The short answer

An inspection is the carrier verifying your shipment against the bill of lading: weighing it, measuring it and looking at what it actually is. Most reclasses start here.

Do these first

Good pre-pickup records make an inspection easier to review later.

  • Measure finished freight — include pallet, packaging and projections.
  • Use actual weight — keep scale or warehouse records when available.
  • Describe the commodity accurately — vague descriptions make classification review harder.

What happens on the dock

The carrier can verify:

  • Actual shipment weight
  • Outside dimensions
  • Packaging and handling-unit count
  • Commodity description
  • Classification information
A stretch-wrapped pallet standing on a dock scale plate beneath an overhead dimensioning frame fitted with scanners, with a worker at the terminal beside it and an open trailer behind.
A pallet under an overhead dimensioning frame. The measurement is taken by equipment, which is why an estimate on the bill of lading rarely survives one.

What a dimensioner does

A freight dimensioner or scanning system captures the shipment's outside measurements.

NMFTA's density guidance says density calculations use the greatest straight-line dimensions of the handling unit as tendered, including projections.

That is why a nominal 48 × 40 pallet can measure larger when cartons, wrap or product extend beyond the pallet.

What can happen after inspection

If the carrier's verified information differs from what was tendered, the billing record may be corrected.

That can lead to:

  • Reweigh
  • Dimension correction
  • Reclass
  • Rebill

See freight reclass for the classification side.

Sources

  • https://help.nmfta.org/hc/en-us/articles/38932065434011-How-is-the-density-of-a-handling-unit-calculated
  • https://www.estes-express.com/resources/frequently-asked-questions

Want to prevent an inspection surprise?

Send the final weight, finished dimensions and commodity before the shipment is tendered.

Request a Freight Quote