Audit variance causes explained

Every difference the freight audit finds carries a cause. Forensik compares base freight, fuel, each surcharge, carrier adjustments and GST separately, against the rate card and fuel levy approved and in force on the ship date. Open the exception to see the evidence.

For a base freight difference, Forensik tries these explanations in order: service, zone, weight, minimum charge, and only then the rate itself.

Weight

The carrier billed the base on a different weight from the one Forensik rated, and actual weight decided it. The variance shows the billed weight, your rated weight and, where possible, what the rate card gives at the billed weight.

Check the carton weights on the SKUs in the order and whether the carrier reweighed the freight. If your data was wrong, fix it. See SKUs and cartons.

Cubic

Like Weight, but cubic weight decided it: the carrier printed a cubic weight at least as high as the billed weight, or your cubic weight is higher than the actual weight. Check the carton dimensions and the rate card's cubic factor.

Zone

The carrier billed a different delivery zone from the one your rate card gives for the destination postcode and suburb. This comes from the zone printed on the line, or from a delivery postcode on the line that is different from the consignment's. Check the delivery address on the order and the postcode zones on the approved rate card.

Fuel levy

The fuel billed is not the approved fuel levy percentage of the charges it applies to. The variance shows the approved and billed percentages. Check that the carrier's fuel levy is up to date for the ship date. See fuel levies. When the percentage is right but follows a wrong base or surcharge, the fuel difference carries that other cause.

Unexpected surcharge

A surcharge was billed that was not expected: it is not on the rate card, or it is but is not applied automatically and none was booked. Carrier adjustments no rate card explains land here too. Check whether the surcharge was really needed and whether your rate card lists it.

Rate

The charge does not match the approved rate card although zone, weight and service agree. For base freight, the carrier probably billed from another price list. For a surcharge, it charged a different amount from the rate card. Check whether a newer rate card version should have been approved. See rate card approval.

GST

The GST billed is not 10% of the billed ex GST amount. This is an arithmetic check, not a freight overcharge, so it cannot go on a recovery claim. Raise it with the carrier's accounts team.

Minimum charge

The carrier billed a minimum charge from the rate card that your rated weight does not reach: for example, a light parcel billed the minimum of a heavy weight band. Check the rated weight and the band the consignment should fall into.

Service

The line was billed on a different service from the one the consignment was booked on, such as express instead of standard. Check the booking, and whether the carrier upgraded it for its own reasons.