Freight invoices are sent by owner-operators, small trucking companies, freight brokers, and dispatch services that move goods for shippers. They typically bill for line haul, fuel surcharges, accessorial charges like detention and lumper fees, and any extra stops on a load.
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Freight is priced mostly per mile for truckload (TL) moves or as a flat rate per load on a set lane. Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments are priced by weight, freight class, and distance, usually through a carrier tariff with a discount. Fuel surcharge is added as a separate line, often tied to the DOE weekly diesel average. Accessorials are billed on top: detention after two hours of free time, layover, TONU (truck ordered not used), lumper fees, liftgate, inside delivery, extra stops, hazmat, and tarps. Brokers price by adding a margin to what they pay the carrier, commonly 10 to 20 percent, or a flat fee per load. Dispatch services often charge 5 to 10 percent of the gross load revenue.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Dry van or reefer truckload, line haul | per mile | $1.80-3.00 |
| Flatbed or step deck truckload, line haul | per mile | $2.20-3.50 |
| Short-haul or local load (under 250 miles) | flat fee | $450-1,200 |
| Detention after 2 hours free time | per hour | $50-85 |
| Extra stop or stop-off charge | per stop | $50-150 |
| TONU (truck ordered not used) | flat fee | $150-300 |
| Fuel surcharge | per mile | $0.30-0.70 |
| Dispatch service fee | percent of gross load | 5-10% |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line haul, Dallas TX to Atlanta GA, 53' dry van, 782 miles (Load #48213) | 782 miles | $2.25 | $1,759.50 |
| Fuel surcharge | 782 miles | $0.45 | $351.90 |
| Detention at shipper, 3.5 hrs total, 1.5 billable after 2 hrs free | 1.5 hours | $65.00 | $97.50 |
| Lumper fee at delivery (receipt attached) | 1 flat fee | $175.00 | $175.00 |
| Extra stop, Birmingham AL | 1 stop | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Total | $2,483.90 | ||
Notes: Net 30 from invoice date. BOL, signed POD, and lumper receipt attached. Please reference load #48213 on payment. Late balances accrue 1.5% per month. Remit by ACH to the account on file.
Shippers and brokers match invoices to loads by these references, and an invoice without them gets held in accounts payable.
Confirms the lane and timing, and settles disputes over late or early delivery.
Brokers and shippers verify authority before paying, and it ties the invoice to the vendor setup on file.
Most brokers and factoring companies will not pay without a clean signed POD.
Detention, lumper, and layover charges are the most disputed lines, and gate-in and gate-out times and receipts back them up.
The invoice should match the signed rate confirmation, since any mismatch delays payment.
If you factor invoices, the customer must pay the factor, and the invoice must say so to avoid double payment.
Net 30 is the most common term in trucking, with some shippers at net 45 or net 60 and brokers sometimes offering quick pay at net 7 to 15 for a 2 to 5 percent discount. Many small carriers use factoring to get paid within 24 to 48 hours for a fee of about 2 to 4 percent. Deposits are rare on standard loads but may be used for new customers or oversized loads. Invoices are normally sent as soon as delivery is complete, with the POD attached. Payment is typically by ACH, wire, or check, and some brokers pay by virtual card with a fee. Late fees should be written into your carrier agreement or terms, since they are hard to enforce otherwise.
Most payment clocks start at invoice receipt or POD receipt. Send the invoice and paperwork the same day to avoid losing days on a net 30 term.
Text or email the broker when free time expires, and record arrival, check-in, and departure times. Detention claims without timestamps are often denied.
Lumper fees, layovers, and extra stops should be added to the rate confirmation or approved by email before you bill them.
Look up the broker's days-to-pay and credit rating, and confirm their bond is active. Slow or unsafe brokers cost more than a lower rate does.
Showing fuel as its own line keeps the line haul rate clean and makes it easy to justify when diesel prices move.
Send it right after delivery, once you have the signed POD. Many brokers will not accept an invoice without the POD, and the payment term usually starts when they receive the complete package.
You can bill it, but you may have trouble collecting. If the rate confirmation is silent, ask the broker to approve it by email while you are waiting at the dock, and keep your timestamps.
Factoring helps with cash flow if you cannot wait 30 or more days for payment. The cost is usually 2 to 4 percent of the invoice, so compare it to how much your gaps in cash cost you. Recourse and non-recourse terms differ, so read the contract.
Bill a TONU charge if it is in your agreement or rate confirmation. Include the load number, the cancellation time, and any proof you were en route or on site.
Rules vary by state, and many states do not tax transportation of goods for hire, but some do under specific conditions. Check with your state revenue department or a tax professional.
Send a Freight estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Freight estimate template