Every line
has a reason.
Check it.

The header: who, what, and which shipment

The top of the invoice identifies the shipment. Check these first, because every other line depends on them:

• PRO number — the carrier's tracking and billing number for this shipment. It's how you match the bill to the freight, and how you spot a duplicate.
• BOL number and shipper reference / PO — your numbers. They tie the invoice to your order and to the bill of lading you signed.
• Ship date, shipper, and consignee — confirm the addresses are the real pickup and delivery points; an address change can trigger reconsignment charges.
• Payment terms — prepaid, collect, or third party. A bill sent to the wrong party, or under the wrong terms, is a common and expensive mistake.

The shipment line: pieces, weight, and class

Next comes the description: handling units, commodity, NMFC item, freight class, and billed weight. Compare every figure to your BOL. If the billed weight or class differs from what you declared, the carrier has reweighed or reclassed the shipment — and you're entitled to see why. Ask for the weight certificate or inspection report, with photos, before you accept the change.

The rate stack: from base rate to net charge

The charge itself is built in layers, in the same order every time:

Line	What to check
Rate (per CWT)	The tariff rate per hundred pounds for the lane, class, and weight break. A wrong class or weight tier changes this number.
Gross charge	Rate × billed weight ÷ 100. Simple math — and still worth checking.
Discount	The percentage off the gross. It should match your agreement or quote; a missing or reduced discount is a quiet, costly error.
Minimum charge	If the discounted charge falls below the carrier's minimum, the minimum applies. Normal on small shipments — but it should only appear when the math actually lands there.
Fuel surcharge	A percentage of linehaul from the carrier's weekly fuel table. Check the percentage matches the week of pickup and that it's applied to the right base. Our fuel surcharge guide covers how it's calculated.
Accessorials	Each extra service, itemized. Every one should trace to something you ordered or something the delivery receipt supports.

Our LTL pricing guide explains each layer in depth.

Accessorials: the line that needs the most scrutiny

Accessorials are where most invoice disputes start, because they're often added after the fact by a driver or a terminal. For each one, ask: did we order it, and does the paperwork support it? A liftgate charge on a delivery with a dock, a residential charge on a commercial address, an appointment fee nobody requested, or detention without signed in-and-out times on the delivery receipt are all worth questioning. Our accessorials guide lists what each fee covers.

The most common billing errors

• Duplicate invoices — the same PRO billed twice, or rebilled after a correction without voiding the original.
• Wrong discount or rate — the invoice uses tariff or an outdated rate instead of the agreed price.
• Unsupported reweighs and reclasses — changes with no certificate, photos, or inspection report.
• Accessorials not ordered or not performed.
• Fuel surcharge errors — wrong week, wrong table, or applied to the accessorials as well as linehaul when the agreement says otherwise.
• Billed to the wrong party — a prepaid shipment billed collect to your customer, or vice versa.

How to dispute a charge

Dispute in writing, promptly, with the PRO number, the specific line you're challenging, and your evidence — the quote, the BOL, the delivery receipt, photos. Ask for the carrier's supporting documents for any reweigh, reclass, or accessorial. Pay the undisputed portion if your terms require it, and keep the dispute moving; carrier tariffs and contracts set time limits for overcharge claims, so don't let a questionable bill sit.

How the Fox audits every invoice

Logistics Fox customers don't have to read freight bills line by line. FoxIQ Audit checks 100% of carrier invoices against the quote, the BOL, and the delivery record before they're billed to you — duplicates, unsupported accessorials, reweighs without certificates, and rate mismatches get caught and disputed on our side. You get one clean invoice, and the charges on it are the charges you agreed to.

Quick answers

What is a PRO number on a freight invoice?

The PRO number is the carrier's unique tracking and billing number for a shipment. It appears on the bill of lading label, the delivery receipt, and the invoice, and it's the key for matching an invoice to a shipment and spotting duplicates.

What does CWT mean on a freight bill?

CWT stands for hundredweight, or 100 pounds. LTL base rates are quoted per CWT, so the gross charge is the rate multiplied by the billed weight divided by 100, before discounts, minimums, fuel, and accessorials.

What are the most common freight invoice errors?

Duplicate billing, wrong discount or rate, reweighs and reclasses without supporting documentation, accessorials that weren't ordered or performed, fuel surcharge errors, and invoices billed to the wrong party.

How do I dispute a freight invoice?

Dispute in writing with the PRO number, the specific charge, and your evidence such as the quote, bill of lading, delivery receipt, and photos. Request the carrier's supporting documents, and act promptly because tariffs and contracts limit how long you have to file an overcharge claim.