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What is concealed damage when shipping LTL freight?

When shipping LTL palletized freight you may come across a situation where your products have been damaged but it wasn’t noticeable when the pallet was unloaded from the truck. This is known as concealed damage because it wasn’t visible until after any packaging material was removed.

Almost all major carriers require that you report concealed damage within 24 hours of receiving the shipment otherwise they may decline a claim for damage. This is especially important if you did not purchase additional discounted shipping insurance through ShipNerd to protect your shipment, as you’re are only covered by the carrier’s insurance.

NOTE: Damage to palletized freight needs to be reported to [email protected] by the party that created the BOL for the shipment.

Tips for inspecting your freight:

1. Inspect the exterior packaging for any obvious signs of damage which should be reported immediately and noted down on the proof of delivery
2. If no obvious damage is seen on the exterior, unloading should proceed as normal.
3. Once unloaded, unpack the shipment as soon as possible to fully inspect it for damage that may have been incurred during shipping. If any damage is found, document it with pictures and contact [email protected] so a claim can be initiated with the carrier
4. Include all the pictures, the BOL or PRO# in the subject line, and the proof of delivery that was provided upon arrival. The carrier may want to inspect the pallet, so we strongly recommend you leave it as is once damage is found.