How Container Billing Works

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Terminal49 subscriptions include a set number of containers per billing period, plus a rate for any containers you track beyond that. This article explains how we count containers, how your included allowance works, and what happens when you go over it.

We do not charge per API call, webhook event, or update poll. Container billing is based on containers tracked, not the number of API requests you make or the number of updates you receive.

What counts as a “container tracked”

For billing purposes, we count every container tracked across all Terminal49 accounts under your organization during the billing period.

Each container is billed individually. If several containers share one master bill of lading, they are not billed as one unit — each container counts separately. The per-container price is the same whether you track by bill of lading, booking number, or container number.

A container is only billed once, in the period tracking is first initiated. If a container is still active in a later period, or if its transit spans more than one calendar month or billing period, you’re not billed for it again.

Your included container allowance

Your contract includes a set number of containers per billing period — monthly, quarterly, or annual, depending on your plan. This allowance is set out in your Order Form.

For monthly- or quarterly-billed plans, the allowance is split by billing period rather than pooled across the year. Overage is assessed month by month or quarter by quarter against that period’s allotment, not against your full annual total.

Unused containers do not roll over. If you track fewer containers than your allowance in a given period, the unused portion is forfeited and does not carry into the next period.

What happens if you go over your allowance (overage)

If you track more containers than your included allowance, overage charges apply. How and when those are billed depends on your billing cadence:

  • Monthly billing: Overage is calculated at the end of each month, based on how far over your included amount you went. Depending on your contract, this may be a flat per-container rate or a graduated/tiered rate that increases with volume. Check your Order Form for which applies to you.

  • Quarterly billing: Overage is calculated at the end of each quarter and appears on the invoice issued right after.

  • Annual billing: Overage isn’t held until year-end. It accrues throughout the year at your contracted per-container rate, and an invoice is issued each time your accrued overage reaches a set threshold, typically $1,000.

API calls, webhook events, and polling

API calls, webhook events, and polling are not billed separately from containers. Once a container is tracked, hitting the API again, receiving webhook events, or polling for updates on that container costs nothing extra.

Pay As You Go and subscription commitments

Pay As You Go plans do not have a minimum monthly commitment. Subscription plans require a committed volume, typically with a 12-month minimum term.

Free plan container cap

The Free plan is dashboard-only and capped at 10 active containers at a time. If you track a multi-container bill of lading on the Free plan, each container counts individually against that active-container cap.

Add-on products bill separately

If your plan includes add-ons — like rail tracking data, DataSync, or additional dashboard seats — each one has its own included quantity and its own overage rate. These are itemized separately from your base container tracking charge but appear on the same invoice.

Which plans this applies to

This article applies only to Terminal49 subscription plans, which are listed at terminal49.com/pricing. Data-only plans are billed differently.

A few things to keep in mind

  • Trial overage: If you tracked containers during a free trial before converting to a paid plan, that usage can appear as overage on your first invoice.

  • Your specific numbers: Included container counts, overage rates, billing cadence, and thresholds are all set out in your signed Order Form. If you’re not sure what applies to your account, reach out and we can confirm.

Have a question this article didn’t answer? Contact your Customer Success contact or support@terminal49.com.