Certified Claims Professionals: What’s the Big Deal?

Being a Certified Claims Professional (CCP) sounds nice and fancy, but what difference does it make for your business to work with a transportation company who staffs them? Let’s delve into what this certification means and how choosing a transportation provider with CCP members could make your life easier.

What is the certification?

In 1980, a Blue Ribbon Steering Committee meeting was held in D.C. with over 30 shipping executives from all modes of transportation. It was realized at this meeting that standards were needed across the shipping industry for the process of handling freight claims. This led to the creation of the Certified Claims Professional Accreditation Council (CCPAC) and the CCP certification.

CCPAC is a non-profit organization that seeks to raise the standards of knowledge and professional competence for those that handle freight claims. Those that have met the requirements of being a member, which includes a comprehensive examination, and proof of education and work experience in the field, are named as Certified Claims Professionals (CCP).

The CCP certification serves as proof that an individual exhibits extensive knowledge in the subjects of cargo and freight claims. This includes the preliminary investigation, minimizing loss for all parties, and the claims filing process. This also shows the investment the certificate holder has in the claims field and validates their status as a professional in cargo claims management within the transportation industry.

How does one get the certification?

In order to become a CCP, one must meet the minimum requirements in education and experience in transportation cargo claims, which includes college credits and dedicated work hours to certain claims procedures. Once the educational and experience requirements have been met, the applicant must take and successfully pass the CCP examination.

The extensive CCP exam includes questions and essays on topics ranging from bills of lading, cargo insurance, concealed loss or damage contracts, and common carrier liability.

After the initial certification, one must refresh their status every three years by fulfilling the continuing education requirements by participation in CCPAC accredited transportation educational courses, organizations, outside seminars, conferences, webinars, or by re-examination.

Why should I look for a 3PL that has CCP members?

Not every third-party logistics company has a claims department, let alone one that has CCP members. This should be a consideration when you are deciding on a transportation provider.

Those 3PLs that do have an in-house claims team can assist with filing cargo claims that arise when they have arranged the transportation of your shipment. Acting as the liaison between your company and the carrier that moved your freight, they can collect all the paperwork and submit it to the carrier (or their insurance, depending on the amount of the claim) on your behalf.

To make things that much better, an in-house claims team with CCP members can provide even more support throughout the claims process, and using their extensive knowledge and experience, may even be able to deescalate and minimize the issue altogether. As they are leading cargo claims professionals in the transportation industry, they will also be the most apt to know about trending claims issues and how to prevent them.

Trinity recognizes that the logistics industry is constantly growing and changing. We want experienced, educated team members assisting our customers and carriers with issues concerning cargo claims and managing risk, which is why we have two of our very own CCPs on staff.