The Freight Grew

ISSUE

You thought your shipment would be a certain size and weight, and we all planned on that. But now the shipment is larger, or heavier, or both.

ACTION

1. Let us know as soon as you know.
2. One of three situations will apply:
   • We have not yet sourced a truck for the shipment:
     • We will prepare you a revised quotation (which, for small changes, may be the same as the original quotation) for your review and approval.
   • We have sourced a truck for your shipment, but it has not yet been dispatched:
     • We will advise the carrier, and ask if they have sufficient room for the larger shipment.
       • If they do have space, we will establish a revised cost with the carrier, and we will provide you a revised quotation, for you review and approval.
     • If the carrier will not have sufficient space for your larger shipment, they will give us back the shipment, and we will source a different truck. In rare circumstances, there will be a modest fee for this.
   • We have sourced a truck for your shipment, and it has been dispatched to your pick-up (whether or not it has arrived):
     • We will advise the carrier, and ask if they have sufficient room for the larger shipment.
       • If the carrier does have space, we will establish a revised cost with the carrier, and we will provide you a revised quotation, for you review and approval. If you do not approve the revised quote, we will reject the truck, and the carrier will assess a “truck ordered – not used” fee.
         NOTE: In this situation, the carrier, and only the carrier, is in a very strong negotiating position with respect to price: Either pay a marked-up fee for the extra freight, or pay a “truck ordered, not used” fee and scramble to find a replacement truck.
       • If the carrier does not have sufficient room for the larger shipment, then we will have to source you a different truck. There will be a “truck ordered, not used” fee, and possibly some mileage fees.
3. Based on the circumstances and options described above, we will make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

EXPLANATION

Typically, your customer increased their order, or your production department was able to produce more product than originally expected, or somebody made a measurement/calculation error.

TYPICAL RESOLUTION

In most cases, there is minimal impact: the freight goes on the truck initially sourced for the shipment, a second truck is not required, and there is no impact or delay, other than the higher price to arrange the transportation of the larger shipment.