Free Freight Claim Form
File a freight claim for damage, loss, shortage, or delay. This form works for any carrier and any shipment mode. Enter your shipment details, describe the issue, attach documentation, and submit.
How to use: Fill in your shipment details, select the claim type, describe the issue, and submit. You receive a claim ID to track progress. No login or account required.
How to file a freight claim
A freight claim is a formal demand for payment from a carrier for loss, damage, shortage, or delay of a shipment. In the US, carrier liability for interstate freight is governed by the Carmack Amendment (49 USC 14706), which gives shippers 9 months from delivery to file and requires carriers to acknowledge within 30 days and resolve within 120 days.
The strength of your claim depends almost entirely on documentation. The single most important step is noting exceptions on the delivery receipt before you sign it. A signed clean POD is the carrier's best defense against any claim you file later.
What documentation you need
For damage claims: Photos of the damaged freight and packaging taken before signing the delivery receipt. The original BOL showing what was shipped. The delivery receipt with exceptions noted. Commercial invoices showing the value of the damaged goods. If you called the carrier about the damage, keep a record of the date, time, and who you spoke with.
For loss claims: The original BOL confirming the shipment was tendered. The PRO number and pickup date. Any tracking records showing the last known location. If the carrier confirms non-delivery, get that confirmation in writing.
For shortage claims: The BOL with the original piece count. The delivery receipt showing the received count. If your receiving dock does piece-level tallies, include the tally sheet. Photos of the delivered freight showing fewer units than the BOL stated.
For delay claims: The agreed delivery date or appointment window (from the BOL, rate confirmation, or carrier commitment). Proof that the freight arrived late. Documentation of any downstream costs caused by the delay, such as missed retail delivery windows, production stoppages, or customer chargebacks.
Claim types explained
Damage
Freight arrived with visible physical damage: crushed cartons, broken pallets, water damage, product shifted during transit. The key is documenting the damage before signing the delivery receipt. Once you sign clean, proving the carrier caused the damage becomes significantly harder.
Loss
Freight was picked up but never delivered, or is confirmed missing from the shipment. Full loss claims (entire shipment missing) are typically straightforward if you have the BOL and pickup confirmation. Partial loss (some items missing from a multi-piece shipment) requires piece count reconciliation.
Shortage
The delivered quantity is less than what was tendered on the BOL. This often shows up when pallet or piece counts don't match. Note the discrepancy on the delivery receipt at time of delivery. Count before signing.
Delay
Freight arrived outside the agreed delivery window. Delay claims are only valid if there was a specific service commitment (appointment delivery, guaranteed transit, or contractual SLA). Standard LTL estimated transit times are not guaranteed unless the carrier explicitly committed to a date.
Carmack Amendment deadlines
The Carmack Amendment sets the legal framework for freight claims on interstate shipments. The key deadlines every shipper should know:
9 months from delivery to file a written claim with the carrier. This is a hard deadline. Claims filed after 9 months can be legally rejected regardless of merit.
30 days for the carrier to acknowledge receipt of your claim in writing. If you don't get acknowledgment within 30 days, send a follow-up with delivery confirmation.
120 days for the carrier to pay, decline, or make a settlement offer. Most claims should have a resolution within this window.
2 years from claim denial to file a lawsuit if you disagree with the carrier's decision. This is your legal recourse window.
How to strengthen your claim
Photograph before signing. Take photos of all sides of the freight and packaging before signing the delivery receipt. Date-stamped photos from your phone are sufficient. Include wide shots showing the full shipment and close-ups of specific damage.
Note exceptions on the POD. Write "damaged," "short," or "wet" on the delivery receipt next to your signature. Be specific: "2 of 6 cartons crushed, contents exposed" is stronger than "damaged." A clean signature kills most claims.
File immediately. The sooner you file, the stronger the claim. A claim filed the day of delivery with photos is nearly impossible to dispute. A claim filed 8 months later with no photos and a clean POD is nearly impossible to win.
Include the dollar amount with proof. Attach the commercial invoice or purchase order showing the value of the damaged or lost goods. Carriers need to see what you're claiming and why that number is justified. "Approximately $5,000" with no documentation gets pushed back. "$4,847.50 per attached invoice #12345" gets processed.
Ship with Warp and you have fewer claims
Warp's cross-dock model means fewer handling events, fewer terminal transfers, and fewer opportunities for freight to get damaged, lost, or delayed. 99.2% damage-free delivery rate across 655,767+ shipments (0.81% damage rate vs 1.24% LTL industry average per ATA baseline).
In the event that something does go wrong, every Warp shipment is already documented with GPS positions, scan events at cross-dock facilities, and delivery confirmation with photos and e-signatures. The evidence trail exists before you need it. No chasing drivers for photos after the fact. No arguing about when or where damage occurred.
Warp acts as your claims administrator. We file, process, and resolve claims on your behalf per federal regulations. You don't chase carriers. Every Warp carrier carries Carmack Amendment liability up to $100,000 per shipment, with optional cargo insurance up to $1M.
Freight claim FAQ
How do I file a freight claim?
Submit a written claim to your carrier with the PRO number, shipment date, origin and destination, claim type, dollar amount, description, and supporting documentation including photos, the BOL, and delivery receipt with noted exceptions.
How long do I have to file a freight claim?
Under the Carmack Amendment, you have 9 months from the delivery date to file a claim for loss or damage on interstate shipments. If the claim is denied, you have 2 years from the denial date to file a lawsuit. File as soon as possible.
What is the Carmack Amendment?
The Carmack Amendment (49 USC 14706) is the federal law governing carrier liability for freight loss and damage on interstate shipments in the US. It establishes the 9-month filing deadline, carrier liability limits, and the legal framework for disputes.
What types of freight claims can I file?
Four types: damage (visible physical damage), loss (freight picked up but not delivered), shortage (delivered quantity less than BOL), and delay (arrived outside agreed delivery window).
What documentation strengthens a freight claim?
Photos of damaged freight taken before signing the delivery receipt, the original BOL with piece counts, the delivery receipt with noted exceptions, commercial invoices showing goods value, and any written carrier correspondence.
How long does a carrier have to resolve a claim?
Carriers must acknowledge receipt within 30 days and pay, decline, or settle within 120 days. If they exceed 120 days without resolution, you may have grounds for regulatory complaint or legal action.
What is concealed damage?
Damage not visible until packaging is opened, sometimes days after delivery. File as soon as you discover it. Photograph the damage and packaging. Harder to prove since the POD was signed clean, but the Carmack Amendment still allows these claims.
Can I file a claim if I signed the delivery receipt clean?
You can still file, but it is harder to prove. Document the damage with photos immediately upon discovery and file the claim the same day. For concealed damage, the Carmack Amendment still applies, but the burden of proof shifts to you.
Ship with built-in claims protection
Warp tracks every shipment with GPS, scan events, and delivery photos. When something goes wrong, the documentation is already there. Get a quote with cargo insurance included.