1. The “Ghost” Liftgate Fee

• The Error: Carrier billed for a liftgate at a facility equipped with a standard 48” loading dock.

• The Red Flag: Check any invoice for a facility you know has a dock. If a liftgate fee appears, the driver likely triggered it by mistake on their handheld device.

2. Residential Surcharge on Commercial Zones

• The Error: Carrier applies a “Residential Delivery” fee to a business located in an industrial park.

• The Red Flag: Look for addresses with “Suite” or “Unit” numbers that are incorrectly flagged by carrier GPS as residential dwellings.

3. Re-Classification (Class 50 vs. Class 100)

• The Error: The carrier’s “Dimensioner” machine re-classes your freight because of a protruding piece of shrink wrap.

• The Red Flag: Any “Weight & Inspection” (W&I) certificate that changes your NMFC class should be challenged if the dimensions were within 1-2 inches of your BOL.

4. Duplicate PRO Numbers

• The Error: A 3PL and the Asset-Based Carrier both bill for the same movement.

• The Red Flag: Search your AP ledger for duplicate “PRO” or “Reference” numbers within a 30-day window.

5. Outdated Fuel Surcharge (FSC) Percentages

• The Error: Carrier applies a fuel surcharge from two weeks ago despite a drop in the DOE National Average.

• The Red Flag: Cross-reference the “FSC %” on your invoice with the specific week the freight was picked up, not when it was billed.

6. “Limited Access” Overreach

• The Error: Charging “Limited Access” for schools, hospitals, or construction sites that are easily accessible by a 53’ trailer.

• The Red Flag: If the carrier didn’t need a “straight truck” or a smaller vehicle, this fee is often negotiable or invalid.

7. Minimum Charge (MC) Floor Violations

• The Error: Your contract has a $95 “Floor,” but the invoice shows a $115 “Absolute Minimum.”

• The Red Flag: Look for invoices where the “Discount %” is applied, but the final total still exceeds your negotiated minimum.