Sample report. Every company, invoice and amount in it is fictional, generated from our test documents. A real report has the same layout.
Margin-leak audit — Harborline Logistics LLC, Aug 14, 2026 to Sep 08, 2026
Prepared by RateGuard Freight on Sep 10, 2026. 18 document(s) reviewed, 10 of them invoices.
Found: $5,135.00 across 7 invoice(s) (6 carrier(s)/agent(s))
| Invoice | Line | Agreed | Billed | Difference | Why | Dispute by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAL9472876 | 1 | $820.00 | $1,066.00 | $246.00 | Air Freight (All-In): billed for more than the shipment (246.00 USD) | – |
| PCCL-OF-065241 | 1 | $4,700.00 | $5,000.00 | $300.00 | Ocean Freight: billed above the agreed rate (300.00 USD) | – |
| PCCL-OF-065241 | 2 | $0.00 | $420.00 | $420.00 | Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF): billed though quoted as included (420.00 USD) | – |
| PCCL-OF-065241 | 5 | $0.00 | $75.00 | $75.00 | Documentation Fee: billed twice (75.00 USD) | – |
| PCCL-OF-065241 | 3 | $790.00 | $830.00 | $40.00 | Destination THC: amount doesn't match quantity x rate (40.00 USD) | – |
| AMLF1588728 | 2 | $620.00 | $690.00 | $70.00 | Destination THC: billed above the agreed handling rate (70.00 USD) | – |
| AMLF1588728 | 4 | $65.00 | $95.00 | $30.00 | Documentation Fee: billed above the agreed fee (30.00 USD) | – |
| AMLF1588728 | 5 | $35.00 | $45.00 | $10.00 | AMS Filing Fee: billed above the agreed fee (10.00 USD) | – |
| AMLF1588728 | 3 | $125.00 | $140.00 | $15.00 | Customs Entry: amount doesn't match quantity x rate (15.00 USD) | – |
| NSF0998100 | 1 | $4,000.00 | $6,000.00 | $2,000.00 | Ocean Freight: billed for more than the shipment (2,000.00 USD) | – |
| BH2160337 | 1 | $266.00 | $380.00 | $114.00 | Ocean Freight (LCL): billed for more than the shipment (114.00 USD) | – |
| HG105929 | 2 | $120.00 | $135.00 | $15.00 | Chassis Rental: billed above the agreed rate (15.00 USD) | – |
| NSD7483786 | – | $2,700.00 | $4,500.00 | $1,800.00 | Container charges billed for more days than allowed ($1,800.00) | Sep 24, 2026 |
Possible further recoveries, waiting on your answers: $320.00 (see "Questions for you").
Container-charge invoices that don't meet the FMC billing rule: $1,250.00
These demurrage/detention invoices leave out information, or were issued later than, 46 CFR Part 541 requires. 46 CFR 541.5: "Failure to include any of the required minimum information in this part in a demurrage or detention invoice eliminates any obligation of the billed party to pay the applicable charge." You decide whether to raise this with the carrier.
| Invoice | Issued by | Container charges | What's wrong | Dispute by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT26416606 | Atlantic Meridian Lines | $1,250.00 | Container-charge invoice is missing 3 required item(s) | Sep 19, 2026 |
Questions for you
Not counted above. If you confirm them, these could add up to $320.00.
- HG105929 (Harbor Gate Drayage LLC): Waiting Time (hours): not in the agreed rates (170.00 USD)
- HG105929 (Harbor Gate Drayage LLC): Pre-pull: not in the agreed rates (150.00 USD)
Deadlines and notes
- DT26416606 (Atlantic Meridian Lines): Request mitigation, refund or waiver by Sep 19, 2026 (9 days)
- NSD7483786 (Northstar Ocean Lines): Request mitigation, refund or waiver by Sep 24, 2026 (14 days)
Patterns
- Northstar Ocean Lines: 2 item(s), $3,800.00. Container charges billed for more days than allowed; Ocean Freight: billed for more than the shipment.
- Atlantic Meridian Lines: 5 item(s), $1,375.00. AMS Filing Fee: billed above the agreed fee; Container-charge invoice is missing 3 required item(s); Customs Entry: amount doesn't match quantity x rate; Destination THC: billed above the agreed handling rate; Documentation Fee: billed above the agreed fee.
- Pacific Crest Container Line: 4 item(s), $835.00. Bunker Adjustment Factor; Destination THC: amount doesn't match quantity x rate; Documentation Fee: billed twice; Ocean Freight: billed above the agreed rate.
- Orion Air Logistics Ltd.: 1 item(s), $246.00. Air Freight.
- Blue Harbor Consolidation Services: 1 item(s), $114.00. Ocean Freight.
- Harbor Gate Drayage LLC: 1 item(s), $15.00. Chassis Rental: billed above the agreed rate.
Ready-to-send dispute emails
- Atlantic Meridian Lines: $1,375.00, in
disputes/atlantic-meridian-lines.txt - Blue Harbor Consolidation Services: $114.00, in
disputes/blue-harbor-consolidation-services.txt - Harbor Gate Drayage LLC: $15.00, in
disputes/harbor-gate-drayage-llc.txt - Northstar Ocean Lines: $3,800.00, in
disputes/northstar-ocean-lines.txt - Orion Air Logistics Ltd.: $246.00, in
disputes/orion-air-logistics-ltd.txt - Pacific Crest Container Line: $835.00, in
disputes/pacific-crest-container-line.txt
Next step
Keep this running every month for $149.00.
Details and evidence
R6 · invoice OAL9472876 · Air Freight (All-In): billed for more than the shipment (246.00 USD)
Line 1 (Air Freight (All-In)) bills 260 kg. Gross weight 180 kg; volume 1.2 cbm = 200.0 kg volumetric at 6,000 cm3/kg. Chargeable weight is the greater, rounded up to 0.5 kg: 200 kg. Excess 60 x 4.10 USD before any minimum or line discount. Billed 1,066.00 USD, allowed 820.00 USD; difference 246.00 USD.
Evidence: air_invoice_OAL9472876.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: OAL9472876"; air_invoice_OAL9472876.pdf p.1 "Chargeable Weight: 260.0 KG"; air_invoice_OAL9472876.pdf p.1 "Gross Weight: 180.0 KG"; air_invoice_OAL9472876.pdf p.1 "Volume: 1.200 CBM"; air_invoice_OAL9472876.pdf p.1 "Air Freight (All-In)"
R1 · invoice PCCL-OF-065241 · Ocean Freight: billed above the agreed rate (300.00 USD)
Line 1 (Ocean Freight) is billed at 2,500.00 USD per container x 2. Rate confirmation PCQ-349548 agreed 2,350.00 USD per container. Billed 5,000.00 USD, agreed 4,700.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: PCCL-OF-065241"; freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Ocean Freight"; rate_confirmation_PCQ-349548.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: PCQ-349548"; rate_confirmation_PCQ-349548.pdf p.1 "Ocean Freight (All-In)"
R3 · invoice PCCL-OF-065241 · Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF): billed though quoted as included (420.00 USD)
Line 2 (Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)) bills 420.00 USD. Rate confirmation PCQ-349548 lists Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) as included, so it should not be billed on top.
Evidence: freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: PCCL-OF-065241"; freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)"; rate_confirmation_PCQ-349548.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: PCQ-349548"; rate_confirmation_PCQ-349548.pdf p.1 "Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)"
R8 · invoice PCCL-OF-065241 · Documentation Fee: billed twice (75.00 USD)
Line 5 (Documentation Fee) repeats line 4: same charge, amount (75.00 USD), containers and dates.
Evidence: freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: PCCL-OF-065241"; freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Documentation Fee"; freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Documentation Fee"
R10 · invoice PCCL-OF-065241 · Destination THC: amount doesn't match quantity x rate (40.00 USD)
Line 3 (Destination THC): 2 x 395.00 USD = 790.00 USD, but the line bills 830.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: PCCL-OF-065241"; freight_invoice_PCCL-OF-065241.pdf p.1 "Destination THC"
R4 · invoice AMLF1588728 · Destination THC: billed above the agreed handling rate (70.00 USD)
Line 2 (Destination THC) is billed at 345.00 USD per container x 2. Rate confirmation AML-RC-675474 agreed 310.00 USD per container. Billed 690.00 USD, agreed 620.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Invoice Number: AMLF1588728"; freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Destination THC"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: AML-RC-675474"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "Destination THC"
R5 · invoice AMLF1588728 · Documentation Fee: billed above the agreed fee (30.00 USD)
Line 4 (Documentation Fee) is billed at 95.00 USD per B/L x 1. Rate confirmation AML-RC-675474 agreed 65.00 USD per B/L. Billed 95.00 USD, agreed 65.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Invoice Number: AMLF1588728"; freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Documentation Fee"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: AML-RC-675474"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "Documentation Fee"
R5 · invoice AMLF1588728 · AMS Filing Fee: billed above the agreed fee (10.00 USD)
Line 5 (AMS Filing Fee) is billed at 45.00 USD per B/L x 1. Rate confirmation AML-RC-675474 agreed 35.00 USD per B/L. Billed 45.00 USD, agreed 35.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Invoice Number: AMLF1588728"; freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "AMS Filing Fee"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: AML-RC-675474"; rate_confirmation_AML-RC-675474.pdf p.1 "AMS Filing Fee"
R10 · invoice AMLF1588728 · Customs Entry: amount doesn't match quantity x rate (15.00 USD)
Line 3 (Customs Entry): 1 x 125.00 USD = 125.00 USD, but the line bills 140.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Invoice Number: AMLF1588728"; freight_invoice_AMLF1588728.pdf p.1 "Customs Entry"
R6 · invoice NSF0998100 · Ocean Freight: billed for more than the shipment (2,000.00 USD)
Line 1 (Ocean Freight) bills 3 container(s). 2 container(s) shown. Excess 1 x 2,000.00 USD before any minimum or line discount. Billed 6,000.00 USD, allowed 4,000.00 USD; difference 2,000.00 USD.
Evidence: freight_invoice_NSF0998100.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: NSF0998100"; freight_invoice_NSF0998100.pdf p.1 "Container(s): NSLU2275865 (40HC), NSLU9239582 (40HC)"; freight_invoice_NSF0998100.pdf p.1 "Ocean Freight"
R6 · invoice BH2160337 · Ocean Freight (LCL): billed for more than the shipment (114.00 USD)
Line 1 (Ocean Freight (LCL)) bills 4 W/M. 2.8 cbm and 1900 kg; W/M is the greater of cbm and metric tons (minimum 1): 2.8 W/M. Excess 1.2 x 95.00 USD before any minimum or line discount. Billed 380.00 USD, allowed 266.00 USD; difference 114.00 USD.
Evidence: lcl_invoice_BH2160337.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: BH2160337"; lcl_invoice_BH2160337.pdf p.1 "Gross Weight: 1,900.0 KG"; lcl_invoice_BH2160337.pdf p.1 "Volume: 2.800 CBM"; lcl_invoice_BH2160337.pdf p.1 "Ocean Freight (LCL)"
R9 · invoice HG105929 · Chassis Rental: billed above the agreed rate (15.00 USD)
Line 2 (Chassis Rental) is billed at 45.00 USD per day x 3. Quote HGQ-30390 agreed 40.00 USD per day. Billed 135.00 USD, agreed 120.00 USD.
Evidence: drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Freight Bill No.: HG105929"; drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Chassis Rental"; drayage_quote_HGQ-30390.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: HGQ-30390"; drayage_quote_HGQ-30390.pdf p.1 "Chassis Rental"
R9 · invoice HG105929 · Waiting Time (hours): not in the agreed rates (170.00 USD)
Line 3 (Waiting Time (hours)) bills 170.00 USD, but quote HGQ-30390 has no such charge. Charges like this are often legitimate even when not quoted. Ask the customer whether they approved it and whether the days, hours or moves match what happened; if it was not owed, reclassify it as an overcharge.
Evidence: drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Freight Bill No.: HG105929"; drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Waiting Time (hours)"; drayage_quote_HGQ-30390.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: HGQ-30390"
R9 · invoice HG105929 · Pre-pull: not in the agreed rates (150.00 USD)
Line 4 (Pre-pull) bills 150.00 USD, but quote HGQ-30390 has no such charge. Charges like this are often legitimate even when not quoted. Ask the customer whether they approved it and whether the days, hours or moves match what happened; if it was not owed, reclassify it as an overcharge.
Evidence: drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Freight Bill No.: HG105929"; drayage_invoice_HG105929.pdf p.1 "Pre-pull"; drayage_quote_HGQ-30390.pdf p.1 "Quote No.: HGQ-30390"
F11 · invoice DT26416606 · Container-charge invoice is missing 3 required item(s)
This invoice does not show 3 of the items 46 CFR 541.6 requires on a demurrage or detention invoice:
- 541.6(d)(2): Link (URL, QR code) to a public page describing what a mitigation, refund or waiver request needs
- 541.6(e)(1): Statement that the charges are consistent with FMC demurrage/detention rules (incl. 46 CFR 545.5)
- 541.6(e)(2): Statement that the billing party's performance did not cause or contribute to the charges
46 CFR 541.5: "Failure to include any of the required minimum information in this part in a demurrage or detention invoice eliminates any obligation of the billed party to pay the applicable charge."
Part 541 requires this information 'on or with' the invoice (541.1), and an invoice can be a statement 'accessible online' (541.3). Check attachments and the carrier's invoice portal before relying on this flag.
Evidence: detention_invoice_DT26416606.pdf p.1 "Invoice Number: DT26416606"; detention_invoice_DT26416606.pdf p.1 "Invoice Date: 20-Aug-2026"
F13 · invoice NSD7483786 · Container charges billed for more days than allowed ($1,800.00)
Recomputed from the invoice's own free time, dates and rates: charging starts Aug 13, but free time runs to Aug 13 (1 free day(s) charged, if the free-time end date on the invoice is the last free day); the invoice charges 9 days, but Aug 13-Aug 20 is 8 days. 7 chargeable day(s) x 2 container(s) at the stated tiers = 2,700.00 USD; billed 4,500.00 USD.
Evidence: demurrage_invoice_NSD7483786.pdf p.1 "Invoice No.: NSD7483786"; demurrage_invoice_NSD7483786.pdf p.1 "Invoice Date: 08/25/2026"; demurrage_invoice_NSD7483786.pdf p.1 "Free Time End: 08/13/2026"; demurrage_invoice_NSD7483786.pdf p.1 "Charged Dates: 08/13/2026 - 08/20/2026 (9 days)"; demurrage_invoice_NSD7483786.pdf p.1 "Tariff Rates: Days 1-4 USD 150.00; Day 5+ USD 250.00 per container per day"
Prepared on Sep 10, 2026 from documents Harborline Logistics LLC provided. The dispute emails are drafts for you to review and send; nothing in this report is legal advice.
Sample dispute draft (one of six)
[Dispute draft prepared by RateGuard Freight for Harborline Logistics LLC. Check it, fill in your name, then send it from your own email. Delete this note before sending.] To: Northstar Ocean Lines (billing or dispute contact on the invoice) Subject: Request for review of charges: invoices NSF0998100, NSD7483786 Hello Northstar Ocean Lines team, We have checked the invoices below against our agreed rates and the applicable billing rules, and we ask you to review the following charges: 1. Invoice NSF0998100, line 1: Line 1 (Ocean Freight) bills 3 container(s). 2 container(s) shown. Billed $6,000.00, agreed $4,000.00. Please credit $2,000.00. 2. Invoice NSD7483786: Billed $4,500.00, agreed $2,700.00. Please credit $1,800.00. Total under review: $3,800.00. Please reply with a credit note or a corrected invoice. Kind regards, [Your name] Harborline Logistics LLC