Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp Freight Documentation & Accessorials 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'rate confirmation' (or rate con) and what does it document in trucking?
- A document confirming the driver passed a weigh station inspection
- A written agreement between broker and carrier confirming load details, rate, and terms (Correct answer)
- A government form verifying the carrier's operating authority
- A shipper's internal purchase order for transportation services
Correct answer: A written agreement between broker and carrier confirming load details, rate, and terms
A rate confirmation is a binding document between a freight broker and carrier that confirms the agreed-upon pay rate, load details, pickup/delivery info, and special requirements.
Question 2: Which document would a dispatcher use to track the real-time status and chain of custody of a shipment at multiple stops?
- Manifest or trip report (Correct answer)
- Master bill of lading
- Carrier invoice
- IFTA fuel tax report
Correct answer: Manifest or trip report
A manifest or trip report tracks a driver's multiple stops, documenting pickup and delivery times, signatures, and freight status throughout the trip.
Question 3: A receiver refuses a delivery claiming the freight is damaged beyond use. What document should the driver obtain from the receiver?
- A signed POD with 'refused' notation and a written refusal statement (Correct answer)
- A new bill of lading issued by the receiver
- A freight insurance claim form signed by both parties
- A driver's inspection report only
Correct answer: A signed POD with 'refused' notation and a written refusal statement
When freight is refused, the driver must get a signed delivery receipt marked 'refused' along with a written statement of reason, protecting both the carrier's and shipper's interests.
Question 4: What is a 'stop-off charge' in freight billing?
- A penalty for a driver stopping at an unauthorized weigh station
- An accessorial fee for each intermediate stop added to a linehaul route (Correct answer)
- A fuel surcharge applied only on rural delivery routes
- A charge for using drop-and-hook service at a distribution center
Correct answer: An accessorial fee for each intermediate stop added to a linehaul route
A stop-off charge is assessed for each additional pickup or delivery stop beyond the origin and final destination on a single trip.
Question 5: A dispatcher is preparing documentation for a cross-border shipment to Canada. Which additional document is required beyond a standard domestic BOL?
- TWIC card copy
- NAFTA/CUSMA certificate of origin or customs entry document (Correct answer)
- State-issued oversize permit
- FMCSA medical examiner certificate
Correct answer: NAFTA/CUSMA certificate of origin or customs entry document
Cross-border shipments to Canada require customs documentation such as a CUSMA (formerly NAFTA) certificate of origin or a customs entry/clearance document in addition to the BOL.
Question 6: What does 'LTL' stand for and how does it affect freight documentation compared to a full truckload (FTL)?
- Less Than Load; LTL uses a simplified one-page BOL only
- Less Than Truckload; LTL shipments are rated by freight class and often consolidated with other shippers' freight on one truck (Correct answer)
- Limited Truck Liability; LTL reduces the carrier's damage liability
- Long-Term Load; LTL refers to freight stored more than 30 days
Correct answer: Less Than Truckload; LTL shipments are rated by freight class and often consolidated with other shippers' freight on one truck
LTL (Less Than Truckload) means the shipment doesn't fill a whole truck, so it's rated by freight class and may be combined with other shippers' goods, requiring detailed classification on the BOL.
Question 7: A shipper adds 'said to contain' (STC) notation to a bill of lading. What does this mean for the carrier?
- The carrier has verified and certified the contents of every package
- The carrier has not inspected the contents and accepts no liability for undisclosed items (Correct answer)
- The shipper waives the right to file a freight claim for any damage
- The notation upgrades the shipment to guaranteed delivery service
Correct answer: The carrier has not inspected the contents and accepts no liability for undisclosed items
'Said to contain' means the carrier accepts the shipper's declaration of contents without inspection, limiting the carrier's liability for concealed items that differ from what was declared.
Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp Freight Documentation & Accessorials 5
What is a 'rate confirmation' (or rate con) and what does it document in trucking?