Check freight claims have what a written claim needs (US)

Fields

• Claim letter, email or form text
• Attachment file names or descriptions (empty if none)

Questions

1. Does the freight claim give facts enough to identify the shipment? Yes / No

   Count a PRO number or bill of lading number, or a shipping or delivery date together with the shipper and receiver. Do not check that any number is valid; code matches it. Yes: The claim gives at least one of these ways to identify the shipment. No: The claim gives no reference and not enough dates and parties to find the shipment.

2. Does the freight claim hold the carrier responsible for the loss, damage or delay? Yes / No

   Count "we hold you liable", "we hold you responsible", "we claim against you" and any paraphrase. Describing the damage without saying the carrier is responsible does not count, nor does reserving the right to claim later. Yes: The claim says the carrier is responsible. No: The claim describes a problem without holding the carrier responsible.

3. Does the freight claim demand a specific amount, or one that can be worked out from what it gives? Yes / No

   Count a stated total, or a unit price and a number of units that give one. "Full value", "to be advised" or "an amount to follow" does not count. Do not check the arithmetic. Yes: The claim demands a stated or determinable amount. No: The claim names no amount and gives nothing to work one out from.

4. Is this document only a notice that a freight claim may follow? Yes / No

   A notice of intent reports a problem and says a claim will or may follow, or reserves the right to claim, without demanding an amount now. Yes: The document is a notice that a claim may follow. No: The document makes a claim now, or is about something else.

5. What kind of loss does the freight claim describe? Choice

   Use the terms in the context. When the claim describes more than one, pick the one that accounts for most of the goods affected.

   • Visible damage Damage seen and noted when the freight was delivered.
   • Concealed damage Damage found after delivery, when the packaging was opened.
   • Shortage Part of the shipment was not delivered.
   • Total loss The whole shipment was lost or stolen.
   • Delay The goods were delivered late, with a loss of value or extra costs.
   • Temperature The goods were spoiled by heat or cold.
   • Wet or contaminated The goods were wet, soiled or contaminated in transit.
   • Overcharge A dispute about the freight bill, not about the goods.

6. Does the freight claim say the problem was noted on the delivery receipt when the freight was delivered? Yes / No

   Count a notation, exception or remark on the delivery receipt or proof of delivery. A receipt signed "subject to inspection" with no named problem does not count. Yes: The claim says the problem was noted on the delivery receipt. No: The claim says the receipt was signed clear, or does not say the problem was noted.

7. Does the freight claim enclose proof of the value of the goods, such as a commercial invoice? Yes / No

   Read the claim and the attachments. Count an invoice, a price list, or a repair estimate enclosed now. A promise to send one later does not count. Yes: Proof of value is attached or enclosed. No: No proof of value is enclosed yet.

8. Does the freight claim enclose evidence of the loss or damage, such as photos, an inspection report or the delivery receipt? Yes / No

   Read the claim and the attachments. Count photos, an inspection or survey report, and a copy of the delivery receipt or proof of delivery, enclosed now. Yes: At least one such item is attached or enclosed. No: None is enclosed yet.

9. Is the freight claim filed by an insurer, broker or claims agent on the owner's behalf? Yes / No

   Judge from who writes and for whom. A shipper's or receiver's own staff are not a third party. Yes: An insurer, broker, claims agent or lawyer files the claim for the owner of the goods. No: The shipper or receiver files the claim themselves.

10. What does the freight claim say about the damaged goods now? Choice

    Answer only from what the claim says about the goods after the loss.

    • Kept for inspection The damaged goods are kept, or offered, for the carrier to inspect.
    • Disposed of or sold The damaged goods have been thrown away, sold for salvage or returned.
    • Not mentioned The claim says nothing about where the damaged goods are, or no goods were damaged.

11. Is the item complete and readable enough to judge what it is? Yes / No

    Scanned letters come through OCR and can be garbled, cut off or blank. Poor spelling or grammar does not make an item unreadable if its meaning is clear. Yes: Enough of the text is readable to tell what the item is and what the sender wants. No: The text is too garbled, truncated or empty to judge.

Lens columns

identifies_shipment, identifies_shipment_probability, asserts_liability, asserts_liability_probability, amount_demanded, amount_demanded_probability, intent_only, intent_only_probability, claim_type, claim_type_probability, exception_noted_at_delivery, exception_noted_at_delivery_probability, value_proof_enclosed, value_proof_enclosed_probability, condition_evidence_enclosed, condition_evidence_enclosed_probability, filed_by_third_party, filed_by_third_party_probability, goods_held, goods_held_probability, text_readable, text_readable_probability