What evidence would you save when an empty return isn't possible?
After the recent FMC court update, what would you keep in the shipment file if the nominated terminal is closed or won't accept the container?
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8 replies
- Save the return instruction, the terminal notice and the attempted appointment times. A dated timeline is much stronger than remembering afterward that nothing was available. I'd keep the actual depot response too, particularly if the refusal was specific to that container type or booking. A general screenshot of opening hours may not explain why your truck could not return this box at the time you attempted it.
- The FMC update is about specific facts, so don't treat it as an automatic waiver for every closed day. Show what prevented this particular return.
- Ask the trucker for contemporaneous records too. Dispatch messages and depot responses can explain what was practically possible, not just what the published hours said.
- Keep the carrier informed while the problem is happening and ask for an alternative. That gives them a chance to solve it and creates a record of your attempt.
- Check the invoice dispute procedure and deadline promptly. Good evidence is less useful if the request sits in an inbox until the review window closes.
- Separate the disputed days from the rest of the bill. A precise request is easier to assess than rejecting every charge on principle.
- One small thing: keep timezone information on screenshots and messages. It can matter when the charge clock and the dispatcher are working in different locations.
- If you get a verbal instruction, follow up with a short written summary. Everyone may remember the call differently when the invoice arrives.
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