Lost Freight: How to Find and Recover Lost Goods in Transit

1. How Goods Get Lost
2. Human error
3. Natural disasters
4. Container loss at sea
5. Protecting Your Shipments
6. Be aware of your shipments
7. Make sure your shipment is safely packaged
8. Use tracking numbers
9. Use GPS tracking devices
10. Contact the carrier
11. File a report with the customs
12. Hire an investigator
13. Call the police
14. File a lawsuit
15. A Safe Pair of Hands

Lost shipments aren't just annoying inconveniences; they also cost businesses billions of dollars yearly.

But with some planning, you can minimize these losses and ensure that your products arrive safely.

This article will share our top tips for finding and recovering lost shipments.

How Goods Get Lost

The first step is understanding how goods get lost in transit.

There are two leading causes of loss: human error and natural disasters.

Human errors include things like mislabeling or mishandling the shipment. Natural disasters have events like fires, floods, storms, and earthquakes.

Human error

If you're shipping an item yourself, it's easy to overlook minor details like labels or packing materials.

This is especially true if you have multiple shipments going out at once. Knowing all the details is essential, so you don't miss anything.

If you're outsourcing the shipping process, someone else may make mistakes.

For example, a shipper may accidentally ship the wrong product or mislabel the package. Or, a warehouse worker might misplace a box of items.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires can cause significant damage to warehouses, trucks, and other cargo-handling equipment.

In some cases, the damage may not be visible from the outside. A fire could destroy the inside of a truck without leaving any obvious signs on the exterior.

Container loss at sea

Another common type of loss occurs when containers break open while being transported by sea.

The most common culprits are strong winds and rough seas.

Even where containers are not lost outright, these conditions can tear open the container and expose its contents to the elements.

When this happens, the container contents become exposed to water, salt air, and extreme temperatures. As a result, many of the items inside will spoil quickly.

Protecting Your Shipments

Once you understand why goods get lost, you can start thinking about ways to prevent this from happening in the first place.

The best way to do this is by being proactive. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the chances of losing your goods:

1. Be aware of your shipments

It sounds simple enough, but many companies fail to track their shipments properly.

Ensure you keep accurate records of when each shipment leaves and arrives. These records will help you identify problems quickly.

2. Make sure your shipment is safely packaged

The first step towards recovery is ensuring your shipment arrives at its destination safely and sound. What is

the best way to do this? By packaging it correctly from the start.

If you're shipping fragile items or perishable goods, such as food or flowers, you should use unique packaging materials designed specifically for those shipments.

And if you're sending an item prone to damage during transit, like electronics or jewelry, then you need to ensure that it's packed securely enough to withstand any bumps along the way.

3. Use tracking numbers

Once you've packaged your shipment correctly, you can track it using a tracking number.

This number should be included on your package when you ship it, so you can quickly check its status online.

You can find out where your shipment is located by entering the tracking number into the website of your contracted shipping company.

You could miss important updates if you don't know what's going on with your shipment.

So keep up with your shipment's progress by regularly checking your tracking number's status.

Once you know where your shipment is, you can keep track of it until it reaches its final destination.

To do this, you can create a spreadsheet or document that includes all the details about your shipment.

Include information like the tracking number, the date and time it was delivered, the location where it was dropped off, and anything else that might help you identify it later.

4. Use GPS tracking devices

GPS devices allow you to monitor the location of your shipment at any given moment.

Some devices even let you send messages to the device's owner, letting them know that your shipment is overdue.

This feature can come in handy if you have to file a claim against the shipper after your shipment has been delayed.

5. Contact the carrier

If you lose track of your shipment, you can contact the carrier directly.

They may be able to tell you whether your shipment arrived intact or if there were problems while it was being transported.

Some carriers provide insurance coverage for their customers' shipments.

If you want to file a claim with your carrier's insurance company you can do so either online or over the phone.

Most carriers will be happy to work with you once they receive proof of loss.

File a claim with your insurance company

If you believe that your insurance provider will cover the loss, you should file a claim immediately after you realize that your shipment has gone missing.

Policies vary, so you should speak to your insurance provider before filing a claim to see what their policy covers.

6. File a report with the customs

You can also report missing shipments to customs if your item is being shipped internationally.

Customs officials often seize lost shipments, and in some cases, they'll hold onto these shipments until the rightful owner files a claim.

If you think customs seized your shipments, you should file a claim immediately. Doing so will give you access to the money owed to you by the carrier.

When filing a report with customs, you'll need to include proof that your shipment was lost or stolen.

For example, you could send pictures of the box that contained your shipment or provide documentation showing the contents and their value.

If you have an international shipment, you can also file an in-person claim at the port of entry.

This means you'll visit the border, crossing yourself to ensure that your shipment hasn't been seized. You'll need to show proof that your overseas shipment was legally imported.

7. Hire an investigator

If you suspect your shipment has been stolen, you'll need to hire an investigator to help you recover it.

An investigator will have experience investigating these cases, so they can help you determine how much money you're likely to receive as compensation for the loss.

8. Call the police

In some cases, the police may be able to recover your shipment for you.

However, they won't always be able to do this. If you think someone stole your shipment, you should call the local authorities.

They may be able to arrest the person responsible for stealing your goods.

9. File a lawsuit

Many countries have laws that protect consumers against companies that fail to deliver products on time.

These laws give people the right to sue those companies for damage; therefore, as a last resort, you can always look into filing a lawsuit against the parts responsible for your missing shipment.

Of course, this option does involve some inevitable legal costs. A buyout may win a settlement for the entire shipping cost if the lawsuit is successful.

A Safe Pair of Hands

For over 33 years, A1 auto transport has been working with individuals and businesses across the United States and beyond.

We understand the importance of protecting your belongings while they're in transit.

That's why we use only professional drivers and vehicles to ensure that your items arrive safely at their destination.

Our services include full container load (FCL) shipping, door-to-door delivery, residential moving, and more.

Contact usnow for a quote or to discuss transportation services we can offer you.