At Freight Motion, we have customers who discuss various transportation issues they had in the past. We would like to share one here to raise awareness of underlying issues, market trends, and possible solutions.
This post’s intention is to give shippers helpful suggestions to be proactive when working with LTL carriers in regards to claims, disputes and other transportation issues.
Suggestion #1:
Take a picture of your freight right before the driver picks up. This can serve as proof if the freight was tampered with while in transit. Having a picture is also extremely helpful when/if freight gets lost. The picture allows the carrier to narrow down their search by knowing exactly what they are looking for. Bonus – if your picture includes a date and time stamp verification.
Have your shipments ever been re-weighed incorrectly?
Suggestion #2:
Aside from having a certified scale, having a packing slip that includes the weights of each item shipped can serve as proof of accurate weights.
Bonus – publishing the weight of an item on your company website is beneficial as well.
Suggestion #3:
Double check the pickup and delivery address BEFORE scheduling a shipment. Giving accurate information is critical in the detail-oriented transportation industry. A zip code that is one digit off routes your freight in the wrong direction. Updating address information while a shipment is in transit results in additional charges, and we want to avoid those!
Our goal with this post is to help shippers be more proactive, especially when issues arise. How would any of these tips have helped you in the past?
