Products that do not have a "Call for shipping rates" notation will be shipped via UPS. If a product does require you to call for shipping, Please call our office so we can find the best shipping carier for your needs. You will be paying for the product only and shipping will be billed as a separate cost. Due to rising fuel costs we cannot use a standard rate. If you have a prefered carrier or a corporate account, we can arrange to have the products shipped under your account with your carrier.
WE STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU CHECK MATERIAL BEFORE SIGNING FOR MATERIAL.
If Material is Damaged in shipment- DO NOT ACCEPT IT- we will have replacement material shipped out to you at no cost to you.
If you do accept material and it has concealed damage you must call us within 24 hours of receipt of material. Any damaged material must be held for inspection by carrier. If damage is noted on freight bill we will file the freight claim for you.
The customer is responsible for all freight claims resulting from damage in transit if they accept the material from the carrier without noting such on the freight bill.
Please see the following information on what is required from the customer:
Customer's Responsibilities
As the consignee, you must carefully identify and document loss and/or damage on the delivery receipt at time of delivery.
There are two types of loss or damage:
Visible or Noted Loss or Damage
Visible loss or damage is apparent at the time of delivery and should be noted. Noted loss or damage is recorded in detail on the delivery receipt.
When recording loss or damage, please use specific details and try to avoid general or generic terms such as "box damaged" or "torn". This type of notation does not provide adequate support for your claim.
Please note: A notation of "subject to inspection," by itself, is not considered a valid notation of loss or damage.
Concealed Loss or Damage
These claims are considered and investigated as concealed loss or damage claims and will be handled based on their individual merits.
Concealed loss or damage is that which was not apparent at the time of delivery. The National Motor Freight Classification, ITEM 300135 (see specific section below) states: "When damage to contents of a shipping container is discovered by the consignee whichcould not have been determined at time of delivery, it must be reported by the consignee to the delivering carrier upon discovery and arequest for inspection by the carrier's representative made. Notice of loss or damage and a request for inspection may be given by telephone or in person, but in either event must be confirmed in writing by mail."
Concealed damage should be reported to the carrier within 15 days of delivery. Inspection or waiver of inspection will be provided as promptly as possible and practicable after receipt of request by the consignee. However, should the carrier waive inspection, the consignee must make the inspection and record all information to the best of his or her ability pertinent to the cause.
Shortages
If possible, make a written tally record when a large number of items are being received or the shipment consists of a number of different items. At time of delivery please check the labels on all handling units to be certain they are yours and check for shortages as goods are being unloaded. Be sure to keep the shipment together until unloading is complete, in case a recount is necessary.
If there is a shortage, please note it on the delivery receipt before signing for the shipment.
Stretchwrapped and Shrinkwrapped Skids
Carriers are liable for handling units, as counted at the time the shipment is received. Therefore, if a driver signs for a shipment as "1 SWS (stretchwrapped skid) STC (said to contain) 25" or "1 SWS UTC (unable to count)," Carrier is responsible for delivering 1 stretchwrapped skid intact, not 25 pieces. If cartons or pieces are counted at delivery and ashortage is reported, the carrier is only liable if the stretchwrap has been broken (check-box on the delivery receipt should note the condition of the stretchwrap as intact or not).
If the same driver accepts "1 SWS 25 Cartons" or "25 on 1 SWS," liability is for the quantity of cartons, as the driver has indicated the pieces were counted (by noting pieces and omitting the unable to count, said to contain, or similar notation).
Bradley Washroom Equipment and Bobrick Washroom equipment Shrink wrap their pallets and wrap them with a colored tape. If the tape is broken the pallet has been tampered with.
Item or Purchase Order Numbers
Carriers are not liable for item or purchase order numbers, only piece count. This is because item and/or purchase order numbers are not verified at the time of pickup. (Example: If delivery receipt is noted "20 cartons item 123456 over, 20 cartons 654321 short," no carrier liability exists.)
Claim Filing
Per the Bill of Lading Terms and Conditions, claimants have nine (9) months from the date of delivery (or from the date delivery couldhave reasonably been expected) to file claims for loss and/or damage. If any part of a shipment is refused due to damage, the nine (9)months begins when the shipment was originally tendered for delivery. A claim is not considered to have been filed until it is
received by the carrier.
All claims are handled in accordance with the NMFC Principles and Practices for the Investigation and Disposition of Freight Claims, the Bill of Lading Terms and Conditions, and applicable Rules Tariff or Contract (see specific sections below).
All claims should include:
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The freight bill number.
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Explanation of loss and/or damage.
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Dollar amount being claimed.
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Claimant's contact information (name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail).
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A copy of the original vendor invoice – this is the original invoice issued to the consignee or third party for the merchandise shipped.
Other information may be necessary, including (but not limited to):
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An explanation of why merchandise cannot be repaired or retained with an allowance as well as a contact name and telephonenumber to arrange salvage pickup of merchandise claimed as a total loss.
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A breakdown of the labor (number of hours, cost per hour) and itemized detail of the claimant's cost of parts if merchandise has been repaired.
(See important information under the Mitigation or Repair section.)
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Weight of the merchandise claimed if it is released value freight, or subject to maximum liability limitations.
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For partial or complete shortages,
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A charge back issued by the consignee.
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A credit memo from the shipper.
Providing this information when a claim is filed will greatly reduce the administrative costs for both the claimant and the carrier. Also, complete claims are more likely to be finalized in a timely manner, increasing customer satisfaction.
If merchandise is being claimed as a total loss, it must be retained as salvage until payment is made, or the carrier advises otherwise.
If the claimant is unable to retain salvage indefinitely, National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) ITEM 300150 outlines the proper means of notifying the carrier. Failure to retain salvage or properly notify the carrier may result in amendment or declination of the claim.
Mitigation or Repair
Claimants have a legal obligation to mitigate claims and reduce the damages as much as possible. This can be accomplished through:
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Repair - Claims for repair should reflect the claimant’s cost for parts and labor.
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Sorting damaged and undamaged pieces to reduce the quantity being claimed (see labor rate in the section titled Claim Filing).
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Cutting sheet, roll and wire goods to salvage and reuse as much material as is possible.
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Sale through the most profitable means available. (Claim would then reflect the difference between the destination value and the amount recovered through the secondary sale.)
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Retaining damaged but useable goods for an allowance.
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Any other means resulting in a reduction in the claim equal to or greater than that which the carrier may have obtained through salvage of the goods.
