How to Cut Freight Costs and Eliminate Billing Errors: A Smarter Freight Spend Strategy

Reduce Freight Spend, Avoid Claims, and Take Control of Transportation Costs

For logistics leaders and supply chain professionals, freight cost management isn’t just about negotiating carrier rates—it’s about identifying hidden charges, preventing invoice errors, and gaining visibility across your entire shipping operation.

But when your invoices are packed with accessorial charges, incorrect freight classes, or misapplied discounts, staying within budget becomes a daily battle.

Williams & Associates specializes in freight audit and payment solutions that help companies lower shipping costs, eliminate errors, and recover lost dollars. If you're tired of chasing down billing mistakes or handling freight claims caused by misclassification, this guide is for you.

Here's what every business needs to know:

What is Freight Spend?

Freight spend is the total amount your company pays to move goods from point A to point B. That includes:

• Base shipping rates

• Fuel surcharges

• Accessorial fees (e.g., liftgate service, residential delivery)

• Special handling or limited access charges

Without detailed oversight, these line items can drive up transportation costs quickly. If you're not auditing invoices, you're likely overpaying.

Why Freight Auditing Is a Must for Cost Control

Freight auditing is the process of reviewing and verifying your carrier invoices against your contracted rates. It’s one of the most effective ways to lower freight costs and protect your profit margins.

A professional freight audit partner helps you:

• Catch billing errors and overcharges

• Ensure compliance with contracted rates

• Recover money from incorrect invoices

• Gain visibility into spending patterns across carriers and lanes

Williams & Associates delivers this insight through automated systems and expert support—freeing your team from chasing down discrepancies or correcting GL coding mistakes.

What's Driving Your Freight Overcharges? 

Most shippers don’t realize how common freight billing errors really are. The most frequent causes include:

• Incorrect freight class assignments

• Inaccurate accessorial charges

• Unapplied discounts

• Clerical errors (e.g., wrong PO, job code, or cost center)

• Miscommunication between carriers and billing teams

These errors are easy to miss—and expensive to ignore. Over time, even small discrepancies can result in six-figure freight losses.

How Freight Class and Accessorial Charges Affect Your Budget

Freight classification determines your base rate. If a shipment is misclassified, you’ll be charged more than necessary. Meanwhile, accessorial charges—like inside delivery, reclassification, or detention fees—can inflate your invoice if not carefully reviewed.

Auditing each invoice line-by-line ensures you’re only paying for the services you actually used.

The Role of GL Coding in Freight Cost Management

Accurate GL coding enables finance teams to allocate freight costs by product line, department, or customer. It’s essential for budgeting, forecasting, and understanding what’s driving your freight spend.

Williams & Associates ensures accurate coding and full audit trails for every transaction—giving you clear data for better decision-making.

Prevent Freight Claims Before They Happen

When a shipment is misrouted, delayed, or damaged due to documentation errors or incorrect freight class, it often leads to a freight claim. Our audit process flags potential issues early, helping you avoid costly claims and reduce service failures.

Why Logistics Teams Trust Williams & Associates

For over 30 years, Williams & Associates has helped companies save time, recover overcharges, and simplify freight accounting. Our freight audit and payment services are designed for busy logistics teams who want results—without adding more work to their plate.

What sets us apart:

• 78% average recovery rate on billing errors

• No upfront costs—only pay when we recover

• Hands-on support from experienced freight analysts

• Custom reporting, GL support, and carrier communication 

Ready to Reduce Freight Spend and Boost Accuracy?

If you’re serious about reducing transportation costs, eliminating freight claims, and streamlining your logistics billing, partner with a freight audit expert who can deliver measurable results.

Contact Williams & Associates today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward smarter freight spend management.