Damaged freight.
Every detail matters.

Turn a disrupted delivery into a clear record

Freight damage can appear at the loading dock, during unpacking or when equipment is tested. Each discovery calls for careful documentation. Photograph the goods and their packaging, record the date and circumstances, and keep the shipment identifiers with the evidence.

Our service focuses on the insured business’s insurance claim. Active Claim Adjusters LLC can help organize the loss, review policy requirements and present a supported valuation. Claims against transportation companies may involve separate contractual or legal issues, which can require other assistance.

Visible and concealed damage need different evidence

For visible damage, describe the actual condition on the delivery record as accurately as possible. Preserve the receipt, bill of lading or air waybill, packing list and any exceptions recorded by the driver or receiving staff. A short video or series of photographs may help show the relationship between the damaged packaging and the goods inside.

If damage becomes apparent later, record when and how it was discovered, who handled the goods and how they were stored after delivery. Retain cartons, crates, cushioning and securing materials when practical. A clean delivery receipt can make proof more complicated; it does not answer every policy or carrier-liability question by itself.

Understand the insurance relationship

A shipper’s cargo or transit insurance is different from a motor carrier’s liability coverage. Your own policy may respond to an insured loss while the transportation company’s responsibility is investigated. The transportation agreement and applicable law may limit a carrier’s liability.

Identify who owns or bears the insured risk in the goods, which policy may apply and who arranged the transport. Report the loss promptly to the relevant parties. Do not assume a claim filed with a broker, delivery platform or carrier also notifies your insurer.

Support the amount being claimed

For damaged equipment, obtain a reasoned repair assessment and explain any testing needed to establish its condition. For inventory, reconcile quantities against the packing list and receiving count. Preserve invoices, replacement quotations and documented mitigation expenses. Coverage for consequential loss, lost sales, delay or additional expense is policy-specific.

New, delayed, denied and disputed claims all start with the same review: what happened, what the policy says, what evidence exists and what deadlines or prior agreements matter. A public adjuster can help present those facts; a different settlement is never guaranteed.

Use the cargo claim checklist →