ebb Logistics
EngagementWe review billing accuracy before using your freight history in a negotiation.

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Freight contract negotiation and freight bill audit

We negotiate LTL and truckload agreements and audit freight bills, including freight classification under the revised NMFC rules.

Free contract reviewTalk it through first
Since 0Density decides most LTL freight classes, not what the item is
0 bandsPounds per cubic foot, from class 400 down to class 50
Your lanesPriced from audited shipment data, not a discount off a list
0 sourcesAccount for most freight overbilling
In shortA brief explanation of the service and what it covers.

What is freight contract negotiation?

The short answer

Freight contract negotiation is the process of negotiating the rates and terms of an LTL or truckload carrier agreement: base rates, the fuel table, accessorial schedules and freight classification, which changed significantly when the NMFC moved to density-based classes in July 2025. It works by repricing the agreement against audited lane data rather than accepting a discount off a base nobody has checked. Freight bill auditing runs alongside it, and its findings become the claims our team files to recover reweighs, reclassifications, wrong fuel indexes and duplicate accessorials.

LTL and truckload rate agreements, accessorial schedules, and freight bill auditing, including the classification changes now in force.

The problemThe terms and billing details we review before estimating savings.

Freight class affects what you pay.

The NMFC changes that took effect in July 2025 revised many freight classifications and expanded the use of density-based classes. Density is measured in pounds per cubic foot.

If your quoting system or bill of lading still uses an outdated item or class, the carrier may reclassify the shipment and change the charge. We check product data, packaging and classifications against the applicable rules.

We also review reweighs, accessorial charges and fuel calculations. Accurate billing data provides a better starting point for freight contract negotiation.

Why usWe work for shippers and receive no compensation from carriers.

What makes this different.

01

Freight classification reviewed

We calculate density across your freight shipments and check how the revised NMFC classification affects your costs.

02

Accurate data for negotiations

We check your bills first so negotiations use the lanes, weights and classes you actually ship.

03

Fuel terms included

We review fuel surcharge tables and the index they use alongside base rates and discounts. We check that billing matches the agreement and identify terms worth negotiating.

Why this orderWe review your agreement and shipment data before recommending changes.

How this actually runs.

  1. Review the current agreement and classification

    We review base rates, discounts, fuel, accessorials and freight classification, including the revised NMFC rules.

    Week 1

  2. Audit the freight bills

    ebb Logic™ checks reweighs, reclassifications, accessorial charges and fuel calculations against your agreement. Our team files a claim for each billing error it finds.

    Weeks 1–2

  3. Correct the classification basis

    ebb Logic™ calculates shipment density from the recorded dimensions and weight. We then update your bill-of-lading and quoting templates to use the applicable freight class.

    Week 2

  4. Negotiate using the reviewed data

    We use the corrected shipment history to negotiate rates and terms for the lanes and freight you actually ship.

    Weeks 3–5
Common questionsContact us if your question is not listed. We can help you assess whether the service fits your needs.

Questions shippers ask first.

What is freight shipping, and how is it priced differently from parcel?
Freight shipping moves goods too large or heavy for the parcel network, on pallets rather than in boxes, by less-than-truckload (LTL) or full truckload carriers. Parcel is priced per package by weight and zone. Freight is priced per hundredweight by freight class, which the NMFC now sets from density, so the same pallet can be billed at a different class, and a different rate, depending on how it was measured. That measurement, and the accessorials layered on top of it, is where most freight overspend sits.
Do the 2025 NMFC freight class changes affect us?
If you ship LTL, almost certainly. The restructuring that took effect on July 19, 2025 moved a great deal of freight onto a thirteen-tier density-based scale and consolidated or removed over two thousand item numbers. Shippers whose products sat comfortably under the old fixed classes are exactly the ones most likely to be reclassified on the dock.
How do we calculate freight density and class now?
Density is weight divided by cubic feet, so you need accurate length, width, height and weight for each handling unit, measured rather than estimated. That figure maps to the new density scale. Handling, stowability and liability characteristics can still move an item off the pure density result, which is where most of the remaining disputes now sit.
Why do our freight bills keep getting reweighed and reclassified?
Carriers may reweigh or measure freight when it reaches a terminal. Repeated differences from your bill of lading can indicate outdated product weights, changed pallet configurations or classification records that need review. We compare the records to investigate the cause.
Can you audit freight bills and negotiate the contract together?
Yes. We prefer to audit first so the negotiation uses verified shipment details and costs.
Do you handle truckload as well as LTL?
Yes. Truckload analysis focuses on lanes and capacity rather than freight class. We use audited lane costs to prepare rate negotiations.
Before you callFree guides and tools on published carrier data, covering the terms this service works on.

Guides and tools.

01

How LTL freight class is determined

Density, the 13-band NMFC scale and a worked pallet example.

Guide02

NMFC lookup and freight class

Finding the NMFC item, what ClassIT+ costs, and how to dispute a reclassification.

Guide
Next doorThese related services may also be useful for your business.

Related work.

01

LTL freight audit

Our LTL freight audit checks rates, minimum charges, freight class, NMFC, billed weight, reweighs, fuel and accessorials. Every discrepancy is documented with the contract term and the calculation behind it, and our team files the claim that holds the carrier to the terms you agreed.

For shippers who want their LTL invoices checked02

LTL contract negotiation

We negotiate LTL base rates, lane and class discounts, minimum charges, freight-all-kinds (FAK) provisions, fuel and accessorials. We use your shipment history to compare terms, then check invoices after the new agreement takes effect.

For shippers moving pallets on one or more LTL carriers03

Parcel audit

A parcel invoice audit checks for billing errors and contract compliance. ebb Logic™ reviews service failures, duplicates, address corrections and surcharges, then checks each charge against your discounts, tiers, minimums and accessorial terms. It runs every week, so problems are caught soon after they begin.

For shippers who want their invoices checked against their carrier agreement

Request a free contract review.

Send your agreement for a written review of potential savings and recommended next steps.

Get a free savings estimateSee a sample audit firstEmail [email protected]

Or call 888-356-4421

Free, and no obligation. A written evaluation back inside 48 hours. No fee unless we find documented savings. How we handle your documents

  • Your current agreement, any carrier
  • One recent invoice, if you have one
  • A written evaluation back inside 48 hours