In US trucking, a rate confirmation (or rate con) is the short contract that turns a verbal load agreement into something enforceable. Once a carrier and broker settle on a price over the phone or by email, the broker issues the rate con. The carrier reviews it, signs, and sends it back. That signed copy is what protects both sides if a dispute comes up later.
A rate confirmation (rate con) is a binding document a freight broker sends a carrier to confirm the agreed price and terms for hauling one specific load. It lists the rate, pickup and delivery details, load number, and payment terms — the paper trail that locks in a booking before the truck rolls.
What a rate con typically includes
- Agreed rate — the total pay for the load (flat or per mile).
- Load / reference number — ties the paperwork together.
- Pickup and delivery — addresses, dates, and appointment times.
- Equipment and commodity — dry van, reefer, flatbed; weight and freight type.
- Broker and carrier info — names and MC numbers of both parties.
- Payment terms — how many days until you're paid, and any quick-pay option.
- Accessorials — detention, layover, lumper, and TONU (Truck Order Not Used) fees.
Why it matters
The rate con is your proof of the deal. If a broker later claims a lower rate, the signed document settles it. It's also required for billing: your invoice and the delivered proof of delivery (POD) are matched against the rate con before a factoring company or broker releases payment. Always read it in full before signing — check the rate, the appointment times, and any deduction language. Never haul on a verbal promise alone.
A sharp dispatcher reviews every rate con line by line before you commit, so a hidden fee or wrong appointment never eats into your revenue — that vetting is part of what Fortuna handles for its drivers.