Carrier liability is noted on our website when receiving a quote. Coverage will vary per carrier based upon freight classification, weight, and commodity type (new or used condition).

Freight claims are handled between the carrier and owner of the freight. Freight Goalz can assist in making the process as easy as possible when filing a freight claim with the carrier, but we do not have control of the carriers ruling/decision. For example, if you booked a flight on a travel website like Travelocity and the airline lost your bag, you would file a claim with the airline, not the travel website. This is the same situation when it comes to freight claims.

A common question we receive is: “What happens when no damage or shortage is noted by the receiver when signing the delivery receipt?” This is considered "concealed damage" which must be reported as soon as possible. If more than a couple days pass after delivery, the carriers may deny any claims due to the uncertainty of knowing if the damages occurred while in their possession, or the receivers possession after delivery was completed and signed as "free and clear". Typically carriers will pay 1/3 of claimed damage value for concealed damages per NMFTA guidelines if they are willing to accept any liability at all.

Freight claims with carriers generally take longer than 3rd Party Insurance. Typically we see a standard of 90 days to process the claim, 90 days to investigate the claim and provide a ruling, and another 90 days to pay out. We have seen it take more and we have seen it take less, but hopefully this provides some sense of what to expect from the carriers in the claims process.

Pro Tip: When the freight is received, take your time to inspect it. Make sure you note any damage or shortages on the Delivery Receipt when signing. That is the first step in this process that will help you increase the likelihood of successfully approved claims. If you are not the receiver, then you need to let them know to do the same.

This type of coverage is especially useful when the carrier liability doesn't cover the full value of your freight or if your full product value exceeds the carriers liability stated on our quote page. Our website can quote 3rd Party Insurance cost on step 2 " Items & Liability" during the booking process.

Just like any insurance, there is a deductible and it is based on the total sum insured which is clearly stated when purchasing insurance on our website.

In general, 3rd Party Freight Insurance improves the claim experience with a significantly higher ratio of claim payouts, a faster claims process, and an overall better experience from beginning to end without the same level of scrutiny and deferral of responsibility that some carriers may exhibit.

Freight Insurance will cover the full declared (replacement) value supported by proper documentation. This is notated upon delivery receipt, packing slip and commercial invoice.

The insurance company will still investigate to ensure packaging and shipping expectations were met. Even the insurance companies will not insure freight that is not packaged properly.

Once a claim is filed with the insurance company, it cannot also be filed with the carrier.