Unpaid freight bills can have a significant impact on your company's cash flow and overall financial health. Although payment delays are common, inconsistent non-payment can put carriers in a difficult position. You might need to look into legal options if you've exhausted all of the informal means of collecting your money. What should you know in order to protect your business and recover the money owed, and what legal options are available to you when a freight broker or shipper refuses to pay.

1. Review your freight contract

Examining the freight contract you have with the broker or shipper is the first step before taking any legal action. The contract will list the terms, conditions, and remedies you may have if your payment is delayed or withheld. Some contracts contain dispute resolution clauses that specify how disputes involving payments must be resolved, such as through arbitration or mediation.

Important Remarks to Make:

• Payment policies and deadlines

• Interest or penalties for late payment

• Arbitration, mediation, or litigation clauses for disputes resolution.

By understanding your contract, you can find out if the other party broke the terms of it, giving you a solid foundation for any legal action.



2. File a cargo claim

In some circumstances, the best course of action may be to file a formal freight claim. To do this, you must notify the broker or shipper in writing that you are requesting payment for the services or goods you have delivered. A freight claim is a formal request for compensation for non-payment, and it can also be used if the dispute involves lost or damaged goods or other transport-related disputes.

How Do I File a Freight Claim:

• Provide the broker/shipper with written notification, including the unpaid amount, the invoice, the delivery confirmation, and any additional documentation.

• Make sure to submit your claim within the deadlines set forth in the contract or industry rules.

• Follow up with regular communication to make sure your claim is being processed.

3.... Loan the Surety Bond of the Broker

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration( FMCSA), freight brokers are required to carry a surety bond or trust fund of at least$ 75, 000. In the event that the broker fails to meet its financial obligations, this bond exists to protect carriers and shippers. One of the best ways to recover unpaid freight bills is when a freight broker refuses to pay you for their surety bond.

How to File a Surety Bond Claim:

• Gather pertinent paperwork, including your broker's contract with you and the unpaid invoice.

• Get in touch with the bond holding company for the broker's surety bond( this information should be provided by the broker or made available via FMCSA).

• Submit the necessary paperwork to the bonding company in order to file your claim.

The bond company will pay you for the unpaid amount, up to the bond's maximum, if your claim is true.

4..... Bring the case to the Small Claims Court.

You might want to file a case in small claims court if you want to collect smaller unpaid amounts. When the amount owed is within the court's limit, which typically ranges from$ 5, 000 to$ 10, 000, depending on the state, this is a relatively low-cost option for recovering freight bills.

How to File a Small Claims Court Case:

• Check the state's small claims court system to see if your claim qualifies.

• Create documentation, such as the contract, the unpaid invoices, and communications with the broker or shipper.

• Attend the hearing where you present your case and file the claim with your neighborhood small claims court.

You will receive a judgment for the broker or shipper if the court rules in your favor and demands payment of the owed sum. Although the collection of the money is simple, the court wo n't handle the actual collection of the money, so this process may not guarantee immediate payment.

5. Take into account hiring a collection agency

Employing a collections agency may be a wise choice if the broker or shipper continues to be unresponsive and the amount owed is substantial. Collections agencies have Freight Logic LLC a history of recovering unpaid debts, and they can handle the process of contacting the debtor and bargaining terms with you. Although you'll have to pay the agency a portion of the recovered amount, this can be a successful way to resolve the problem without going to court.

Working with a Collections Agency:

• Select a company with expertise in the freight or logistics sector.

• Provide them with all the necessary paperwork, including your contract with the debtor and unpaid invoices.

• Agree on the collection procedure and negotiate the fee (typically a portion of the recovered funds).

6. File a lawsuit against a breach of a contract

You might need to file a lawsuit for contract breach if you want to pay more money or if all other attempts failed. Although it takes longer and is more formal, it might be necessary if the broker or shipper refuses to pay significant sums of money. This lawsuit may be handled in federal court or civil court depending on the country and the amount owed.

How to File a Contract Lawsuit in Breach:

• Get in touch with a lawyer who specializes in contract or transportation law to assess your case and assess your chances of success.

• Prepare all forms of documentation, including contracts, unpaid invoices, delivery documentation, and communication records.

• File the lawsuit in the appropriate court, go through the legal process, go through discovery, or go to trial, if necessary, and go through the legal process.

Legal action may be expensive, but it might be the only option for recovering significant unpaid bills.

7..... Report the shipper or broker to the regulatory bodies

You can report the non-payment to regulatory bodies, such as the FMCSA, in addition to filing a lawsuit. This may not result in immediate payment, but it could lead to the broker's license being suspended or revoked, which could prevent them from engaging in similar practices with other companies.

How to File a Complaint with FMCSA:

Visit the FMCSA's National Consumer Complaints Database.

• Provide a complaint describing the broker's failure to pay and any relevant supporting documentation.

• Follow-up to determine the status of your complaint.

By contacting the broker, you help keep them accountable and stop non-payment issues for other carriers in the future.

8. Preventing upcoming non-payment issues.

Once the current issue has been resolved, it's crucial to take action to avoid additional non-payment issues in the future. Implementing best practices for arranging payment terms and vetting brokers can lessen your chance of dealing with unreliable clients.

Best Ways to Avoid Non-Payment:

• Before accepting new loads, check the credit of brokers or shippers.

• To ensure quicker payments, use freight payment services or factoring firms.

• Establish clear payment terms, penalties for late payments, and dispute resolution procedures.

You can lessen the chance of having to deal with unpaid freight bills by managing your relationships with brokers and shippers.

Conclusion

Legal action may be required to pay back the money owed to you when faced with unpaid freight bills. Knowing your options is essential to protecting your business, whether you choose to file a claim against a surety bond, go to small claims court, hire a collection agency, or file a lawsuit. Always review your contracts closely, keep track of all transactions, and follow the appropriate procedures to quickly recover payment. You can protect your business from upcoming non-payment issues by taking the right legal action and putting preventive measures in place.