visibility
- Multi-node optimisation
- Checkout shipping strategy
- Carrier negotiation support
Built to make every cost visible
Every number, modelled - nothing assumed.
A sample scenario from the Portluma model. Figures below are demo data to show the shape of the output, not customer results.
Example model · figures are demo data, not customer results
Orders analysed
48,200sample scenario
ZIPs mapped
11,940demo data
Surcharge exposure
18.6%of modelled spend
Average billed weight
1.42 kgexample model
Domestic cost range
$5.20-$9.80per order, modelled
Estimated transit range
2-6 daysdomestic, modelled
Get started
Build your market delivery model before you ship the volume.
Use Portluma to model the cost, design the cross-dock flow, compare domestic networks and plan the returns path before committing to a new market operation.
Modelled / order$14.10
Bulk leg + cross-dock + domestic + surcharges + returns · example model