Why it matters for freight and logistics companies
- Fuel levies and accessorial charges arrive as extra lines. They need to go to the right department so run margin is right.
- Fuel, tolls and tyres are coded by vehicle or depot. Wrong codes make vehicle cost reports useless.
For freight and logistics companies in NetSuite
- Add a Freight landed cost item on the Items subtab of a bill. Pick a landed cost category such as Shipping for each line. The category decides which landed cost source lists the bill.
- On the Expenses subtab use the Customer column to carry the job. Tick Billable to recharge the cost to the customer. Bill Costs To Customers must be on.
- Department, Class and Location columns on each line let you report costs by depot or route.
What NetSuite does on its own
Account, department, class, location and customer or project on each bill line, plus a tax code on the vendor and transaction.
- Percentage splits need Transaction Line Distribution and certain roles.
Stock items go on the Items subtab with Item, Quantity and Rate.
What you need and the setup steps: Line item coding for NetSuite.
Example
Example Forwarding Pty Ltd bills for an export consignment with a domestic pickup and an international leg.
| Line | Amount | What the check finds |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic pickup, Sydney to port | $420.00 | Taxable, 10% GST |
| International freight, port to Singapore | $2,800.00 | GST-free |
| Fuel levy on domestic leg | $35.00 | Taxable, same code as pickup |
Each line gets its own tax code and run code. GST is $45.50 on the two taxable lines only.
Common mistakes
- Applying one tax code to the whole forwarder bill.
- Coding fuel and tolls to one general account, so no vehicle shows its real cost.
Step-by-step guides for NetSuite
- How to enter a vendor bill with line items in NetSuite
- How to code a vendor bill with mixed GST lines in NetSuite
- How to code one vendor bill to several account codes in NetSuite
- How to set a default account for each vendor in NetSuite
- How to bulk change account codes on vendor bill records in NetSuite
What Pulsify adds
Pulsify reads each line and suggests its account and tax code from how that vendor was coded before. Pulsify connects to NetSuite. We set up the connection for you. More about line item coding in Pulsify or Pulsify for freight and logistics companies.
More help
- Invoice approvals in NetSuite for freight and logistics companies
- Duplicate invoice checks in NetSuite for freight and logistics companies
- Invoice fraud checks in NetSuite for freight and logistics companies
- Supplier statement reconciliation in NetSuite for freight and logistics companies
- All NetSuite how-to guides
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-19.
- docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/article_162021560020.html
- docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/article_161968486146.html
- docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/section_160327228862.html
- www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/in-detail/rules-for-specific-transactions/international-transactions/gst-and-international-freight-transport
- www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/incentives-and-concessions/fuel-schemes/fuel-tax-credits-business/eligibility/eligible-activities/road-transport
Common questions
How do I code carrier costs to the right customer or route in NetSuite?
Use one expense line per cost. Set Department, Class and Location for depot or route reporting. Pick the Customer or Customer:Project on the line. Tick Billable if you recharge it. That needs the Bill Costs To Customers feature.
How do I code a freight bill with mixed GST?
Split the bill by line. The international leg is generally GST-free. The domestic legs and local charges are taxable. Check each line against the ATO guide.
Which tax code applies to an Australian bill line?
Pick a code on the line, such as NCT-AU for non-capital purchases with GST or CPT-AU for capital purchases. UNDEF-AU appears when NetSuite cannot decide, and it should be fixed before the BAS.
Pulsify setup guides
Want this done for you?
Book a call to see how Pulsify handles line item coding in NetSuite for freight and logistics companies.