Rate confirmation review checklist

Verify against your call notes

• Broker company name + MC # matches the one you booked
• Load reference # matches
• Rate matches your verbal agreement — down to the dollar
• Pickup date, time window, and address
• Delivery date, time window, and address
• Commodity + weight + piece count
• Detention terms (free hours, hourly rate after)
• Lumper: who pays and reimbursement process
• Fuel surcharge line — included or separate
• Layover pay if delivery is delayed by shipper
• TONU (Truck Order Not Used) fee if load cancels
• Payment terms: net-30 / net-45 / quick-pay option

Red-flag clauses to strike or refuse

• Chargebacks for anything but proven cargo damage — refuse. Common trick.
• "Time is of the essence" as a penalty clause without agreed compensation.
• Auto-renewal of the agreement for future loads at unspecified rates.
• Broker-side "reasonable" fees without dollar caps.

Final step

• Sign, date, initial each page, scan/photo
• Email back same call
• Save the signed PDF — you need it for factoring and for disputes.