The function within a shipper's finance department responsible for processing, validating, and paying carrier invoices for transportation services.

A formal disagreement between a shipper and carrier over invoiced charges - typically triggered when an audit reveals discrepancies between the billed amount and the agreed rate or shipment details.

The actual transfer of funds from the shipper (or their freight pay provider) to a carrier in settlement of approved freight invoices.

The method of distributing freight costs across business units, customers, product lines, or orders to determine the true transportation cost attributable to each.

The automated identification of carrier invoices that have been submitted more than once for the same shipment, preventing double payment.

Estimated freight costs recorded on the books before actual carrier invoices are received, allowing finance teams to recognize transportation expenses in the correct accounting period.

The systematic review of carrier invoices against contracted rates, shipment records, and service terms to identify billing errors before payment is issued.

An integrated service that combines invoice verification and carrier payment into a single workflow - audit first, then pay only what's been validated.

Formal requests for reimbursement filed against a carrier when cargo is lost, damaged, or delivered short, governed by the terms of the bill of lading and applicable transport law.

The process of remitting payment to carriers for completed shipments, often consolidated through a third-party service that handles disbursements on the shipper's behalf.

The end-to-end process of resolving a carrier's freight invoice - from receipt and audit through dispute resolution and final payment - completing the financial lifecycle of a shipment.

Reports that compare actual freight costs against expected costs - budgeted rates, contracted rates, or accrued amounts - to identify and explain the differences.

The practice of assigning freight costs to specific general ledger accounts - by department, cost center, product line, or customer - so transportation expenses are accurately reflected in financial reporting.

The process of matching carrier invoices to original rate agreements and shipment records to confirm that billed amounts are accurate before approving payment.

A document issued after a carrier accepts a tendered load, confirming the agreed rate, service terms, pickup and delivery details, and any special requirements - serving as the binding price agreement for the shipment.

A billing model where the shipper generates the freight invoice based on their own shipment records and contracted rates, rather than waiting for the carrier to bill.