FREIGHT GOVERNANCE 

Control Cost And Service Before It Hits The Invoice.

Unpredictable freight costs are not accidental.
They’re the predictable outcome of weak controls: scope drifts, add-on charges appear late, routing changes happen without approval, and accountability gets split across too many parties. Costs rise quietly because decisions aren’t governed.

Freight governance exists to stop that — systematically. What governance changes:

  • Decision rights per lane (scope, service level, Incoterms, inclusions/exclusions)
  • Pre-release control so shipments move only when rules are met
  • Exception interception (deviations flagged early, costed, justified, and approved)
  • Invoice integrity (charges verified against what was approved)
  • Drift prevention (root cause + corrective action so repeat issues don’t recur)

Outcome: cost certainty, explainable invoices, and controlled execution.
PROOF
Proof is how we define what your freight should cost — by lane — and what rules govern movement. We don’t quote rates.

We build an evidence-based baseline and a rule set your team can defend.

Why Proof matters

  • Predictable landed costs you can budget and price against
  • Exceptions intercepted upstream — not debated on the invoice
  • Audit-ready outcomes with clear accountability

What we need

To build Proof fast and accurately, we request:

  • Recent freight invoices (including accessorials where available)
  • Shipment list (supplier, origin, destination, mode, weight/volume, Incoterm, dates)
  • Service requirements (cut-offs, compliance needs, must-use providers, priority lanes)
  • Any known constraints (routing restrictions, nominated carriers, DC delivery rules)

If your data isn’t perfect, we normalise it. Proof is built on evidence — not “best guesses.”

What you get (your Proof Pack)

You receive a lane-ready baseline and governance pack that includes:

  • Lane Register — supplier + origin + destination + mode + Incoterms
  • Charge Map — what charges appear where (origin / linehaul / destination)
  • Baseline Benchmarks — evidence-backed “should-cost” per lane (like-for-like)
  • Lane Rules — what’s allowed, what triggers an exception, and what’s out-of-scope
  • Approval Path — who approves, what evidence is required, and time limits
  • Variance Framework — how cost and service variances are measured, recorded, and closed out

Output: a baseline your Finance team can defend, and an execution rule set your operations team can run.

Why Proof matters

  • Predictable landed costs you can budget against
  • Exceptions intercepted upstream — not debated on the invoice
  • Audit-ready outcomes with clear accountability and evidence

Start with proof. Then decide.

Email info@freightfixed.com.au

CONTROL

Control isn’t tighter rates. It’s knowing what’s happening, why it’s happening, and who owns the outcome.

COST CONTROL

Baseline Control sets a clear, audited “starting point” for every lane. We validate lane, mode (FCL/LCL/Air), Incoterm, weight/volume, service level, currency and date range. Surcharges and accessorials are only included when defined and evidenced. All comparisons are like-for-like—no scope drift, no cherry-picking. Only verified, compliant variances are counted as savings.

BASELINE ENFORCEMENT

Costs stay anchored to proof Control means nothing moves without reference. Every shipment is executed against the verified benchmark established during Proof. Rates, surcharges, and accessorials are tied to that baseline. There is no silent drift. There are no unverified “market adjustments.” Only governed execution — with any change evidenced and approved.

EXCEPTION INTERCEPTION

Exception Interception stops problems in motion — not after the invoice. We detect early risk signals (rolled cargo, missed cut-offs, routing changes, doc holds, cost drift) and intervene before they cascade. If it’s inside the lane rules, it proceeds. If it’s outside, it becomes an exception with ownership and an approval path. Because silence isn’t success — it usually means you find out when you pay. Intervention is control.

MILESTONE AUTHORITY

Movement is managed — not watched Control is not tracking dots on a screen. Key milestones are actively managed from booking to delivery. If a milestone is at risk, action is taken — immediately. You’re not just informed when something goes wrong. Issues are intercepted early — before they become delays, claims, or cost blowouts.

SINGLE ACCOUNTABILITY

One owner. No gaps. Control collapses when responsibility fragments. FreightFixed is the single accountable execution partner across carriers, borders, and hand-offs - end-to-end. No finger-pointing. No operational grey areas. When something moves - or stops - ownership is clear.

DRIFT PREVENTION

No Silent Cost Creep The most dangerous freight cost is the one no one notices.  FreightFixed control means continuous alignment to the baseline - shipment by shipment. Variances are identified early and corrected at the source before they repeat. Costs don’t creep. They’re governed.

SERVICES

FreightFixed delivers governed freight execution across FCL, LCL and Air. We run bookings to defined lane rules, validate charges before they land, and intercept exceptions early — so cost and service outcomes stay controlled, documented, and auditable. This is execution with accountability, not rate shopping.

FREIGHT EXECUTION

FREIGHT EXECUTION

FreightFixed executes every FCL, LCL and Air shipment to defined lane rules and approved boundaries — matched by supplier, terms and mode. Bookings are validated before release, charges are checked for legitimacy, and exceptions are intercepted early with options presented and approvals recorded before anything moves.

Learn More
BOOKING DISCIPLINE

BOOKING DISCIPLINE

No Movement Outside the Baseline. Bookings aren’t ad-hoc decisions. Each shipment is validated before release to confirm it aligns with the approved baseline. If it doesn’t, it’s corrected or formally approved as an exception before anything moves. No rate chasing. No last-minute substitutions. Movement occurs only when governance is met.

Learn More
CARRIER & ROUTING CONTROL

CARRIER & ROUTING CONTROL

Carrier & Routing Control becomes Lane Governance: every shipment is routed using pre-approved lane rules—origin/destination, mode, service level, carrier eligibility, transit targets, cutoff times, and accessorial triggers. Any deviation (carrier swap, route change, upgrade, or extra charge) requires justification and pre-approval, with a recorded audit trail.

Learn More
BORDER & COMPLIANCE CONTROL

BORDER & COMPLIANCE CONTROL

Customs Without Cost Leakage. Customs is where ungoverned freight quietly leaks margin. At FreightFixed, charges are validated. Declarations are aligned. Delays are intercepted early — before they trigger storage, demurrage/detention, penalties, or rework. Compliance is enforced to protect the baseline.

IN-FLIGHT EXCEPTION CONTROL

IN-FLIGHT EXCEPTION CONTROL

FreightFixed manages in-flight exceptions to protect delivery outcomes and protect members from retail-style add-ons. When an exception occurs (delay, rollover, hold, routing change, or delivery risk), we validate the facts with carrier/terminal/operator evidence and assess both timeline impact and fee exposure (e.g., detention/demurrage risk). If an intervention is needed (escalation, rebook, reroute, expedite, or delivery re-plan), we confirm the best operational option and obtain the right approvals: operational changes with no cost impact are approved by the FreightFixed Operations Lead; any change that creates a new cost requires shipper approval. Every step is recorded in the exception register with the evidence source, the decision, who approved it, and the updated milestones.

DELIVERY CONFIRMATION & CLOSURE

DELIVERY CONFIRMATION & CLOSURE

FreightFixed closes a shipment only when delivery is proven and charges are verified at wholesale base rates. Shippers receive the wholesaler’s base rate for the primary freight service, and if genuine third-party charges arise (detention/demurrage, storage, waiting time, re-delivery, accessorials), those are also applied at the wholesale base rate where available—never retail. Any additional fee is shared openly with the shipper, supported by evidence (POD, terminal notices, carrier invoices, time stamps, photos where relevant), and approved before acceptance. The file is then closed with a concise completion record: proof of delivery, variance status, verified charges (with evidence), and the final outcome retained as the audit trail.

ROADMAP

PROOF REVIEW (Data intake)

You provide recent freight invoices, a shipment list, and your service expectations by lane (speed, reliability, Incoterms, compliance needs). FreightFixed maps your lanes, charges, and recurring fee patterns to pinpoint where margin leaks and why it happens. You receive an initial “gap” view plus a shortlist of priority lanes where savings can be verified, not promised.

BASELINE SET (Defensible standard)

We agree the lane scope and the rules: what’s included, what triggers an extra charge, and what evidence is required to justify it. This becomes the reference standard for every shipment and every invoice line item. The output is a baseline pack that enables consistent decisions and board-defensible comparisons.

CONTROLS ACTIVATED (Pre-invoice governance)

We switch on exception interception so anything outside baseline is flagged before it becomes a cost. Approval paths are assigned so decisions have an owner and a time limit (no silent drift). The output is a working governance workflow: evidence in, approval recorded, escalation if unresolved.

GOVERNED EXECUTION (Shipments run to the rules)

Shipments are executed to the baseline: bookings aligned to approved scope, routing managed, and milestones tracked. Early warnings trigger action when risk appears (rollovers, holds, cut-offs, documentation gaps). The output is fewer surprise charges because changes are controlled in real time—with escalation ownership.

INVOICE VERIFICATION (Audit trail)

Invoices are validated against the baseline and any pre-approved exceptions, using shipment documents as evidence. Variances without proof are disputed or corrected, with a clear record of what was approved and why. The output is verified savings documentation that stands up internally—finance, procurement, and leadership.

MONTHLY GOVERNANCE (Sustainment)

We review baseline compliance, recurring variance causes, and what needs tightening (process, documentation, supplier behaviour, service level). Reporting is built for decision-making: what improved, what drifted, what actions close the loop. The output is predictable, controlled freight spend that improves over time rather than “resetting” each shipment.

Pricing Built on Proof — Not Promises.
Pricing That Only Works When You Win

FreightFixed does not profit from freight spend.
We profit only from verified savings. Before any fee exists:

  • Your freight is benchmarked
  • Savings are proven
  • The baseline is agreed

If no saving exists, FreightFixed earns nothing.

How Fees Work

When savings are confirmed:

  • FreightFixed earns  25% of verified savings
  • You retain 75%

No markups.
No commissions.
No incentive to inflate costs.

Traditional freight models profit when costs rise.
FreightFixed only profits when they fall. Here is an example.

This is a like-for-like invoice benchmark (not a freight quote).

  • Retail: AUD $22,400 (FCL) EXW
  • Wholesale : AUD $14,000 EXW
  • Savings: $22,400 − $14,000 = $8,400
  • Success fee 25% You keep 75% 

If verified savings = $0: success fee = $0
Baseline rules cover lane, incoterm, mode/service level, weight/volume, dates, and included accessorials.

Why This Matters

FreightFixed fees are fixed.

They do not increase when the market tightens. They do not move with fuel surcharges, peak season fear, or headline noise. The only variable that can affect your freight cost is wholesale buy-rates.

These are industry-wide carrier costs, not retail markups. When wholesale rates rise or fall, they rise or fall for everyone — openly, transparently, and without manipulation.

What doesn’t change is how those costs are treated. FreightFixed does not add margin. We do not price to fear. And we do not profit from volatility. That is the difference between retail freight pricing and freight governance.

That alignment is not marketing.
It’s governance.

Start with proof. Then decide.
Profit
Profit You Can Prove:

Most freight “savings” never reach your P&L. FreightFixed makes sure they do.

In traditional freight models, costs move — but accountability doesn’t. Bookings change, routes shift, accessorials appear, and invoices land weeks later.

By then, your sale is done, your customer price is set, and margin erosion is already locked in.That isn’t volatility. It’s leakage.

FreightFixed protects profit by governing freight the same way you govern any other controllable cost: with a verified baseline, pre-invoice controls, and disciplined execution.

Variances are intercepted upstream, exceptions are approved with evidence, and root causes are closed out so the same leakage doesn’t repeat.

Profit Example (verified)
Like-for-like benchmark (not a freight quote)
Invoice total $22,400 → Baseline $14,000 = $8,400 verified savings
You keep $6,300 (75%) | FreightFixed $2,100 (25%)
If savings = $0 → fee = $0

The profit protection outcome

Because exceptions are governed pre-invoice, leakage doesn’t reach margin via:

  • destination “misc” add-ons
  • routing upgrades
  • late accessorial surprises
  • post-invoice disputes and write-offs

This is not rate shopping. It’s profit control — with evidence.

MEMBERSHIP

One fee model. Aligned incentives. No commissions. No retail margins. Benchmark My Freight. 

HOW YOU PAY

HOW YOU PAY

You pay a simple membership subscription that covers access to wholesale buy-rates, execution support, and an ongoing governance cadence (baseline upkeep, exception control, and monthly reporting). For full fee structure and verification rules, see the Pricing page.

MEMBERSHIP INCLUSIONS

MEMBERSHIP INCLUSIONS

Membership covers end-to-end execution across FCL, LCL and Air—booking, document control and delivery closure. We manage carriers and service providers, track milestones in real time, and intercept exceptions early to prevent delays and surprise charges. When escalation is needed, we drive it through to resolution and maintain a clear audit trail through invoice verification.

GOVERNANCE CADENCE

GOVERNANCE CADENCE

Governance runs monthly. We report baseline vs variance by lane, identify root causes, and close corrective actions—while clearly separating wholesale market rate movements (passed through, no margin) from true variances. You receive a short summary and a board-defensible audit pack (baselines, approvals, evidence, wholesale rate changes, and approved out-of-scope charges) for forecasting and invoice control.

TESTIMONIALS

Industrial Automation (VIC)

Mark Ellison, Operations Manager.

“Before FreightFixed, freight was the line item we couldn’t ever explain properly. The invoices would come in, we’d argue about it, and then we’d move on — until it happened again. What changed was the baseline and the discipline around it. We finally had a clear ‘this is what this lane should cost’ and a way to stop exceptions before they turned into charges. The result was a 41% reduction in our annual freight costs — about $565,000+ annualised — but the bigger win was confidence. We can defend the numbers now.”

     
Pump & Flow Equipment (NSW)

Samantha Reid, Supply Chain Lead

“We used to get hit with destination ‘misc’ charges that no one could explain. It felt like we were paying penalties for things we didn’t even know had happened. FreightFixed stopped that by tightening the lane rules and checking exceptions early — not after the invoice landed. If something changed, it was visible, it was owned, and it was approved. Since joining in February 2024, we’ve saved in excess of 26% on freight costs, and the noise in billing has dropped a lot.”

     
Logistics & Compliance Manager, Pharmaceuticals (QLD)

Dr. Priya Nair

“What impressed me wasn’t a ‘cheaper rate’ story — it was the control. We had too much variance lane-to-lane, and routing decisions were drifting without anyone really owning the impact. With FreightFixed, we locked the baseline and stopped ad-hoc changes. If something needed to change, it was flagged early with the cost impact and a clear approval path. That discipline tightened our variance and made the whole process easier to manage internally.”

     
Operations Manager, Manufacturing (S.A)

Stefan Weber

“The Proof Pack stopped the guessing". We finally knew what freight should cost on each lane, and the invoice surprises started disappearing. The difference is that FreightFixed doesn’t just report problems — they stop them early. If a shipment is going off-baseline, it’s picked up and dealt with before it becomes a bill. Over time, that governance has made our freight spend more predictable and much easier to defend.” In the first quarter, we reduced verified freight spend by 36.2% (AUD $61k), eliminated invoice disputes, and improved on-time delivery by 18%. Reporting includes a complete, board-defensible audit trail (baseline methodology, evidence, approvals, and outcomes). Commercially, the model is aligned and simple: we retain 75% of verified savings; FreightFixed is paid 25% of verified savings.

     
 
 
Our Story
FreightFixed was built for one reason: freight is too important to be managed on trust, emails, and invoice surprises.

The company is built for importers and exporters who want freight governed like any other controllable cost.

When freight isn’t governed, margin gets decided after the sale — on the invoice. We saw the same pattern repeat across importers: shipments moved without clear rules, “misc” charges appeared late, and accountability disappeared across handoffs.

Costs weren’t just volatile — they were ungoverned. So we built a different operating system:

  • Lane rules (what’s allowed)
  • Pre-release validation (before cargo moves)
  • Exception approvals (with evidence)
  • Audit trail (board-defensible)

Freight becomes explainable, controllable, and repeatable. Outcomes are measured against a verified baseline; fees apply only when results are evidenced.

Want the methodology and deliverables? See Proof. Want the fee structure? See Pricing.


F.A.Q

What exactly do you do day-to-day?

We govern execution to approved lane rules: validate bookings before release, intercept exceptions early, and close out variances with evidence so the same issues don’t repeat.

What if there are no savings?

Savings aren’t assumed — they’re proven. Even where pricing is already sharp, you still gain governed execution: fewer surprises, fewer exceptions, and cleaner invoice integrity.

How do we know charges are legitimate?

Every charge must be supported by source documentation (carrier, consolidator, terminal, customs, etc.). Non-explanatory lines are challenged, corrected, or treated as exceptions until evidenced.

Do you mark up freight or earn commissions from carriers?

No. We don’t add margin to wholesale charges and we don’t take carrier commissions. Charges are passed through with evidence and governed rules.

What stops “cost creep” in LCL and destination charges?

Pre-invoice controls. We validate charge types and boundaries upstream (minimums, handling, destination add-ons) and intercept exceptions before they become storage, penalties, or rework.

Who is accountable when something goes wrong?

There is a single owner for escalation and closure. Every variance has a reason, an action, and a close-out record — cost and service.

What access does FreightFixed need to run this properly?

Invoices, shipment history, and booking/commercial inputs (supplier, Incoterms, service requirements). We can work from exports — no system change required to start.

How fast can we start, and what’s the disruption?

Low disruption. We can start from your existing invoices and shipment list, then move lane-by-lane as rules and responsibilities are confirmed.

What happens when the market moves and rates change?

We separate market-driven movement from controllable leakage. When wholesale buy-rates change, it’s recorded and evidenced — and execution controls still apply.

How do you handle urgent expediting or service upgrades?

As controlled exceptions: options and impact are shown, approval is recorded before release — so urgency doesn’t become silent cost.

What proof do we get for Finance and audit?

An audit trail: baseline definitions, lane rules, approvals, supporting documents, and variance close-outs — board-defensible and repeatable.

Are you a freight forwarder?

We operate as a governance and execution layer over approved service providers — focused on baseline enforcement, exception control, and invoice integrity.
TRIAL US.
Trial scope
  • 1–3 live shipments (FCL, LCL or Air) run under agreed lane rules
  • Defined suppliers, origins/destinations, Incoterms, and service boundaries
  • Clear roles: who books, who approves exceptions, who receives updates
  • Trial runs on real operating constraints (cut-offs, compliance, must-use requirements)
What you receive
  • A lane-ready execution brief for each trial shipment (rules, inclusions, responsibilities)
  • Milestone visibility with proactive updates (not just tracking links)
  • A documented exception log (what changed, why, impact, and approvals)
  • Post-shipment close-out summary: outcomes, issues found, corrective actions, and next-step recommendations
Governance controls applied during the trial

  • Pre-release booking validation against agreed lane rules
  • Charge boundary checks (origin / linehaul / destination) to prevent add-ons landing late
  • Exception interception with options + impact shown before movement
  • Approval capture for any deviation (who approved, when, and what evidence)
  • Single point of ownership end-to-end across handoffs
You’re not trialling “rates.” You’re trialling governed execution — shipment by shipment.

CONTACT

  • Exchange Tower, 530 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

You don’t need a pitch. You need proof. 1. Start a Proof Review 2. Share 3–5 recent freight invoices 3. Provide your lane list (origins/destinations + modes)