Why the shipping invoice doesn’t match the quote

The most common complaint about shipping platforms in Canada is a charge that arrives days or weeks after the parcel was delivered. These adjustments almost always start with the carrier re-measuring the shipment. What differs between platforms is how they pass the charge on to you, and whether they add a fee of their own on top.

Parcel adjustments

• Weight and dimension corrections. Automated scanners measure every box. If the measured size gives a higher billable weight than you declared, the difference is charged.
• Address corrections and residential reclassification. A business rate applied to a home address, or an address the carrier had to fix.
• Additional handling. Boxes over certain lengths or weights, or not fully enclosed in cardboard.

LTL adjustments

• Reweigh. The terminal scale disagrees with the bill of lading.
• Reclass. An inspector decides the freight belongs in a higher class, often because density was overstated.
• Accessorials found on delivery. A liftgate, appointment or limited-access charge that wasn’t on the quote.
• Redelivery and storage. If nobody can receive the freight, each attempt and each day at the terminal is billed.

Who bills you, and what they add

If you ship on your own carrier account, the carrier bills you directly and you dispute with the carrier. If you ship through a platform’s account, the carrier bills the platform, and the platform passes the charge on, sometimes with a processing fee. For example, ShipStation’s published policy adds 20% of the adjustment (minimum $0.50, maximum $5.00) and gives 15 days to dispute. Each source profile lists the adjustment policy the source publishes, with a link to the original text.

How to avoid them

1. Measure the packed box or wrapped pallet at its largest points and round up.
2. Declare residential delivery and every service you’ll need when you quote.
3. Keep photos of the shipment on the scale with the tape measure visible.
4. Note each platform’s dispute window, and check invoices weekly.

Use the calculators →