It’s not something anyone wants to talk about — or even think about — but the fact is, when you ship less-than-truckload (LTL) for your customized tubing, chances are you’re eventually going to have to file a shipping claim.
And because a lot goes into the shipping claim process, a lot can go wrong. That means it only takes one carrier mishap to put you at loggerheads with the carrier’s claims department and throw your project into total disarray.
View this short video, and then continue reading:
It started with a damaged part
For Meter Engineers, an oil field equipment supplier, it all started when a damaged tube part was delivered to their location in Kechi, Kansas. It arrived in such poor condition that it was completely unusable. They needed to replace it quickly and had no time to wait for an inefficient claims process.
They were facing at least six potential obstacles that could slow down or even stop them from reaching a fast resolution to their claim.
Below, we describe the obstacles that can occur during the claims process and show you how Meter Engineers was able to bypass them and keep their project on track.
1. Incomplete or incorrect documentation
Providing sufficient documentation to support your claims, such as invoices, contracts, and proof of delivery, is critical. Missing documents, inaccurate content descriptions, and even blurry writing can delay your claim.
2. Complex claims
Complexities like multiple shipments, more than one carrier, or multiple destinations will complicate processing your claim. Each point in your product’s journey will need to be reviewed, which creates additional opportunities for delays.
3. Carrier is disputing responsibility
Disputes between you and the carrier regarding your claim most definitely will cause the process to take longer to be resolved. This could include disagreements over liability, coverage, or the amount of compensation.
4. Complications with third-party providers
Often shipping large products like tubes involves a third party outside your carrier. This includes brokers, freight forwarders, and insurance companies. It’s a layer of complication that not only slows your claim processing down but also creates additional hassles for you.
5. Communication issues
A lack of clear communication from your shipping company regarding your claim slows your claim process down and is also a sign it’s not a priority to them. Plus, communication gets even more challenging when multiple parties are involved or time zone differences are involved.
6. Internal processing delays
It’s likely your carrier uses claims management software which, in theory, should help speed up the claims process. But the reality is that systems crash, and often the required third-party information has an incompatible format or is otherwise unreadable by the software.
Spuncast eliminated the risk for Meter Engineers
Luckily for Meter Engineers, they were shipping their tube products through Spuncast’s shipping service at the time of their carrier mishap. So, once word got back to us of the damaged part, a new finished machined part was started right away. The replacement was shipped out just five weeks later, about three weeks ahead of a standard lead time.
Production continued for Meter Engineers, and our shipping team dealt with the trucking company directly. The old part was eventually shipped back to us, the freight charges were worked out, and Meter Engineers was fully refunded for the cost of the part.
It saved them the pain of going back and forth with the trucking company, filling out forms, and trying to get updates on the claim, which took months to resolve.
How Spuncast handles claims for you
Resolving a shipping claim through Spuncast is done in three steps:
Step 1: You Notify Spuncast of the issue
When you ship with Spuncast, our shipping team will be responsible for getting the information from you and then filing and completing every aspect of your claim.
We include all supporting documents like the original invoice, signed proof of delivery (POD), packing slip, damaged cargo pictures (if applicable), and repair or replacement invoice.
It’s on us to file as soon as possible, as specified by the Carmack Amendment.
Step 2: Spuncast replaces your product asap
If you were working directly with a carrier, after filing the claim, they’d have 30 days to acknowledge it once they receive it and an additional 90 days to resolve it. In total, that’s 120 days to make a final decision.
That’s 120 days that you would have had to wait to be reimbursed and reorder a replacement. With Spuncast, we immediately send a replacement, taking the worry and waiting away from your project.
Step 3: It’s business as usual for your project
After accepting the claim, the carrier review process begins. The only way you may be involved is if they want to inspect the shipment. For this reason, the freight and original packaging should be saved, maintained, and available until the conclusion of the claim.
However, because the entire process will be taken care of by Spuncast, it’s business as usual for you and your crew.
Change the way you ship your tubes
Knowing what can go wrong with your carrier’s claims process means it’s worth considering a different kind of approach for shipping your tube products.
With Spuncast foundry-to-factory shipping, you’ll get tubular shipping expertise and the help you need to steer clear of claims management altogether. That means you will never have to file a shipping claim again!
Check out our Foundry-to-Factory shipping service to learn more.
