No matter whether you are an owner of a tiny online store or of huge international concern, you definitely want to make freight forwarding as cheap as possible. Price is the first thing the users pay attention to when choosing the best logistics companies. It’s clear that the transportation of cargo can’t be free. It’s necessary to pay fees and taxes. Moreover, prices differ from location to location. You can hardly find a businessman who doesn’t want to reduce shipping costs.
No wonder the issue of billing and payment adjustments is of prime importance This term denotes an added cost of shipment in case of discrepancies between the actual and stated shipment data. If it’s necessary to alter the initial payment, any inconsistencies in the weight or freight classification on the original bill of lading will generate a Weight and Inspection Certificate. It’s important to pay attention to proper document management. Otherwise, you are to experience more extra costs or even delays.
There are several steps you should take to avoid billing adjustment. They are the following:
- Accurate measurements are a must.
When placing an order for your shipment, you need to define the type of the cargo, its peculiarities, and sizes. Competent freight forwarders do all the measurements by themselves to avoid possible misunderstandings. When it comes to international shipping, it’s also necessary to consider the choice of a proper measurement system;
- Weigh carefully.
Before carriers load your cargo on a truck, boat, or plane, all the parcels are carefully weighed. If you think that it’s possible to pay for one amount of goods but to transport bigger cargo, you are wrong.
- Don’t forget the packaging.
Many inexperienced shippers make one common mistake. They measure and weigh their products before they are packed. This invariably leads to billing adjustments. The thing is that there are types of packing materials which make your cargo heavier.
- Pick up a proper freight class.
This point is crucial when it comes to interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce movement of LTL less than truckload shipments. You should keep in mind that there are 18 possible classifications for LTL freight. They have different shipping costs. If you do not want to pay more, define the class correctly. The best way to do this is to ask for help from professional carriers. They help you to avoid mistakes and, as a result, additional expenditures.
It’s clear that logistics companies make their money by shipping your cargo. No wonder, they want you to pay as much as possible. Yet, if you cooperate with companies with a perfect reputation, the billing adjustments are always minimal. When selecting your ideal 3PL broker, you should consider pricing policies. You have to clarify in what cases an extra cost is charged. So, if you want to experience a trouble-free, convenient, and profitable freight forwarding process, you should be ready to spend time preparing your cargo and paying attention to the smallest details. Even tiny mistakes in measurements may lead to a significant price increase.