Freight Claims Register

Faster than feels reasonable: visible damage should be noted on the POD at delivery; concealed damage notice runs days (5 under many US motor-carrier terms; promptly under ocean rules); formal claims typically 9 months for US motor (Carmack-based contracts) and suit within 1 year for ocean (COGSA/Hague-Visby). The deadline field on each row exists because these windows expire silently — and expired means worthless.

The chain: POD with exceptions noted (or timely concealed-damage notice), photos of damage AND packaging, the commercial invoice proving value, the packing list, the transport document, and inspection/survey reports for larger losses. Assemble it in days, not weeks — the single most common claim-killer is a clean signed POD that the receiver annotated nothing on while the dock photos that existed were never collected.

Liability limits: ocean carriers cap at $500/package (COGSA) or ~2 SDR/kg (Hague-Visby) unless higher value was declared and paid for; truckers' released rates can be lower still. A $40,000 machine in one crate can legally settle for $500 from the ocean carrier. This is the design argument for cargo insurance — insure the value, claim from your insurer, and let them fight the carrier within the limits.

Both notices immediately; pursue per economics. Insured cargo: claim with your insurer (full insured value, faster settlement) and they subrogate against the carrier. Uninsured: claim the carrier directly and accept the limitation math. Never wait for one path before noticing the other — notice deadlines run in parallel and waiting forfeits options. The register's row notes which path each claim is riding.