When you obtain a quote for your LTL shipment, it is just that: a quote. The price offered is based on the information you provide about your cargo, the route, and the pickup and delivery locations. If any of that information is inaccurate, it will affect the final price you pay for your LTL freight shipment, known as a freight rate. Even inconsistencies regarding a shipment’s weight, dimensions, or freight class can significantly affect a final invoice. If you estimate the cargo’s weight or inaccurately represent its freight class, any discrepancies detected by the carrier will result in extra charges. Additional services like liftgates, driver assist, and residential delivery can also result in rebills on your freight invoice. Making sure the shipping details you provide your carrier or 3PL are as complete and correct as possible will give you the best chance of obtaining an accurate quote that matches the final freight invoice, which will allow you to organize and budget your shipments properly.
With the chaotic nature of the shipping industry over the last few years, shippers are seeing an increase in carrier price hikes and tighter capacities. If you aren’t careful, small mistakes and inaccuracies can result in many unforeseen fees that raise the cost of moving goods even higher, putting significant strain on shipping budgets. If you’re new to LTL shipping, or if you’re looking for ways to save money on shipping, here are a few tips that will help you avoid surprise charges on your LTL shipping invoices and make sure the quote you obtain for your cargo is the price you pay on your freight bill.
The efficiency of the LTL model relies on the precise size, weight, and dimensions of all the items on the truck. The first way to avoid additional carrier charges is to submit accurate information about your shipment. When you get a quote from a carrier, you must indicate your cargo’s precise weight, dimensions, and freight class to ensure the quote is correct. Estimating the weight or measurements of a shipment will result in a carrier rebill added to your freight invoice when they discover a discrepancy between what you submitted and the actual size of the LTL cargo.
The weight and dimensions should include all packaging, pallets, straps, or skids. If an item is oddly shaped, the measurements must be taken from the furthest points in all directions to be considered accurate. A simple way to avoid a reweigh or reclass of a shipment is to take a photo of your items on a scale with the numbers clearly visible. This photographic evidence will help you dispute any incorrect charges the carrier might attempt to charge.
Before you get a quote and book your shipment, you must indicate any relevant accessorials that may apply to your LTL freight. Accessorials are fees added to a freight invoice for services the LTL carrier performs beyond standard pickup and delivery. Common accessorials include liftgates, inside pickup or delivery, remote or limited access locations, or residential deliveries. Different carriers may charge different prices for accessorials, and it is often possible to negotiate these fees when you get an initial freight quote. However, any accessorial required during shipping that was not indicated on the initial quote and added to the bill of lading (BOL) will result in carrier rebills and potential penalties for any delays, missed pickups, or undeliverable shipments.
In recent years, LTL carriers have started charging for scheduled pickups that are not ready at the pickup time. Drivers can sometimes wait hours to pick up a shipment if the warehouse is disorganized or the loading dock is overcrowded or blocked. If you waste the driver’s time, it can result in detention or pickup/delivery attempt fees. LTL drivers must coordinate amongst many shippers simultaneously and ensure they are servicing each delivery adequately in order to complete their routes. If you cause delays for the driver, there is a domino effect that causes delays for multiple shippers down the line, and you will be billed for the disruption. While fees vary between carriers, businesses can expect to be charged each time the carrier attempts to pick up your shipment and is unsuccessful due to a lack of preparation. It’s important to communicate with carriers to coordinate the correct pickup date and time and to have a shipment ready to load on the trailer to avoid this charge.
The majority of surprise fees on freight invoices are due to guesswork, human error, and a lack of preparation and communication. If you have questions about what information to submit to obtain your freight quote, the best thing you can do is partner with a 3PL for your LTL shipping needs. 3PLs like Koho offer an online shipping platform that shippers can use to enter all the relevant information about their freight and instantly receive multiple quotes from a wide range of trusted carriers willing to complete the delivery. In addition, you get direct access to the LTL shipping experts at Koho, who can help ensure that all the information submitted for a quote is accurate, negotiate on your behalf for discounts on accessorials, and help you stay organized and prepared for pickups and deliveries. Don’t overpay for your LTL shipping needs. Get the most from your freight budget by booking your next LTL shipment through the freight experts at Koho.
When you obtain a quote for your LTL shipment, it is just that: a quote. The price offered is based on the information you provide about your cargo, the route, and the pickup and delivery locations. If any of that information is inaccurate, it will affect the final price you pay for your LTL freight shipment, known as a freight rate. Even inconsistencies regarding a shipment’s weight, dimensions, or freight class can significantly affect a final invoice. If you estimate the cargo’s weight or inaccurately represent its freight class, any discrepancies detected by the carrier will result in extra charges. Additional services like liftgates, driver assist, and residential delivery can also result in rebills on your freight invoice. Making sure the shipping details you provide your carrier or 3PL are as complete and correct as possible will give you the best chance of obtaining an accurate quote that matches the final freight invoice, which will allow you to organize and budget your shipments properly.
With the chaotic nature of the shipping industry over the last few years, shippers are seeing an increase in carrier price hikes and tighter capacities. If you aren’t careful, small mistakes and inaccuracies can result in many unforeseen fees that raise the cost of moving goods even higher, putting significant strain on shipping budgets. If you’re new to LTL shipping, or if you’re looking for ways to save money on shipping, here are a few tips that will help you avoid surprise charges on your LTL shipping invoices and make sure the quote you obtain for your cargo is the price you pay on your freight bill.
The efficiency of the LTL model relies on the precise size, weight, and dimensions of all the items on the truck. The first way to avoid additional carrier charges is to submit accurate information about your shipment. When you get a quote from a carrier, you must indicate your cargo’s precise weight, dimensions, and freight class to ensure the quote is correct. Estimating the weight or measurements of a shipment will result in a carrier rebill added to your freight invoice when they discover a discrepancy between what you submitted and the actual size of the LTL cargo.
The weight and dimensions should include all packaging, pallets, straps, or skids. If an item is oddly shaped, the measurements must be taken from the furthest points in all directions to be considered accurate. A simple way to avoid a reweigh or reclass of a shipment is to take a photo of your items on a scale with the numbers clearly visible. This photographic evidence will help you dispute any incorrect charges the carrier might attempt to charge.
Before you get a quote and book your shipment, you must indicate any relevant accessorials that may apply to your LTL freight. Accessorials are fees added to a freight invoice for services the LTL carrier performs beyond standard pickup and delivery. Common accessorials include liftgates, inside pickup or delivery, remote or limited access locations, or residential deliveries. Different carriers may charge different prices for accessorials, and it is often possible to negotiate these fees when you get an initial freight quote. However, any accessorial required during shipping that was not indicated on the initial quote and added to the bill of lading (BOL) will result in carrier rebills and potential penalties for any delays, missed pickups, or undeliverable shipments.
In recent years, LTL carriers have started charging for scheduled pickups that are not ready at the pickup time. Drivers can sometimes wait hours to pick up a shipment if the warehouse is disorganized or the loading dock is overcrowded or blocked. If you waste the driver’s time, it can result in detention or pickup/delivery attempt fees. LTL drivers must coordinate amongst many shippers simultaneously and ensure they are servicing each delivery adequately in order to complete their routes. If you cause delays for the driver, there is a domino effect that causes delays for multiple shippers down the line, and you will be billed for the disruption. While fees vary between carriers, businesses can expect to be charged each time the carrier attempts to pick up your shipment and is unsuccessful due to a lack of preparation. It’s important to communicate with carriers to coordinate the correct pickup date and time and to have a shipment ready to load on the trailer to avoid this charge.
The majority of surprise fees on freight invoices are due to guesswork, human error, and a lack of preparation and communication. If you have questions about what information to submit to obtain your freight quote, the best thing you can do is partner with a 3PL for your LTL shipping needs. 3PLs like Koho offer an online shipping platform that shippers can use to enter all the relevant information about their freight and instantly receive multiple quotes from a wide range of trusted carriers willing to complete the delivery. In addition, you get direct access to the LTL shipping experts at Koho, who can help ensure that all the information submitted for a quote is accurate, negotiate on your behalf for discounts on accessorials, and help you stay organized and prepared for pickups and deliveries. Don’t overpay for your LTL shipping needs. Get the most from your freight budget by booking your next LTL shipment through the freight experts at Koho.
Liftgate Maximums
Average Limits Across Carriers
Maximum Length
66.5"
Maximum Width
65.5"
Maximum Height
79"
Maximum Weight
2,750 lb
