Finding a reweigh or reclass charge added to your invoice that wasn't on the original quote is a common experience for LTL shippers. If you want to understand why reweighs and reclasses happen in the first place, start with LTL Reweigh and Reclass: Why Freight Bills Change After Pickup — this article focuses only on what to do once the invoice has already arrived.
Your Invoice Shows a Reweigh or Reclass — What's the First Step?
Don't pay it right away, and don't assume the invoice is automatically right or wrong. The first step is to request the carrier's inspection documentation — the measurement/weighing record and photos — and compare it against your own BOL, original quote, and shipment photos to see exactly where the discrepancy is: a weight mismatch, or a reclassified commodity/density.
What Evidence Do You Need to Dispute It?
If the comparison suggests the invoice is wrong, gather this before filing a dispute:
- Your own scale ticket — from a scale that prints a receipt, not an eyeballed or estimated weight
- Photos of the shipment with a tape measure in frame — this shows actual dimensions far more convincingly than a description
- The original Bill of Lading (BOL)
- The original quote
- Commodity description and NMFC basis — if you're disputing a reclass, you need something that supports the class you believe is correct
The more complete and specific your evidence, the better positioned you are to challenge whether the carrier's inspection result actually holds up.
How Do You File a Dispute?
Disputes are typically filed in writing and should include: the PRO number, exactly what you believe is wrong, and the evidence described above, with a request for the carrier to verify and restore the original rate if the evidence supports it. Disputes have a time window that varies by carrier — there's no single industry-wide deadline — so act as soon as you get the invoice; the longer you wait, the narrower your chances generally get.
Does Having Evidence Actually Change the Outcome?
Disputing with real evidence (especially shipment photos and a scale ticket) tends to produce very different results from disputing with nothing but "I don't think this is right." We won't cite a specific success-rate percentage here — the numbers circulating online come from sources that aren't transparent about methodology, so they're not reliable to repeat as fact — but the direction is clear: more evidence means more room to negotiate.
How to Reduce Reweigh/Reclass Risk From the Start
The most effective fix happens at the quoting stage: weigh shipments including the pallet and packaging, not just the freight itself, and avoid vague commodity descriptions — provide an accurate NMFC basis where possible. For the full breakdown, see LTL Reweigh and Reclass: Why Freight Bills Change After Pickup.
How ShipMay Helps
Not sure whether your invoice is worth disputing? Send ShipMay the invoice, original quote, and shipment details, and we'll help you check whether your evidence is strong enough before you file a formal dispute. Contact ShipMay.
Related Reading
- LTL Reweigh and Reclass: Why Freight Bills Change After Pickup
- Freight Accessorial Charges Explained
- NMFC Lookup and Freight Class Explained
- LTL Freight Quote Checklist
Reference
- National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), which maintains the NMFC and freight class system that a reclass dispute is evaluated against.
