Bill of lading field
What weight goes on a bill of lading?
Gross weight, with the pallets included. Not the net weight of the goods, not what the packing list says the product weighs. Carriers put freight over a certified scale, and the number they get is the one they bill on.
Why it matters
A re-weigh that disagrees with the document is the most common reason an LTL invoice comes back higher than the quote. Weight also interacts with class: density is pounds per cubic foot, so a wrong weight can produce a wrong class as well as a wrong charge.
The mistake that costs money
Using the product weight and forgetting the pallet. A standard wooden pallet is roughly 30–40 lb empty. Two of those is 60–80 lb of freight you did not declare, and it will show up on the scale.
Worth knowing
- Include pallets, crating, dunnage and shrink wrap. Everything that goes on the truck.
- Round up rather than down. Under-declaring is what triggers a re-weigh charge.
- Weigh it if you can. Estimating is where the discrepancy comes from.
- Weight and dimensions together give density, and density is most of what decides the freight class.