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What a rate confirmation should name
November 8, 2026 · Portlandia Logistics dispatch
The rate confirmation is the document that authorizes the carrier to move the freight. A confirmation that only states a number is a quote, not a tender — and the difference shows up at pickup.
The mandatory fields
It should name the shipper and consignee, the pickup window, the equipment, the weight and pallet count, the freight class and every accessorial that was priced. If a liftgate or an appointment window is missing, the carrier will either decline the load or bill it later.
The counterparties
It should also name the carrier and the entity arranging the freight. That is how a shipper verifies who is actually responsible for the load — and why we print the legal entity and USDOT number on every confirmation.
What must never appear
Bank details do not belong on a rate confirmation. Remit instructions belong on the invoice, released to a verified contact after a callback. A confirmation that prints routing and account numbers is a document you cannot safely forward to a customer or a carrier.