Staying Ahead of Industry Changes: Updates to Our Freight Rebill Policy
At Mothership, we aim to provide the most transparent and efficient shipping experience possible. As part of this commitment, we’re sharing an important update regarding how we handle carrier rebills for LTL shipments, effective Monday, July 27th.
The Reality of LTL Shipping
LTL carriers bill every shipment based on its specific NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) commodity number and freight class—a figure largely driven by the commodity's density (pounds per cubic foot).
Industry-wide, carriers require accurate classification. If a shipment is booked without an NMFC number, with an incorrect class, or with a description that doesn't match the actual commodity, carriers may inspect the freight, reclassify it, and issue a rebill. This is a standard industry requirement, not a rule specific to Mothership.
For years, Mothership has acted as an industry outlier by forgiving these rebills. We implemented this practice when our platform did not yet allow customers to enter their own class or NMFC numbers. Today, those features are a standard part of our product, and moving forward, rebills resulting from commodity reclassification or missing/incorrect class information will be passed through to your account.
Understanding Auto-Calculated Class
When you enter dimensions and weight, our platform suggests an estimated class. While this serves as a helpful starting point, it is not a replacement for your actual NMFC number and verified class. Only you have the specific knowledge of what is on your pallet. Most rebills we observe stem from three common issues:
- Accepting the auto-calculated class without verifying it.
- Leaving the NMFC field blank.
- Shipping commodities that differ from the provided description.
Why the Shift?
The freight classification system has undergone its most significant overhaul in decades. With the NMFTA’s move to a 13-tier, density-based classification scale and the removal of legacy items under Docket 2026-1, carriers are more strictly enforcing classification accuracy. They are increasingly utilizing automated dimensioning equipment at their terminals, meaning classifications that were previously accepted may now trigger a rebill.
Best Practices to Avoid Rebills
Although the Class and NMFC fields remain labeled as "optional" in our platform to ensure flexibility, we strongly recommend treating them as required fields for every LTL shipment to minimize risk. To keep your shipping process smooth, we suggest:
- Add the correct NMFC number to every LTL shipment.
- Verify the freight class manually rather than defaulting to the suggested estimate.
- Ensure descriptions are accurate to the actual commodities being shipped.
- Audit your frequently shipped items against the updated NMFC guidelines.
Helpful Resources
To assist with these transitions, we recommend utilizing official resources to ensure your classifications are accurate:
Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to maintain a transparent and efficient shipping environment.