Glossary
Monthly minimum
Definition
A floor on what you pay each month. If your eligible fees fall short, the 3PL bills the difference as a shortfall charge.
Where the guide uses it
- 3PL accessorial fees: a complete list of 40+ warehouse charges
- 3PL account management and technology (platform) fees explained
- 25 common 3PL billing errors and how to spot each one
- 3PL hidden fees: charges to never accept without a definition
- How to audit a 3PL invoice: a step-by-step checklist
- 3PL invoice audit trail: what to record so finance can rely on it
- 3PL invoice backup: the supporting detail files to always request
- How to check 3PL invoice rates against your rate card
- 3PL billing at list price instead of negotiated rates or tiers
- 3PL monthly minimums: how they're calculated, what counts toward them, and how to negotiate
- 3PL pick and pack fees: first pick vs. additional pick vs. per unit
- 3PL price escalators and CPI clauses: how annual increases work
- 3PL receiving fees: per pallet vs. carton vs. unit vs. hour
- 3PL returns processing fees: per return vs. per unit vs. hourly
- 3PL tiered pricing and volume discounts: how tiers work
- How to check 3PL accessorial charges against the work actually done
- How to check manual and one-off charges on a 3PL invoice
- How to compare 3PL rate cards and quotes apples to apples
- How to escalate an unresolved 3PL billing dispute
- How 3PL pricing works: an overview of the rate card
- How 3PLs measure storage: snapshot, daily average, peak or prorated
- How often to audit 3PL invoices: every invoice, sampling or quarterly?
- How to dispute a 3PL invoice: process, evidence and etiquette
- How to read a 3PL invoice: summary, line items and detail files
- Which 3PL fees and contract terms are negotiable (and which aren't)
- Outdated 3PL rates after a contract change: how to spot and fix them
- Phantom 3PL storage: billed pallets and bins that don't exist
- Should you short-pay a disputed 3PL invoice or pay in full?
- 3PL storage fees: per pallet vs. per bin vs. per cubic foot (and per square foot or location)
- How to track 3PL disputes and credits to closure (with a tracker)
- True cost per order: how to calculate it from your 3PL invoices
- How to verify a 3PL monthly minimum charge on your invoice
- How to verify 3PL volume tiers and discounts on your invoice
- Why 3PL billing errors happen, and why they keep coming back