Freight Billing & Claims Specialist

Role Summary

As a Freight Billing and Claims Specialist, you ensure carrier invoices are accurate and resolve billing discrepancies or freight damage claims. You work closely with accounting, logistics, and carriers to manage transportation costs and recover losses. Your role safeguards financial accuracy across the supply chain.

Required Education, Certifications, and Experience

Education:

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, or Logistics preferred.

Certifications:

  • Certified Transportation Broker (CTB)
  • Certified Claims Professional (CCP)
  • Freight Payment and Audit Certification
  • Certified Logistics Associate (CLA)
  • Six Sigma Yellow Belt
  • UCC & Freight Claims Training

Experience:

2 plus years in logistics billing or accounting.
Familiarity with carrier rate structures and claims workflows.

Core Skills

  • Invoice auditing
  • Freight claims processing
  • Carrier communication
  • ERP system proficiency
  • Attention to detail

A Hypothetical Day in the Life of a Freight Billing & Claims Specialist

7:00 AM- You begin by pulling a batch of overnight freight invoices. You immediately spot several that exceed contracted rates. After cross-checking with the rate schedule, you flag and dispute the overages. Preventing overbilling protects margins and keeps carriers accountable.

8:00 AM- You sync with the logistics team about shipments marked as short-delivered. You gather necessary documentation—BOLs, PODs, and photos—to initiate damage claims. You track deadlines tightly because late filings can mean zero recovery, and there’s no room for error.

930 AM- You audit yesterday’s processed invoices, ensuring accessorials are legitimate and properly documented. One carrier has been adding liftgate fees inconsistently. You investigate, compile records, and draft a report to escalate the issue with their account rep.

11:00 AM- You meet with the finance team to reconcile freight accruals. Your accurate invoice processing ensures their forecasting model stays aligned with real-world spend. This collaboration helps the company avoid budget surprises and cash flow headaches.

12:30 PM- During a quick lunch, you respond to a few emails from carriers requesting documentation for delayed payment. You keep meticulous records, so pulling supporting PDFs and rate sheets takes just a few clicks. Organization saves hours every week.

2:00 PM- You check the status of open freight claims and update claim files with recent communications from carriers. A high-dollar LTL claim for damaged electronics needs escalation—so you prepare a formal summary for legal review before proceeding.

3:30 PM- You run a report comparing billed vs. expected freight charges over the last 30 days. Your analysis reveals a trend in fuel surcharge discrepancies from a specific 3PL partner. You prepare the data for a follow-up meeting later in the week.

5:00 PM- You review a backlog of invoices flagged for manual approval. Several contain complex accessorials for weekend delivery and detention. You cross-check with warehouse logs and driver timestamps, approving the valid ones and rejecting the rest with clear documentation.

6:30 PM- Before logging off, you update your claims dashboard, close out resolved cases, and queue up invoices for tomorrow’s review. Your diligence ensures freight costs stay clean and controllable—small overcharges add up fast, and you catch them before they slip through.