Freight Audit and Payment: How to Catch Billing Errors and Overcharges

Studies consistently show that 3–5% of freight invoices contain errors — primarily overcharges. A systematic freight audit process recovers these costs.

Common Freight Billing Errors

Weight adjustments (carrier claims freight weighs more than declared), freight class upgrades (carrier reclassifies to a higher class), incorrect accessorial charges, fuel surcharge miscalculation, lane errors due to zip code mistakes, and duplicate billing are the most common freight invoice errors.

How to Audit Freight Invoices

Match every invoice to the original rate confirmation. Verify weight against your scale ticket or BOL. Verify freight class against NMFC. Check delivery date for accessorial validity. Compare fuel surcharge to the carrier's published FSC table for the week of delivery. Flag any variance over $10 for dispute.

How to Dispute a Freight Invoice

Contact the carrier or broker in writing immediately. Provide the rate confirmation, BOL, and the specific line item you're disputing. Most carriers have a 30–180 day window for billing disputes — don't wait.

Freight Audit Software

High-volume shippers often use freight audit platforms (Cass, CT Logistics, and similar providers) that automatically validate invoices against contracted rates. These systems typically recover 1–3% of freight spend — paying for themselves many times over for shippers spending $1M+ annually.