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Freight cost optimization · Lever 3 of 10

Carrier and contract negotiation

Rates drift. Fuel tables, minimum charges and accessorial terms quietly add up. We use lane-by-lane market data to negotiate better rates and terms with your carriers, on your behalf and on your side of the table.

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Independent freight savings advisorNot a broker or carrierNo upfront feePaid only from savings verified on your invoices
Lever 3 of 10

Signs this lever could lower your freight spend

  • Your rates haven't been bid or renegotiated in over a year
  • Carriers send increases you accept without pushback
  • Fuel surcharge tables were never reviewed after the contract was signed
  • Minimum charges and accessorial rates differ widely between carriers
  • Lanes are awarded on the lowest headline rate, not total cost
  • Some freight runs through middlemen when direct contracts could cost less

What carrier & contract negotiation means

Carrier and contract negotiation covers the price you pay per lane and everything in the contract around it: fuel surcharge tables, minimum charges, freight class and discount terms, accessorial rates and how long rates are locked.

It starts with freight rate benchmarking, so every conversation with a carrier is backed by what the market is actually paying.

Industry data

Why contract terms matter in this market

Third-party figures from the sources linked under each number. They are not Maximizer Team results and do not predict your savings.

What we review

Lever 3 of 10. From your 12 months of invoices and rate files, we look at:

  • Bids and rate shoppingStructured carrier bids with clear rounds and timing, including best-and-final offers
  • Lane awards by net costAwarding lanes on total landed cost, including fuel and accessorials, not just the base rate
  • Fuel surchargeFuel tables and market-based fuel programs checked against what you pay
  • LTL termsMinimum charges, weight breaks and freight-all-kinds (FAK) class terms
  • Accessorial capsLimits on detention, lumper and other accessorial charges written into the contract
  • Rate locks and increasesLocking rates for a set period and pushing back on increases the market doesn't support
  • Carrier mixRegional carriers, heavy-freight specialists and backhaul opportunities that fit your lanes
  • Direct contractsWhere contracting directly with carriers costs less than paying a middleman's markup

Public research

What the EPA found

EPA's SmartWay® goal-setting guide suggests shippers use EPA carrier performance rankings to shift freight toward higher-performing carriers, and "add language to your RFPs" on program participation (EPA-420-B-21-046, 2021, pp.6–7). EPA also notes that by lowering carriers' costs at the dock, "shippers might be able to negotiate lower shipping rates" (EPA-420-F-19-012, 2019, p.2).

Its 2023 strategies overview adds that when matching freight to carriers, "companies can compare the prices of different carriers and choose the most cost-effective option" (EPA-420-F-23-003, 2023, p.1).

Source: U.S. EPA SmartWay publications (2019, 2021, 2023). The examples and figures are EPA's, not Maximizer Team results. Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA.

How we measure the savings

We compare the rates and terms on your paid invoices with the finance-approved baseline, lane by lane, every month. Rate savings are measured on the same volume so changes in your shipping mix don't inflate the result.

Why us

Why Maximizer Team

  • IndependentNot a broker or a carrier. We don't sell capacity or take carrier commissions, so our only interest is lowering your cost.
  • ExperiencedBased in Las Vegas and working with shippers nationwide, led by Michael Holvoet: 20+ years in logistics and $1B+ in freight managed across dry van, reefer, LTL, parcel and intermodal.
  • Paid on resultsNo upfront fees. We're paid only from savings verified on your invoices, measured against a baseline your finance team approves.
  • Built for mid-size and larger shippersMost clients spend $1M or more a year on freight.

Benchmark · Implement · Verify

How it works

  1. BenchmarkAfter a short intro call, you send 12 months of freight invoices and your rate files (we sign an NDA where appropriate). We build a baseline your finance team approves and compare your costs with the market.
  2. ImplementWe rank the opportunities by size and effort, then work with your team, carriers and warehouses to put the changes in place.
  3. VerifyEvery month we check paid invoices against the baseline and report realized savings, so you see what actually changed, not just what was promised.
See how it works in detail →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

More answers on our FAQ page

Will we have to switch carriers?

Not necessarily. Often the best result comes from renegotiating with the carriers you already use.

Who signs the carrier contracts?

You do. Contracts stay between you and your carriers. We prepare the analysis, run the bids and negotiate on your behalf.

How do you know what the market rate is?

We benchmark every lane against current market rates and compare cost per pound, case, pallet and mile across your carriers.

Do you take commissions from carriers?

No. We're independent and paid only by you, from savings verified on your invoices, so we have no reason to favor any carrier.

How much does it cost?

The 14-day freight savings review is free. There's no upfront fee. If you go ahead, we're paid only from savings verified on your invoices. Recovered deductions are tracked and reported as their own category of verified savings.

Are you a freight broker?

No. Maximizer Team is an independent freight savings advisor. We don't haul freight, sell capacity or take carrier commissions, so our advice isn't tied to any carrier.

Is this a one-time negotiation or ongoing?

The main negotiation happens during implementation. After that, we check paid invoices against the new terms, so the agreed rates hold and you can see when a lane is due for review.

Which contract terms matter besides the base rate?

Fuel surcharge tables, accessorial schedules, minimum charges, detention free time, payment terms and how rate increases are handled can matter as much as the base rate. We review each one, because a low line-haul rate can be offset by costly fuel or accessorial terms.

Find out what your lanes should cost

Start with a short intro call. Then send us 12 months of freight invoices. In 14 days you'll get a free written review of your biggest freight savings opportunities across all 10 levers, including this one.

Get my free freight reviewNo upfront fees. Paid only from savings verified on your invoices. NDA available.