A rate confirmation (rate con) is the document a broker sends after you agree to haul a load. Once you sign it, it is the written agreement for that load. What you were told on the phone does not matter much if the rate con says something different. Read it every time, even on a load from a broker you know.
Check these first
- Broker name and MC number match the company you spoke with, and the carrier name matches your authority exactly
- Load or reference number, which you will need on the BOL, the invoice, and every call
- Pickup and delivery addresses, dates, and whether each is an appointment, a window, or first come first served
- Total rate in dollars, and whether fuel surcharge is included or listed on its own
- Equipment type, commodity, weight, piece count, and temperature setting for a reefer
- Payment terms, such as how many days after the signed POD and invoice the broker pays, and whether quick pay is offered
Accessorial terms that decide whether you get paid extra
The base rate is only part of the deal. The rate con should say how the broker handles the extras that come up on real loads:
- Detention: how long the free wait time is, and the hourly rate after that
- Layover: whether it is paid, and the flat amount
- TONU (truck ordered not used): whether it is paid if the broker cancels after you are dispatched, and how much
- Lumper: who pays at the receiver, and whether the broker reimburses with a receipt
- Extra stops, driver assist, tarps, or team requirements, and the added pay for each
If a term is not on the rate con, do not assume it exists. Ask for it to be added before you sign.
Clauses that can cost you money
- Late delivery or missed appointment fees and how they are calculated
- Tracking requirements, such as check calls or an app, and any penalty for missing them
- Rules about re-brokering or double brokering, which most rate cons prohibit
- Cargo insurance and other requirements you must meet
- Claims language and deadlines to report a problem
- Deductions the broker may take, including fees for payment methods
When the rate con does not match what you agreed
Do not sign it and hope it works out. Tell the broker exactly which line differs and ask for a corrected rate con. Keep the email or message where the change was agreed. A load that moves on a document that disagrees with your verbal deal is a load you cannot easily prove later.
After the load
Keep the signed rate con with the BOL and the signed POD. Those three documents, plus any detention or lumper receipts, are what you send with your invoice. Missing paperwork is a common reason for payment delays.
How Truck Peak handles it
We review the rate confirmation with you before anything is booked. Nothing is booked without your clear approval. We point out the rate, the miles, the appointment times, and any terms that look unusual, and you decide whether to accept. We do not guarantee loads, rates, or revenue.