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TPM26 Panel Recap: How Leading Importers Are Recovering Profits Hidden in Freight Invoices

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At TPM26, most discussions centered on Freight rates for the coming year and capacity outlooks, and Contract negotiations between carriers and importers.

One session examined a different question: Once those contracts are signed and containers begin moving, how much of the negotiated value actually reaches the final invoice?

That question guided the session “The Contract-to-Cash Playbook: How Leading Importers Unlock Profits Trapped in Their Supply Chain.”

The Home Depot, Michelin, and Kohler described a pattern many logistics leaders recognize. Freight contracts may be negotiated carefully, yet the financial results of those agreements often change during execution.

The source of that change rarely lies in the contract itself. It appears later, across the operational charges that accumulate as shipments move through ports, terminals, and inland transportation networks.

TL;TR?

Watch The Home Depot, Michelin and Kohler talk about their experience.

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The Financial Side of Container Logistics

Every container generates operational events: Terminal availability dates, Free times, gate moves, chassis usage, drayage operations, yard handling, and storage.

Each event produces a charge, and by the time invoices reach an importer’s accounts payable team, the charges appear as line items tied to different service providers and operational milestones.

Most companies review these invoices carefully. However, those specific fees are validated against contracts and negotiated rates and not looked at as “unplanned charges”, as the real events behind them are most of the time unclear.

Panelists described instances in which container timelines differ across sources. A carrier may record one set of timestamps while a terminal system may show another. When those records conflict, disputes often become a “he said, she said” exchange between carriers, terminals, and shippers.

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When Manual Auditing Reaches Its Limits

The Home Depot, Michelin, and Kohler shared how their organizations previously handled freight invoice validation: using spreadsheets, manually consolidating shipment data, and conducting line-by-line invoice reviews.

Dan Gross at The Home Depot described how parts of the company had historically managed thousands of container invoices in Excel. Tim Lyle at Michelin spoke about teams already stretched thin by operational demands.

Investigating every billing discrepancy requires time that many logistics teams simply do not have, and over time, those small amounts accumulate across hundreds or thousands of shipments.

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A Different Approach

Instead of auditing invoices after payment, Michelin, Fastenal, and The Home Dept use BlueCargo to validate freight invoices before payment.

BlueCargo relies on structured operational data tied directly to each container movement, such as terminal availability, last free day calculations, gate transactions, drayage events, and shipment milestones. These are assembled into a timeline for each container, and invoice charges are reviewed against that timeline.

This approach transforms freight auditing from a manual accounting exercise into a structured, data-supported operational review.

When freight invoices are validated at the item level, patterns begin to appear across thousands of shipments.

Panelists described using BlueCargo data to guide operational improvements and procurement decisions.

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Vendor performance can also be assessed using data directly tied to shipment outcomes and cost impacts. This level of visibility strengthens internal conversations between logistics, procurement, and finance teams.

This is also crucial timing-wise. Under the OSRA (Ocean Shipping Reform Act), shippers face strict windows to review and dispute container-related charges, so having the ability to review invoices while shipment data is still accessible has become an operational requirement.

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A Conversation Worth Continuing

Following the TPM26 session, several attendees approached the panel to compare experiences inside their own organizations.

For companies seeking a clearer understanding of their exposure, BlueCargo works with shippers to conduct a Freight Audit Exposure Assessment. The exercise reviews containerized freight spend, categorizes charges, and estimates where billing discrepancies or operational inefficiencies may be affecting costs.

How closely does the final invoice reflect the value negotiated in the freight contract?

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Schedule a time with BlueCargo to find out

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