Predictika · Sea freight booking quotes

An AI sales agent's sea freight booking quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a sea freight booking quote: full container load by container type, or a shared LCL shipment, the trade lane, the weight and volume, whether the cargo is out of gauge, temperature controlled or dangerous, the delivery terms, customs clearance, the discount and the total the quote states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of how these choices fit together, and returns a verdict, every reason and the total it computed.

Scope: One sea freight booking quote: container type or LCL, trade lane, weight, volume, special cargo, delivery terms, customs, discount and the stated total. See everything this validator covers

This validator models sea freight bookings across seven container types and LCL, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Container and load — 20 and 40 foot dry, 40 foot high cube, reefer, 20 foot open top, 40 foot flat rack and garments on hangers, with the payload and volume each can carry per container.
  • LCL — shared shipments, the size limit for LCL and the cargo that cannot travel LCL.
  • Special cargo — temperature control and the reefer container it needs, the set point range, out-of-gauge cargo that needs an open top or flat rack, and dangerous goods classes 1 to 9.
  • Terms, discount and total — delivered duty paid and the customs clearance it needs, the discount limits, and the stated total compared with the modeled one.

Any sea freight booking quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: air, road, project cargo and break bulk. The service and container type names come from public DSV pages and the container capacities are standard industry values; DSV does not publish its rates, so every rate, surcharge, discount limit and handling rule is modeled from comparable carriers and forwarders and is not published by DSV.

The AI sales agentBuilds the booking quote from the conversation with the customer and says it is ready to send.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

6 scenarios in 2 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Cargo that must fit the containerOnly with workarounds
Each container type has its own payload and volume, so a load that fits one type blocks in another and every type needs its own limits.		Container type, weight and volume are fields of one booking and are compared on every call.
Special cargo tied to a container typeOnly with workarounds
Temperature control needs a reefer, a reefer needs a set point, and out-of-gauge cargo needs an open top or flat rack, so each pairing is a rule that runs both ways.		The pairings are checked together with the rest of the booking, in either direction.
Delivery terms that need customsOnly with care
Delivered duty paid is only valid when import customs clearance is on the quote, a dependency between two fields.		Terms and customs are fields of one booking, so the dependency is checked on every call.
Blocks and approvals at onceOnly with workarounds
A discount above one level needs a sales manager while a higher one stops the booking, and a person should see all of it together.		Blocks and approvals are reported together, so one problem never hides another.
A stated total that must match the computed oneOnly with workarounds
Freight depends on container type, trade lane and discount, plus surcharges, so a separate rule must recompute it and compare it with the stated figure.		The stated total is a field of the booking and is compared with the computed one on every call.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the booking; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
127 metric tons per container is above the 26 metric ton payload of the chosen container type.
268 cubic meters per container is above the 67 cubic meter capacity of the chosen container type.
3An FCL booking has 0 containers; at least 1 is needed.
4Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request.
5A set point of 31 degrees Celsius is outside the minus 30 to plus 30 range of a reefer container.
6Out-of-gauge cargo needs an FCL open top (OT20) or flat rack (FR40) container; it cannot go LCL or in a closed container.
7An LCL shipment of 16 cubic meters is above the 15 cubic meter limit; book a full container.
8Delivery duty paid needs import customs clearance on the quote.
9Dangerous goods need a declaration check by the dangerous goods desk before the booking is confirmed.
10Explosives or radioactive cargo needs special handling approval from the dangerous goods desk.
11Explosives (class 1) and radioactive material (class 7) are not accepted in LCL.
12Dangerous goods class 10 does not exist; classes run 1 to 9, 0 means none.
13A discount of 6 percent is above 5 percent; a sales manager should approve it.
14A discount of 11 percent is above the 10 percent limit.
15The quote states a total of $7,599; the modeled rates give $7,600.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Out-of-gauge transpacific booking: Out-of-gauge machinery in three containers on the transpacific trade, delivered duty paid

    
The agent's request. Please book 3 containers of the 40-foot high cube type on the transpacific trade, 28 metric tons and 70 cubic meters per container, out-of-gauge cargo, temperature controlled at 5 degrees Celsius, delivered duty paid, with a 12 percent discount. The booking quote states a total of $9,266.40. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Cargo above container payload. 28 metric tons per container is above the 26 metric ton payload of the chosen container type.
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  • Reefer container and temperature control must match. Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request.
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  • Out-of-gauge cargo needs open top or flat rack. Out-of-gauge cargo needs an FCL open top (OT20) or flat rack (FR40) container; it cannot go LCL or in a closed container.
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  • DDP needs customs clearance. Delivery duty paid needs import customs clearance on the quote.
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  • Discount above 10 percent. A discount of 12 percent is above the 10 percent limit.
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2. Out-of-gauge transpacific booking: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please book 3 containers of the 40-foot high cube type on the transpacific trade, 24 metric tons and 70 cubic meters per container, out-of-gauge cargo, temperature controlled at 5 degrees Celsius, delivered duty paid, with import customs clearance, with a 8 percent discount. The booking quote states a total of $9,837.60. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Reefer container and temperature control must match. Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request.
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  • Out-of-gauge cargo needs open top or flat rack. Out-of-gauge cargo needs an FCL open top (OT20) or flat rack (FR40) container; it cannot go LCL or in a closed container.
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  • Discount above 5 percent. A discount of 8 percent is above 5 percent; a sales manager should approve it.
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3. Out-of-gauge transpacific booking: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please book 3 containers of the 40-foot flat rack type on the transpacific trade, 24 metric tons and 70 cubic meters per container, out-of-gauge cargo, delivered duty paid, with import customs clearance, with a 8 percent discount. The booking quote states a total of $14,060.40. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Discount above 5 percent. A discount of 8 percent is above 5 percent; a sales manager should approve it.
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  • Booking summary (modeled rates). Modeled total of $14,060.40 (freight $13,910.40, extras $150) at 8 percent discount.
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4. Out-of-gauge transpacific booking: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please book 3 containers of the 40-foot flat rack type on the transpacific trade, 24 metric tons and 70 cubic meters per container, out-of-gauge cargo, delivered duty paid, with import customs clearance, with a 5 percent discount. The booking quote states a total of $14,514. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Booking summary (modeled rates). Modeled total of $14,514 (freight $14,364, extras $150) at 5 percent discount.
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5. LCL booking: An LCL shipment of 18 cubic meters with radioactive cargo and temperature control

    
The agent's request. Please book an LCL shipment of 18 cubic meters and 6 metric tons on the transpacific trade, temperature controlled at 4 degrees Celsius, dangerous goods class 7, free carrier. The booking quote states a total of $1,550. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Shipment too large for LCL. An LCL shipment of 18 cubic meters is above the 15 cubic meter limit; book a full container.
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  • Reefer container and temperature control must match. Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request.
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  • Class 1 or 7 not accepted LCL. Explosives (class 1) and radioactive material (class 7) are not accepted in LCL.
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6. LCL booking: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please book an LCL shipment of 12 cubic meters and 6 metric tons on the transpacific trade, free carrier, with import customs clearance. The booking quote states a total of $1,050. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Booking summary (modeled rates). Modeled total of $1,050 (freight $900, extras $150) at 0 percent discount.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a sea freight booking quote: full container load by container type, a shared LCL shipment, the trade lane, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of how these choices fit together, and returns a verdict, every reason and the total it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please book 3 containers of the 40-foot high cube type on the transpacific trade, 28 metric tons and 70 cubic meters per container. The booking quote states a total of $9,266.40. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with five findings, all in one answer. 28 metric tons per container is above the 26 metric ton payload of the chosen container type. Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request. Out-of-gauge cargo needs an FCL open top (OT20) or flat rack (FR40) container; it cannot go LCL or in a closed container. The other two are on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned five blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the booking are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for cargo that must fit the container, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the weight to 24 metric tons, the customs clearance to yes, the discount to 8 percent and the total stated on the quote to $9,837.60.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with two findings and one approval, all in one answer. Temperature-controlled cargo needs an FCL reefer container (RF40), and a reefer container needs a temperature control request. Out-of-gauge cargo needs an FCL open top (OT20) or flat rack (FR40) container; it cannot go LCL or in a closed container.
    12. 
      
  12. Three findings cleared. Still blocking: reefer container and temperature control must match and out-of-gauge cargo needs open top or flat rack. A new approval needs a person: discount above 5 percent.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
    14. 
      
  14. The revised request. It changes the container type to 40-foot flat rack, the temperature controlled to no and the total stated on the quote to $14,060.40.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. Not blocked, but held for a person.
    17. 
      
  17. The two blocking findings are cleared; one approval remains for a person: discount above 5 percent.
    18. 
      
  18. The agent resubmits again.
    19. 
      
  19. The next revised request. It changes the discount to 5 percent and the total stated on the quote to $14,514.
    20. 
      
  20. It calls the validator yet again.
    21. 
      
  21. This time the validator clears it.
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  22. The earlier finding is cleared.
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  23. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in three passes, and a clean booking. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before the booking goes out. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    24.