Freight weight is one of the most important shipment details. Similar to freight density, neglecting weight or submitting incorrect data to carriers can affect pricing negatively and lead to additional charges.
In fact, both over- and under-reporting of freight weight can be subject to surcharges and can cause delivery delays. In this article, we’ll share more about the importance of reporting precise freight weight and how to estimate it accurately.
Trust is the cornerstone of shipper-carrier relationships. That’s why carriers rely on dimension, density, and weight data submitted by shippers to properly plan trailer loads. Thus, incorrect figures can lead to underutilized vehicles, overloaded trailers, or safety violations. Surcharges and higher costs are the natural consequence of these issues.
Accurate weight measurements make loads simple to audit for invoice accuracy and dispute resolution. Furthermore, by estimating weight properly, carrier-shipping relationships are improved. Selecting the right carrier and the most efficient transportation mode is only possible if the shipment weight is correct.
To summarize, there are three main reasons why accurate freight weight measurements are important:
A common mistake is guessing shipment weight instead of measuring it accurately. Instead of guessing and giving approximate numbers, shippers need to measure weight, density, and size accurately. That gives carriers precise information about loads.
Estimating freight weight can lead to overestimating or underestimating loads. Overestimation increases transportation costs, while underestimation can trigger reweigh fees, reclassification, and surcharges.
Another impact of improperly estimating freight weight is related to the disruption of dock scheduling and carrier planning. This leads to delivery delays, breaches in regulatory limits, route reconfiguration, and fines. Even slight underestimation can disrupt carrier planning, causing delays, inflated costs, and extra fees.
Technological advancements have made the process of measuring freight weight quick and easy. Here are a few reliable tools to measure shipment weight precisely:
TMS platforms like ShipperGuide take this further by integrating these measurements into automated workflows. By reducing manual entry errors, improving density calculations, and enabling accurate rating, our platform helps ensure shipping costs are precise and shipments are billed correctly, while saving time and reducing disputes.
Weight plays a crucial role in calculating transportation costs. For example, shipments over 15,000–20,000 pounds often achieve better value as full truckload (FTL), while smaller, variable loads typically use less-than-truckload (LTL) or parcel services. Weight also influences equipment selection—heavier loads may require spread-axle trailers instead of tandem-axle trucks to comply with safety regulations.
Accurate weight data allows shippers to get predictable pricing and avoid unexpected fees. With transportation services often using dynamic pricing, TMS platforms can compare real-time carrier rates across modes, helping businesses make cost-efficient decisions.
Knowing the exact freight weight, dimensions, and density enables companies to select the most efficient transportation option, both by mode and carrier, while supporting safety compliance and fostering strong shipper-carrier relationships.
Some shippers overlook freight weight, but inaccuracies can lead to surcharges and strained carrier relationships. Allow us to briefly answer some of the common questions regarding freight weight.
Freight weight should be calculated as precisely as possible. A margin of error of 1% can be tolerated in most cases. However, since carriers rely on shipper-submitted data, accurate numbers are a sign of trustworthiness and improve relationships in the long run. Using these digital tools helps shippers reduce discrepancies and maintain trust with carriers.
Underestimating freight weight can cause delivery delays, pricing adjustments, and reweight charges. If the carrier needs to reconfigure loads due to inaccurate data, this can hurt the shipper’s reliability, trust, and reputation. In some cases, cargo might be damaged if both shippers and carriers have neglected the freight weight.
Carriers use a variety of tools to measure shipment weight. Truck scales and automated weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems make the process much easier. If discrepancies are found, carriers issue a reweigh certificate, adjust transportation pricing, and update the shipment’s documentation, which can impact billing cycles and payment timing.
If you’re looking for a TMS that helps your business ship smarter and avoid costly errors, ShipperGuide is the solution. Its tools automatically calculate freight density, capture item-level data, and prevent reweight charges, while also helping you compare LTL vs. FTL shipments based on weight and benchmark rates against the market.
Request a demo to see how ShipperGuide can improve accuracy, reduce unexpected fees, and optimize your shipping decisions.