Set buy rate, margin and sell rate
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Rate Breakdown is where you turn the carrier cost into the number you quote. Buy is what you expect to pay the truck. Sell is what you quote your customer. The difference is your markup (or margin, depending on how your team prices).
1. Check the buy rate
Buy starts from the rate card that's selected above it. Click a different card to use that source, or type your own number.
- Flat / /mi switches between a total and a per-mile rate. Drumkit converts using the lane's distance.
2. Set your markup
The Markup field starts with your default. Change it for this quote.
- Flat / % switches between a dollar amount and a percentage.
- Some teams price by Margin instead of markup, and the field is labeled that way. Markup is a percentage of the buy rate; margin is a percentage of the sell rate. So a 10% margin gives a slightly higher sell rate than a 10% markup on the same buy.
3. Check the sell rate
Sell updates as you go. You can also click it and type the exact rate you want to quote. The copy icon next to it copies the number.
Click Show fuel details to see the Distance, fuel surcharge and line haul that make up the total. Your team decides which fuel source is used by default.
Your sell rate goes straight into Draft Response. See Send or draft your reply.
Save your default markup
If you quote the same markup most of the time, save it so every quote starts there.
- Type the markup you want in the Markup field (dollars or percent).
- A small blue lightbulb icon appears just above the field. Hover it to see Click to save … as default profit, with your number.
- Click it. You'll see Updated!
Your saved default is personal: it only changes your quotes, and it's used in Batch Quote too, and in Kit Insights when you save it as a percentage. If you haven't saved one, you get your company's default.
If your next quote still starts at the old markup, close and reopen the Drumkit sidebar. Your saved default loads with it.
To change the company default that everyone starts from, your Drumkit admin can email support@drumkit.ai.
FAQs
What's the difference between buy rate and sell rate?
Buy rate is your carrier cost: what you expect to pay the truck. Sell rate is what you quote the customer. Drumkit adds your markup to the buy rate to get the sell rate.
I typed a sell rate and the markup changed.
That's expected. Drumkit keeps the three numbers consistent, so typing a sell rate works out the markup that gets you there.
Can my company change between markup and margin?
Yes. It's a company setting. Ask your Drumkit admin or email support@drumkit.ai.
Why doesn't my quote include accessorials?
If your team has accessorials turned on, pick them in the form and they're added to the sell rate. Otherwise add them to the sell rate yourself.
Related