Freight Auditing Services

Q: Why should you audit your freight bills?

A: Overcharges on freight bills are the norm and not the exception. In fact, the industry average is 5-7%. We can turn your old freight bills into real dollars and recover monies due your Company from freight companies without risk or out of pocket expense to your firm. The complexity of the publications and tariffs governing freight rates since the deregulation of the industry has made this area particularly prone to rating mistakes by freight carriers.

Q: What do we look for in conducting an audit of your freight bills?

A: Many factors can contribute to rating errors by freight carriers that result in overcharges to your Company. Our freight bill audit will focus on many areas such as:

    • Freight rates being charged versus the published rates
    • Freight classifications/descriptions that are being used to compute freight charges to your Company
    • Weight and research verification
    • Accessorial charges (extra charges for services performed by carriers), such as appointment fees, lift gate, residential deliveries...
    • Inbound freight charges

Q: How can Diversified Transportation Services determine if our firm has been overcharged on our shipments with freight companies?

A: Diversified Transportation Services has extensive experience in all modes of transportation with a multitude of industries including:

    • less than truckload
    • truckload
    • rail/intermodal
    • small parcel

Diversified Transportation will conduct a review of your freight bills to ensure that your Company is paying the appropriate charges by the carriers you are utilizing. We are a transportation research company specializing in identifying opportunities for cost reduction and enhanced customer service.

Q: How does Diversified Transportation Services benefit from this service?

A: Diversified Transportation Services is typically compensated based on a contingency of savings, or a predetermined flat fee. The post audit compensation can be set at 25% of the savings recovered and is not paid by the customer until they receive their refund from the freight company. Since our targeted savings are almost always realized, we generally let the customer decide which package best suits their needs.

Q: How do we get started?

A: Simply complete the questionnaire and worksheet and our transportation research consultants will take it from there. ALL INFORMATION IS HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.

Q: How can Diversified Transportation Services work with our company to reduce our shipping costs?

A: Diversified Transportation Services will provide a no-nonsense, logical, and systematic approach to your transportation needs. Cost analysis must be an ongoing process for all companies to remain competitive in their respective industries. Diversified Transportation will provide a detailed analysis to determine that your firm is able to provide the most cost effective transportation while maintaining a superior level of service to your customers. The common denominator is cost reduction and improved service. Our programs are designed to have minimal impact on your existing staff. Diversified Transportation Services will customize a program that best meets the needs of your business.

Q: How does Diversified Transportation Services get compensated for these services?

A: Diversified Transportation Services is typically compensated based on either a contingency of savings, or a predetermined flat fee. The post-audit fee will be 75-25 (Company-Diversified Transportation Services) split on the overcharges that are recovered. Since our targeted savings are almost always met or exceeded, we let the customer decide which program best suits their needs.

 

WORKSHEET FOR AUDIT ANALYSIS

Information Requirements

  1. Six months of current freight bills in the following areas:
    • Domestic less than truckload (LTL) carriers
    • Domestic truckload (TL) carriers
    • Air Freight
  2. Small Package (contract and invoices)
    • Federal Express
    • UPS
    • DHL

Please include copies of all tariffs and/or contracts for each carrier, as well as, a year to date Accounts Payable list for each carrier.

All information regarding audit process is held in the strictest confidence.