How do I review a refrigerated delivery company’s spoilage claims?

Gather the claims file. Ask for the claim, the delivery record, the temperature record and the final settlement for each one, including those handled by phone with no paperwork. If the seller says there are no claims, ask how a complaint would be recorded and who would handle it. An empty file can mean a clean operation or poor records.

Then sort what you receive. Group claims by truck, driver, route, product and customer. Look for repeats: one unit that keeps failing, one driver in the middle of several incidents, one customer who often disputes. Ask what changed after the worst claims, and whether the fix held.

Next, look at the money and the relationships. Ask how claims were paid, whether insurance responded and whether any customer left afterwards. Ask your accountant to trace the payments in the books. Ask your insurer and lawyer about open or possible claims, and about whether any customer contract limits what a claim can cover. Talk to a few customers about how they were treated, with the seller’s agreement.

Key takeaways

• Collect the claim, delivery record, temperature record and settlement for every case.
• Group claims by truck, driver, route and customer to find patterns.
• Ask what changed after the worst claims, and whether the fix held.
• Ask about open or possible claims before you sign anything.