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How to get an accurate LTL rate the first time
Most LTL invoices that come in higher than the quote trace back to four details. Here is what to measure and send before you ask for a rate.
Jenna Morales
· Dispatch lead
· 4 min read
An LTL rate is only as good as the details behind it. When an invoice comes in higher than the quote, it is almost never a surprise fee. It is usually a pallet that was taller, heavier or harder to reach than the request said.
Here is what we ask for, and why each detail matters.
Measure the pallet, not the product
Carriers price LTL freight by space and weight, so we need the size of the pallet as it will sit on the trailer. Measure length, width and height including the pallet itself and any overhang. A standard pallet is 48 by 40 inches, but the height is what changes the price. A load stacked to 72 inches takes up far more of the trailer than one at 48.
Weigh it on a real scale
Estimated weights are the most common reason a rate changes. If you do not have a floor scale, tell us the weight of the product per case and the number of cases, and we will add the pallet. Our cross-dock weighs every pallet that comes through, so a guess will be corrected either way.
Tell us about the docks
A delivery to a business with a dock is the simplest kind. Anything else needs a note so we can send the right truck:
No dock at pickup or delivery, so the truck needs a liftgate
A residential, school, church or construction site address
A delivery appointment, or a receiver that only takes freight in set hours
Inside delivery, where the driver brings pallets past the door
Know your freight class, or tell us what it is
Freight class depends on density, how easily the freight gets damaged and how hard it is to handle. If you know your class, include it. If you do not, tell us what the product is and how it is packed, and we will work it out with you before you book. That is better than guessing low and paying for a reclass later.
A request that gets a firm rate
Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the pallet count with dimensions and weight, what the freight is, the pickup date and any of the notes above. With that, a dispatcher can send a written all-in rate within two hours, and the invoice will match it.
Ready to try it? Send the details through the rate form, or call dispatch at (614) 555-0142 and we will walk through it with you.
