The products AIR TECH SALES supplies are shipped "F.O.B. Factory" and delivered to the customer (consignee) by a trucking/freight company (carrier). In most cases the shipper (consignor) selects the carrier.
F.O.B. (Free or Freight on Board) determines the point legal ownership (title) of the product changes from the shipper to the customer. "F.O.B. Factory" means title changes from the shipper to the customer when the product is loaded for the first time aboard the carrier’s truck at the shipper’s factory or warehouse. The F.O.B. point is determined by the shipper, not by AIR TECH SALES. The carriers used by our manufacturers all carry insurance against any loss or damage during transit. F.O.B. factory means if there should be any freight damage or loss during transit the customer is responsible for filing a freight claim with the carrier.
Luckily most shipments are delivered complete in good condition and on time. Unfortunately, those that give us the most grief are delivered with freight damage or missing items (called a shortage). The only way to determine if there is freight damage or a shortage is to carefully inspect the shipment when it is delivered.THIS IS THE CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY.
The shipping papers (the bill of lading) will indicate how the product was originally delivered to the carrier. It will indicate if the freight started on pallets or in cartons. It will also list the type of product, quantities of cartons or pallets, weight and the day it was picked-up at the shipping point. So, if it was originally shipped on pallets and it arrives as loose boxes, obviously something happened in transit and the shipment needs to be carefully inspected. INSPECT ALL DELIVERIES BEFORE SIGNING THE DELIVERY PAPERS. Check each carton for damage. Once you sign the shipping papers without noting any damage or shortage it is very difficult to file a freight claim.
That brings us to the big problem of concealed damage. Concealed damage is damage that is not visible when the material is delivered. It is concealed inside a box or not within sight. This type of freight damage is very difficult to prove after you have received the material and signed for the shipment without noting damages. To prevent a conflict between the freight carrier and you inspect each shipment, each carton, and if necessary each item when you receive them. If a cardboard container shows any sign of tears, holes, unusual folds, dents, wrinkles, or sags, open it before signing for the shipment. A few minutes of inspection time can be very beneficial to your company. After the shipment has been sitting in your possession for any length of time how can a shipper be sure that it is concealed damage from them and not you dropping a box loading it onto your truck? It can get very costly if you find concealed damage a month after the shipment was received or worse, on the day the material is to be installed. After the fact, how can you prove the carrier caused the damage?
We all dislike this inconvenience, but the customer must file the claim so your company will receive reimbursement from the carrier. We have found that freight claims filed timely and in a complete manner, are resolved timely. If you wish, Air Tech Sales will assist your firm in completing the claim form.
Whether you file a claim or not is the customers decision. Regardless, you must still pay AIR TECH SALES for the materials, even if it is damaged, destroyed or lost. If you do file a claim, the carrier will reimburse your company for damaged or lost products, replacement products, and in some cases your time to repair the damages. Contact the carrier’s claims department before starting any repair work and be sure to save all damaged material and packaging until inspected by the carrier's claims department.
If the product is damaged beyond repair or lost you may want to reorder. This reorder will be billed to your company by AIR TECH SALES. You are expected to pay AIR TECH SALES for the original order and any reorders.
You may refuse a shipment, but think about the following eight items before you proceed:
If you do not signed the delivery slip as damages your freight damage claim probably will be denied.
Things to remember when signing for damages:
Contact the carrier immediately and request a freight damage claim form and ask that a claim adjuster inspect the damage. Do not proceed with repairs to the damage without written authorization of the carrier. Do not destroy the freight or packaging until the claim is resolved.
The freight needs to be available to the carrier for inspection or salvage pickup. This means the freight needs to be stored until the freight claim is resolved. Do not destroy the freight or packaging until the claim is resolved.
You must file the freight claim. AIR TECH SALES cannot file a claim for you but, we will assist your staff with any questions. Items to include in your claim are:
The freight carriers are very reluctant to approve concealed freight damage claims. They will say the freight was signed as undamaged when it was delivered. If you can prove the damage occurred during transit or was packaged improperly you may have a chance for a claim. If so, proceed to #2.
Contact the carrier immediately and request a freight damage claim form and ask that a claim adjuster inspect the damage. Do not proceed with repairs to the damage without the written authorization of the carrier. Do not destroy the freight or packaging until the claim is resolved.
The freight needs to be available to the carrier for inspection or salvage pickup. This means the freight needs to be stored until the freight claim is resolved. Do not destroy the freight or packaging until the claim is resolved.
You must file the freight claim. AIR TECH SALES cannot file a claim for you but, we will assist your staff with any questions. Items to include in your claim are:
If you do not signed the delivery slip as being short your freight claim probably will be denied.
Things to remember when signing for shortage:
Contact the carrier immediately and request a freight claim form.
You must file the freight claim. AIR TECH SALES cannot file a claim for you but, we will assist your staff with any questions. Items to include in your claim are:
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