Marine Cargo Transport Rejection What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About Rejection of Claims in Land Freight Transportation

In the modern logistics industry, land freight transportation is an indispensable part of enterprise supply chain management. However, during actual operations, rejection of claims often occurs, which not only troubles the cargo owners but also poses challenges for logistics enterprises. So why does this happen? How should cargo owners and carriers respond?

In recent years, with the vigorous development of e-commerce, the express logistics industry has faced unprecedented opportunities and challenges. According to statistics from the State Post Bureau, the cumulative business volume of national express service enterprises completed in the first quarter of 2025 reached 24.23 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of 15.8%. Behind such a huge business volume, various problems inevitably arise, one of which is rejection of claims.

Rejection of claims generally refers to situations where, due to certain reasons, goods are damaged or lost during transportation, and the carrier refuses to assume liability for compensation. This situation often leaves cargo owners feeling helpless, as it means they may have to bear economic losses on their own. Then, what exactly causes rejection of claims?

Firstly, unclear contract terms are an important reason for rejection of claims. Many enterprises often focus only on price and service scope when signing contracts, neglecting specific agreements regarding compensation responsibilities. For example, a well-known e-commerce platform once incurred millions of RMB in losses due to disputes over compensation standards with a logistics company, ultimately unable to recover the loss. Such cases remind us that we must carefully read and clearly define both parties' rights and obligations, especially regarding compensation responsibilities, when signing contracts.

Secondly, improper packaging of goods is another significant factor leading to rejection of claims. According to relevant reports, many cargo owners fail to take adequate protective measures before shipping, resulting in damage to goods during transportation. For instance, a furniture manufacturer, failing to use shock-absorbing materials to wrap fragile items, found multiple products cracked after long-distance transportation, and was ultimately refused compensation by the carrier. Strengthening training on goods packaging and improving employees' professional skills is particularly important.

Natural disasters and social emergencies can also lead to rejection of claims. At the beginning of this year, affected by strong cold air, many areas in our country experienced rare snowfall weather, forcing some highways to close, causing a large amount of goods to pile up. In such cases, if the goods are damaged or delivery is delayed, carriers may refuse compensation citing force majeure. Although laws provide protection for such situations, there are still some controversies in their implementation.

Facing the issue of rejection of claims, how should cargo owners protect their rights? First, timely collection of evidence is necessary, including but not limited to transport documents, photos/videos, and communication records. These materials will be key evidence for future claim applications or litigation. Second, attempts can be made to resolve issues through negotiation, as litigation procedures are time-consuming and costly. Lastly, it is recommended that cargo owners choose reputable and experienced companies to collaborate with, and regularly evaluate the performance of partners to identify and address problems in a timely manner.

In summary, rejection of claims in land freight transportation is not an insurmountable problem. As long as all parties can strengthen communication and cooperation, improve regulations, and jointly create a fair and transparent market environment, the frequency of such incidents can be effectively reduced, promoting the healthy development of the entire industry.