There is a short window at the tailgate where a freight claim is either possible or gone forever. It is worth knowing exactly what to do in it.
The rule, stated plainly
Anything damaged, crushed, torn or short must be written on the Bill of Lading before the driver leaves. You then have 48 hours to raise the claim. That deadline belongs to the carrier, not to us.
Once a delivery is signed for clean, no freight claim can ever be filed. A clean signature is your statement that the load arrived intact. Nothing undoes it afterwards, and we cannot reopen it on your behalf.
What to do while the driver is still there
1
Walk the pallet
All four sides. Look for crushing, punctures, water staining and a leaning or collapsed stack.
2
Check the wrap
Torn or re-wrapped film, or a load that has clearly shifted, is worth noting even if nothing looks broken yet.
3
Photograph it
On the truck if you can, before it comes off. Then on the ground. Wide shots and close-ups.
4
Write it on the Bill of Lading
Specific words. "Two cartons crushed on the north face, film torn" beats "damaged".
5
Then sign
Sign only after the damage is written down. Keep your copy.
What a freight claim does not cover
Shortages. A load being lighter or emptier than you expected is not a freight claim, because an unmanifested load has no itemised list to count against. There is no document that could show what was missing.
Goods that do not work are also not freight damage. On an untested returns load, non-working units are the condition basis you bought on. If a load is materially not the class described, or was sent in error, that is the separate 30 days after delivery route.
Then email us
Send your order number, the photographs and the annotated Bill of Lading to support@stockledgerliquidators.com. An approved claim is refunded within 5 business days of an approved claim, to the original payment method.
