Auditing and Reporting Services

Service Audits - CMR Group, LLC specializes in obtaining refunds for service failures on guaranteed shipments. From Next Day Air Letters with UPS to Ground shipments with FedEx, we track and audit all shipments to insist that these carriers deliver what they promise and that our clients only pay for the service they receive. Most importantly, we secure the guaranteed service refunds with no interference to our clients’ day-to-day activities.

Invoice Audits – CMR Group, LLC provides full-scale audits of UPS, FedEx, and DHL invoices. Not only do we offer complete auditing of the invoices, but we can also provide cost allocation and general ledger coding at the invoice or shipment level.

In addition to possible rating errors, other areas of recoveries include duplicate charges, charges for shipments never made, invalid residential surcharges, erroneous address correction charges, incorrect Saturday Delivery/Pickup charges, and many more accessorial charges billed in error. We also audit for vendor compliance concerning 3rd party billed and collect shipments.

UPS - Audits are performed on a pre-pay or post-pay basis using the UPS flat file E-Invoice. 

**All refunds for billing errors and service failures will appear as credits on a future UPS invoice.

FedEx –Audits are performed on a pre-pay basis using the FedEx 250-byte proprietary EDI Invoice.

DHL - Audits are performed on a pre-pay basis using the DHL6 flat file billing format.

**The pre-pay audit format with FedEx and DHL allows deductions to be made prior to payment, so the client only pays the net amount due.

Reports – As a by-product of our invoice audits, we create many weekly reports for our clients.  Whether it’s a report identifying dimensional weight and oversize errors or a weight/zone distribution report that identifies Air shipments that could have been shipped via Ground (for less money and the same guarantee), the reports we provide often identify additional cost savings opportunities for our clients.  We can also provide a detailed Shipment Performance Report that compares the actual delivery date and time versus the guaranteed delivery date and time for each shipment and assigns the status for each – ON TIME, LATE, NPOD (No Proof of Delivery), NPOS (No Proof of Shipment), or DAMAGED. 

These reports can be sent to the clients each week as attachments via E-mail, directly to an FTP site, or on a CD sent via FedEx. Many of the reports are also available monthly, quarterly, or annually. 

For registered users, clients may access their archived invoice data via MY CMR.  Through MY CMR, clients have the ability to run ad hoc reports for any carrier or time period. 

Lost/Damaged Claims

CMR Group, LLC offers a complete claims process for lost or damaged shipments.  We identify these shipments through our tracking program, manage the claims from start to finish (with minimal involvement from our client), and secure checks from the carrier(s) for reimbursement of the shipping charges plus the insured value of the merchandise.  For uninsured packages, the carriers reimburse up to $100.00 per claim.

Rate Negotiations

CMR Group, LLC has negotiated and manages well over 1,000 unique carrier service agreements.  Our experience and knowledge of the carriers' cost models and our ability to perform the same shipping characteristic studies as the carriers allow us to provide our clients with the most optimal pricing available.

Before beginning the negotiating process with the carrier(s), we gather all necessary shipping information and run the data through our cost programs. By performing our initial study, we can address any carrier questions or concerns promptly so that we are able to secure the most cost-effective solution. Once a new contractual agreement with the carrier is signed, we monitor the future bills to ensure compliance with the negotiated rates.

Depending on the needs and desires of the client, CMR Group can work “behind the scenes” and supply the necessary reporting and guidance during the negotiating process, or we can provide a complete turnkey solution. Regardless of which approach we take, the client will always control the final outcome by acceptance or rejection of any carrier proposal. If the client is satisfied with its current carrier(s), our role will be to maximize cost savings through rate reduction. If the client is not satisfied with its current carrier(s), our role would include comparing service and pricing proposals from multiple carriers to maximize the client’s customer service and profitability goals.