According to shipping periodical Transport Topics, YRC is the second largest LTL freight shipping carrier in the United States. Recently, James Faas, Director W+I for YRC, paid a visit to FreightCenter, and we took the opportunity to ask him how our customers could avoid costly billing adjustments. Whether or not you have had to deal with billing adjustments in the past, his response should be constructive.
Bill of Lading – Most Vital Document
Everything starts with the bill of lading (BOL). The BOL is the most vital document in the shipping process. Many people take the BOL for granted, and they shouldn’t. It is a legal document that the carrier cannot change without a letter of authority from the shipper.
When you book your shipment with FreightCenter, the BOL is automatically generated from the information you provide and emailed to you. It’s important to have it printed and give it to the carrier when they arrive to pick up the shipment.
If you don’t provide accurate and complete details of the shipment, your BOL will be incorrect. And that is when billing adjustments become a factor.
Gross Weight VS. Dimensional
The dimensional weight is the LXWXH Divided by 1728. The dimensional weight establishes the cubic weight of a shipment. Gross weight is everything measured on a scale, also known as the actual weight. Many freight carriers will charge you whatever the two weights are greater. In some cases, it will depend on the product itself. Make sure to clarify this with your carrier.
Obtain Accurate Weight to Avoid Billing Adjustments
The weight of your shipment includes the product plus all additional packaging. Many shippers forget to factor in the importance of the pallet in the overall measurement and get hit with a reweigh once the package is on the road. This should not be an estimation, as carrier scales are accurate. Investing in a freight scale may be beneficial for those who often ship.
