Sometimes it feels like the only regulatory certainty is the uncertainty for the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry. The first workshop in the fourth series of SMC3’s LTL Online Education focused on all things regulatory, and Washington D.C. insiders and transportation regulation experts explored today’s landscape impacting LTL and the next steps to prepare for potential regulatory impacts.

It’s safe to say August was a turbulent month for the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry in the wake of one of the most dominant carriers shuttering operations. Other carriers have picked up the overflow and seeing a spike in daily shipments; 30,000 impacted truck drivers are searching for new jobs; and shippers are navigating a new, uncertain freight landscape.

As weather-related events become more common, what are the chances that freight embargoes could disrupt a somewhat upbeat outlook?

For years, less than truckload shippers and 3PLs have been gathering volume LTL rates the hard way. Due to a lack of options, when their shipments fit the parameters of a volume LTL move, these transportation users have had to get on the phone to query numerous carriers about their volume LTL pricing, sending countless emails back and forth.

As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, carriers are looking more closely at the weights being disclosed on the bills of lading versus what is arriving on their docks. When they do not match up, carriers often issue a Weight and Inspection (W&I) certificate to account for the discrepancy—which means unexpected costs for the shipper. In this SMC3 LTL Online Education session, we discuss this important process, the potential impact of incorrect weights, and how to navigate to prevent issues. Rick Wey, director of weight and research, retired, and Paul Dugent, executive director of the Digital LTL Council, NMFTA, shared their insights on this weighty topic.

Ideally, invoicing shouldn’t be complicated. The carrier charges the shipper for the freight, the carrier gets paid, and life moves on. But in practice, all the complexities associated with LTL inevitably bleed into the invoicing process. It’s almost a matter of course that LTL will come with incorrect or avoidable charges. The third session in SMC³ LTL Online Education’s 2023 LTL203: LTL Freight Pricing live seminar hybrid series focused on the challenges of reconciling invoices in the world of LTL.