Transport overcharging: the 10 most frequent errors
The ten most common points of vigilance for reconciling transport invoices, package data and contractual conditions.
Transport invoices include numerous parameters: actual weight, volumetric weight, tariff zones, surcharges, negotiated discounts, fuel costs, customs, delivery options or address corrections. With large volumes, even small deviations can represent significant amounts over the year.
Transport overcharging does not necessarily come from a deliberate error. It often results from the complexity of tariff grids, supplements, package data and contractual rules.
Incorrect application of invoiced weight
To check: actual weight, dimensions, volumetric coefficient, photos or package data.
Wrong fare zone
To check: tariff grid, country of destination, postal code and area applied.
Incorrect fuel surcharges
To check: rate applicable on the shipping date, service used and basis of calculation.
Remote area fees incorrectly applied
To check: postal code, official list of remote areas and service concerned.
Poor application of negotiated discounts
To check: contract, negotiated tariff grid, discount rate and any exclusions.
Address correction fee
To verify: initial address, corrected address, proof of delivery and applicable tariff rule.
Duplicate billings
To check: tracking number, invoice number, shipping date, amount and order reference.
Service invoiced different from the service ordered
To verify: service ordered, service actually used, shipping slip and invoice.
Misunderstood customs or administrative fees
To check: incoterm, country, customs declaration, duties and taxes, supporting documents.
Obsolete or poorly configured contractual conditions
To check: date of entry into force, version of tariff grid, specific conditions and amendments.
For companies that manage several hundred or thousands of shipments per month, manual control quickly becomes time-consuming. FretGuard automates the reconciliation between invoices, carrier contracts and shipping data in order to identify discrepancies, prioritize anomalies and facilitate regularization requests.
Sources and references
Automated audit
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