LTL Claims: What You Should Know

As if shipping LTL isn’t complicated enough, things can get even more complicated in the event of a claim! As a member of Trinity’s dedicated claims department, I can tell you that we’re here to help you through the claims process. One of the many advantages of working with a company like ours is the extra assistance we can provide if a claim occurs. Figuring out exactly what you’re entitled to from the carrier can be tricky, but we have extensive knowledge of these processes and can provide you with the resources you need when you’re dealing with a claim.

Did you know that when you ship LTL, the type of quote you get and your product’s freight class will determine the amount of monetary reimbursement on your damaged or lost cargo? Every LTL carrier has a published, customized set of tariffs that state their maximum liability in the event of cargo loss or damage. These tariffs also state what accessorial and special charges the carrier will and will not be responsible for and the amount you will be charged for each particular service in the event they occur (such as liftgate, white glove, or redelivery).

At the time of “booking” or “quoting”, the carrier will class the items being shipped in accordance with their NMFC number. The class the items are shipped under will determine the freight rate and your return on loss or damage. There are also certain types of quotes that can initially dictate the carrier’s maximum liability in the event of loss or damage: volume, spot and truckload quotes. In the event you are quoted by one of these methods, your return for loss or damage will be covered at $1.00 per pound, regardless of the stated maximum liability for that class.

Remember, after a formal claim has been filed and before any claim funds are paid out by the carrier, they will perform an investigation to establish liability for the loss or damage. If you are a party in charge of packaging or shipping merchandise, you are responsible for making sure the product is labeled correctly and packaged in accordance with the NMFC packaging requirements for that particular item. Otherwise, the carrier may rightfully decline your claim due to insufficient packaging.

If you are a party involved in shipping or brokering LTL freight, it is a very good idea to familiarize yourself with the tariffs of each of the LTL carriers you will be utilizing, as all of them carry different amounts of liability and vary in the amounts they charge for their accessorial or special services. All LTL carriers’ tariffs are public information that is available on their websites or upon request.

As always, if you have any questions regarding limitations of liability, claims, or what to do in the case of OSD’s (overages, shortages and damages) feel free to contact the claims department via email or give us a call at 1-800-846-3400 x. 2146!