The Carrier Issues Billing Adjustments, Not FreightCenter
In our Keys to Shipping Happiness series, we’ve been walking through the little things you can do to make shipping easier, less stressful, and most importantly, more cost-effective. We’ve already covered how paying attention to weight, freight class, and packaging can make a big difference. Today, we’re tackling a topic that can be frustrating for any shipper: billing adjustments.
Billing adjustments are one of the most common reasons shipping costs unexpectedly rise. And the good news is, they’re almost always avoidable. But first, let’s clear up a common question:
Who issues billing adjustments and why?
As a shipper, there’s nothing more frustrating than receiving a surprise billing adjustment after your freight has already shipped. You thought you were paid up, so why is there another charge?
Here’s the thing: carriers are the ones who issue billing adjustments, not FreightCenter. We’re a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, which means we coordinate and manage your shipment but never physically handle it. When you book a shipment, the information on the Bill of Lading (BOL) is based entirely on the details you give us.
If a weight, measurement, location type, or service need isn’t correct, we won’t know until the carrier flags it—usually by issuing a billing adjustment. At that point, we’re required to bill the adjustment to you on the carrier’s behalf.
That’s why it’s so important to double-check your shipment details when booking. Avoiding billing adjustments saves money, time, and frustration.
Common Billing Adjustments (and How to Avoid Them)
When we reviewed recent billing adjustments, we noticed most of them could have been avoided with just a little extra care at the start. Here’s a look at the most common ones:
Inside Pickup or Delivery
Freight shipping is designed for dock-to-dock service. If you don’t have a loading dock, carriers are only obligated to pick up or drop off at the curb.
If a driver needs to go beyond the curb, like into a driveway, garage, or inside a building, that’s considered inside pickup or delivery, and it comes with an additional charge.
Tip: If you’ll need help getting freight beyond the curb, request inside pickup or delivery when you book your shipment. That way, it’s built into your quote and you avoid any surprises.
Liftgate at Pickup or Delivery
A liftgate is a hydraulic platform that lowers freight from the truck to the ground. If your freight is heavy or you don’t have a dock, you’ll likely need one.
Carriers can (and do) add a liftgate fee after the fact if it turns out the service was necessary, even if they used it without you asking.
Tip: If you can’t lift your freight into a truck by hand, request a liftgate ahead of time.
Residential or Limited Access Locations
Carriers categorize anything without a traditional loading dock as residential or limited access. This includes home-based businesses, schools, hospitals, construction sites, churches, government facilities, and more.
If you don’t note this during booking, a billing adjustment will be added later.
Tip: Unsure if your location counts as limited access? Ask us! We’ll help you confirm before booking.
Quick Fix: Spend 30 Minutes Now to Save Later
- Confirm your pickup and delivery locations. Are they commercial, residential, or limited access?
- Double-check if you’ll need inside service or a liftgate.
- Verify all weights, dimensions, and freight class.
These steps can take less than 30 minutes, but they’ll save you time, money, and headaches later. Real-World “Whoopsies” We See Often
Redelivery and Appointment Fees: If no one is available at the time of delivery, or the carrier can’t locate the correct freight, they’ll leave and come back later. These fees often start at $140.
Solution: Share reference numbers (like RA numbers) and correct hours of operation with us before pickup.
Missing Shipping Labels: Forgetting to attach the FreightCenter-provided labels can cost $80+ because the carrier must create new ones.
Solution: Print and attach the labels as soon as you receive them.
No BOL at Pickup: If the driver doesn’t get the BOL we provide, it can cause major billing issues and even higher freight class charges.
Solution: Always have your BOL ready to hand to the driver.
Keep Shipping Simple
Avoiding billing adjustments is the easiest way to save money and ship with confidence. A little attention to detail makes all the difference—and we’re always here to help you through it.
Ready to ship your next LTL load? Get an instant freight quote now or call one of our friendly shipping experts at 800-716-7608. We’ll help you make sure everything is set up the right way from the start.
