A huge perk of working with a 3PL like Trinity is being able to take advantage of their internal claims department when unexpected things happen during a shipment. Here’s a quick rundown of what the freight claims process entails here at Trinity.

What are the steps involved with filing a claim?

To file a freight claim as a Trinity customer, follow these important steps:

1. Complete a claim form and submit it along with the required documents to your Trinity representative. The cargo claims form is the legal document that authorizes Trinity to file the claim with the carrier on your behalf. In addition to the claim form, invoices are required to support claim amounts.

2. Once we are presented with the freight claims form, proof of cost invoice, and other pertinent documents (like the BOL), we will report the claim to the assigned carrier. We field carrier responses and take care of the behind-the-scenes details for you.

A carrier is given 30 days to legally acknowledge a claim and 120 days to give disposition (accept or refute the claim). At Trinity, we endeavor to resolve all claims within 120 days from filing.

If a claim involves the carrier’s insurance, we’ll coordinate with the insurance adjuster to provide documents and information at their request.  For approved claims, a check will be issued to you from Trinity or directly from the carrier or their insurer.

Why should you work with a shipping company that offers claims help?

While most shipments go off without a hitch, anyone in the shipping industry knows that sometimes “stuff happens” and it’s a real lifesaver to have a team of professionals to take the stress out of the claims process. Working with a company that provides cargo claims support is far more convenient for you in the event that something unexpected happens in transit.

Trinity initiates the claims process with the carrier and monitors progress until a resolution is met. We are a buffer between the cargo owner, carrier, and their insurer. Without our assistance, the cargo owner would have to contact the carrier directly to engage the freight claims process.

This is especially evident in accident situations. If a carrier has an accident, our team expedites service to track the location of the cargo and attempts to prevent further delay or loss. We maintain communication with the account manager, driver, and other pertinent parties to meet the best resolution for our customer in the event of a loss.

Trinity maintains a network of trusted carriers that works with us to get situations resolved quickly in order to maintain our business relationship. Carriers may not be as responsive when dealing directly with the cargo owner in the event of a claim.

How would the process work if I had to file a freight claim on my own without the help of a claims department?

If you had to file a claim on your own, you would need to provide written notice of loss to the assigned carrier. You’d also need to submit all documents requested by the carrier for processing. You would be responsible for breaking down cargo claim charges and convincing the carrier to accept liability. Arguments and rebuttals presented by the carrier would also need to be responded to directly by you.

Our claims team here at Trinity is trained and knowledgeable in current laws governing the freight claims process. Several of our team members are even accredited as “Certified Claims Professionals”, which makes them uniquely qualified to handle cargo claims on behalf of our customers.

If you have any questions regarding our claims team, click here.