Your transport bill has wiped out the delivery profit.
Transport can turn an attractive sale into a weak transaction. Reconcile the actual delivery cost and fix the quoting or routing assumption that caused the difference.
Corporate Recovery Partners
01 / 06
The delivery invoice exceeds the allowance
A machinery-parts supplier prices an urgent order with a modest freight allowance. The final transport bill includes special handling, waiting and a second delivery attempt. The sale has brought revenue but almost no contribution. The owner needs to find which costs were predictable and which are genuinely disputed.
Match the quoted service, consignment details, delivery records and extra charges. Check weights, dimensions, location and access requirements. Ask for evidence supporting unfamiliar waiting or redelivery fees.
Keep disputed entries separate from charges supported by the agreed service. A disappointing margin does not establish that the transport provider billed incorrectly.
Review who described the load and site access, and whether the customer later changed instructions. Identify missing information rather than blaming the driver or accounts team without evidence.
Business.gov.au supplier guidance includes delivery responsibilities. Confirm what the carrier and customer arrangements said about unloading, timing and failed delivery before asserting who must pay.
Include packaging, handling and any internal time needed to resolve the delivery. Avoid counting the same expense twice. Ask the accountant to distinguish the delivery loss from the overall customer account contribution.
If an additional customer charge is proposed, have the contractual basis assessed. An unexpected carrier invoice is not automatic authority to increase the customer’s agreed price.
Require accurate load and access information before quoting unusual deliveries. Compare complete service offers rather than a basic rate that excludes likely extras.
Review whether route planning, consolidated deliveries or a different customer service arrangement is practical. Measure the result on comparable orders so the correction addresses the actual source of cost.
