The Freight Trap: How Shipping Errors Become Chargebacks

Freight may be the least glamorous part of retail—but it’s one of the most expensive when things go wrong.

Late trucks. Wrong pallet configs. Missing paperwork. Each slip turns into a deduction. And the math adds up fast. A $300 error on a truckload? Multiply that by 200 loads a year, and you’ve lost $60K before you know it.

The kicker? Many of these errors are preventable. In one fictional case, a snack brand reduced deductions by 40% simply by photographing every pallet before it left the dock.

Proof in hand, they could fight claims or avoid them entirely.

The freight trap isn’t just about money. It’s about reputation. Repeated issues erode buyer confidence and trigger tougher scorecard penalties.

The cure is discipline: documented processes, carrier audits, and a culture that treats logistics as brand protection—not just shipping.

Don’t let small freight errors turn into big chargebacks. Partner with Woodridge to tighten your logistics and safeguard your bottom line.