What documents must go with a freight invoice?

At minimum the signed proof of delivery (BOL/POD) and the rate confirmation. Add lumper receipts and detention records where you bill them. Brokers audit against the rate con — an invoice that doesn’t match it to the dollar, with clean paperwork attached, simply waits longer.

How does detention billing work?

Industry convention gives the shipper/receiver two free hours at the dock; after that, detention bills per hour ($50–$100). Log arrival and departure times (ELD data or dock stamps) and attach them — detention is the most-disputed accessorial, and it’s won or lost on the timestamps.

Free Freight Invoice Template

Invoice freight and hauling: list the lane, load/BOL, agreed rate and accessorials, then download a clean PDF. Built for carriers.

Your business

Logo

Upload logo

Business name

Address

Phone

Tax ID

Website

Bill to

Client name

Address

Tax ID

Invoice details

Invoice #

Issue date

Due date

Currency

PO number

Items

DescriptionQtyRateAmount

Tax & totals

Tax label

Tax rate %

Tax inclusive

Discount

Discount value

Shipping

Amount paid

Notes & payment

Notes

Terms

Payment details

Style

Document type

Template

Accent

🔒 100% private — everything stays in your browser, nothing is uploaded.

Pre-configured

This page is set up for freight invoice — adjust anything you need.

No signup

Fill it in and download a clean PDF instantly. No account, no watermark.

100% private

Runs entirely in your browser — your data and logo never leave your device.

What to include on a freight invoice

Carrier and broker/shipper details
Load or BOL number and the lane (origin→destination)
Agreed rate (per mile or flat)
Fuel surcharge and accessorials (detention, layover)
Total and payment/factoring terms

Anatomy of a freight invoice

A freight bill is a stack of standardized parts: the line haul (the base rate for the move, per mile or flat), a fuel surcharge (usually a percentage indexed to diesel prices), and accessorials — detention, layover, liftgate, lumper fees, extra stops, tolls. Every invoice must reference its load: BOL number, load/PRO number, origin–destination, and pickup/delivery dates, or the broker’s AP department will bounce it. Payment reality in trucking: brokers pay in 30–45 days, so carriers either offer quick-pay discounts (1–3% for 1–7 day payment) or factor their invoices — either way, the terms belong on the bill.

Typical freight charges (US truckload)

Lane, season and equipment type set the market:

Dry van line haul: roughly $2–$3 per mile in recent markets
Reefer and flatbed: $0.30–$0.80 per mile premium over van
Fuel surcharge: commonly 15–30% of line haul, index-based
Detention: $50–$100 per hour after 2 free hours at dock
Layover: $150–$350 per night; TONU (truck ordered, not used): $150–$250
Lumper fees: passed through at receipt cost

Getting freight bills paid without rejections

Attach the signed BOL/POD — no proof of delivery, no payment, no exceptions
Reference the rate confirmation number and match its amount exactly; discrepancies go to the back of the queue
Bill accessorials as separate lines with backup (detention times, lumper receipts)
State terms and any quick-pay option (“Net 30; 2% quick-pay within 5 days”)
If you factor, put the factor’s remit-to address on the invoice — payments to the wrong party create weeks of mess

FAQ

What should a freight invoice include?
What documents must go with a freight invoice?: At minimum the signed proof of delivery (BOL/POD) and the rate confirmation. Add lumper receipts and detention records where you bill them. Brokers audit against the rate con — an invoice that doesn’t match it to the dollar, with clean paperwork attached, simply waits longer.
How does detention billing work?: Industry convention gives the shipper/receiver two free hours at the dock; after that, detention bills per hour ($50–$100). Log arrival and departure times (ELD data or dock stamps) and attach them — detention is the most-disputed accessorial, and it’s won or lost on the timestamps.

More invoice templates

New to invoicing? Read how to make an invoice.