Freight Rejected at the Dock? Here's Why It Happens—and How to Prevent It

When freight gets rejected at the dock, it doesn’t just disrupt your schedule—it costs time, money, and customer confidence. While most shippers don’t talk about rejections openly, they happen more often than you might think. In fact, roughly 5–6% of truckload shipments are turned away, and although LTL data is less consistent, the risks are just as real.This article breaks down the most common reasons freight is rejected and what your team can do to prevent it

Why Is Freight Rejected?

Dock rejections usually come down to one of three categories:

1. Packaging & Palletization Issues

If freight is poorly packaged or unstable on the pallet, it may be refused for safety or damage concerns. Overhanging products, broken pallets, or unsecured items are all red flags. This is especially common in LTL shipments where freight shares space and gets handled multiple times.

2. Documentation Mismatches

If the BOL (bill of lading) doesn’t match what actually shows up—wrong class, weight, pallet count, or description—the receiver may reject the load. This can cause delays, extra fees, and disputes that are hard to resolve quickly.

3. Appointment or Timing Failures

Missing your delivery window, arriving at a dock without an appointment, or showing up after hours are common reasons for rejections. Even if the freight is perfect, timing can be everything.

What It Costs

A rejected load isn’t just a headache—it’s expensive. You may have to rebook a truck (often at a higher spot rate), pay storage or redelivery fees, and deal with service failures. Some truckload rejections can cost 15% more to rebook, and in LTL, costs creep in through reclassification, detention, or reconsignment fees.Beyond money, it delays deliveries, hurts relationships, and eats up your team’s time.

How to Prevent Freight Rejections

The good news? Most rejections are preventable with the right processes in place. Here are a few ways to protect your freight and your bottom line:

Audit your packaging: Make sure pallets are in good shape, shrink wrap is tight, and nothing hangs over the edge.

Double-check your BOL: Confirm weights, class codes, counts, and product descriptions match exactly.

Confirm delivery appointments: Book time slots and make sure your drivers know where and when to go.

Review rejection patterns: If you’ve had loads turned away, go back and look for repeat causes.

How Envoy Can Help

We work with shippers every day to reduce risk at the dock. From BOL guidance to coordinating proper appointment scheduling and understanding what carriers are looking for—our team helps you ship smarter.

Had a load rejected recently? Or want a second set of eyes on your process?

Reach out. Let’s fix it before it happens again.

Contact Us for Support or talk to your Envoy Account Manager.