How to Accept Freight and Handle Claims

10/20/2014 — Leah Palnik

Sometimes the unthinkable happens – your shipment arrives to your location damaged or short on quantity. Anyone who has experienced this and had to file a claim will tell you that the process can be a little stressful. However, knowing exactly what to do and what to expect in this situation can save you from a major headache. Here are some tips on what you should do when you receive freight:

1. Inspect your freight immediately. Before you sign the delivery receipt, you’ll want to count your boxes and check for any damages. The driver is required to let you inspect your freight – even if he says he’s in a hurry – so take a few minutes to make sure everything looks okay.

2. Document any damages or shortages. If you do find damages or a shortage in your shipment, it’s important to document them for your claim. Take pictures of the damaged products and notate any damages or shortages on the delivery receipt. You will also need to obtain a merchandise invoice illustrating the value of the damaged commodity.

3. Save your damaged freight. Even if you document your damages, an inspector from the carrier may need to come to your location to inspect the shipment. Be sure to save your freight in case this situation arises.

4. Contact your PartnerShip representative. You have 9 months from delivery date to file a claim, however, the sooner you file it – the better. Provide your rep with the information that you documented and your shipment’s PRO number. Your rep will start the claims process for you and help you every step of the way so you aren’t dealing with this alone.

5. Await confirmation of the filed claim. You can expect some kind of communication from the carrier within 30 days of the claim being filed. This could be an approval or denial of the claim, or simply just an acknowledgment that the claim is being processed. Every situation is different and the time required for resolving the claim may vary, but throughout the whole process you can obtain claim statuses from your rep or directly from the carrier.

Dealing with damaged or missing freight is never ideal, but when you work with PartnerShip you don’t have to sort through it on your own. Our dedicated representatives are claims experts and can help you throughout the entire process to make sure your claim gets resolved. Click the button below to download our helpful guide for a quick reference on how to accept freight and handle claims. New to PartnerShip? Click here for a free quote.