Central Transport, Markham, Illinois // Warren, Michigan base Lost a pallet of new medical devices, deficient reimbursement Markham Illinois

Central Transport - Markham, IL, local terminal serving NW Indiana

* Damaged goods - Of the 9 shipments actually received, 8 were in good order and one was damaged but not enough to bother with a claim.  Being used, the medical instrument damage claim would have been at the CT rate of around $0.02/ lb.

* Central Transport LOST a 48x42x48" pallet of medical devices with a retail value of $6k and even on eBay, $3k.  Items were all new, and given CT's max reimbursement rate for medical items, reimbursement was only $400, ($2/ lb).  I paid considerably more for the goods and also for CT's shipping charge.  CT refused to return the shipping cost, claiming the $400 included the shipping cost.  (So if the shipping cost were $600 for a 200 lb new medical device shipment, CT claims its liability would be limited to $400.  This could make it quite profitable for CT to lose a shipment, pay a claim at a diminished rate, and sell the item as unclaimed or damaged freight at a substantial profit.)  After not having received this for 1.5 weeks, I called CT, (generally, CT will not let the customer talk with the local dispatcher), to inquire about the shipment.  Every business day for about 1.5 months CT said the item was scheduled for shipment that or the following day.  CT took about a month to pay my claim (and never returned my freight bill payment to them through my broker).  I asked for a police report on the lost pallet but CT never responded.  As a result, I plan to sue CT for gross negligence for this loss.  Of more than 2000 shipments over 15 years, I had never experienced a totally lost shipment until I used CT.

Regarding loses whether insured or not, CT has dozens of exceptions to the standard tariffs schedule.  If the driver was a fill-in, or the tractor was a contractor to CT, onck, sorry, SOL for reimbursement.  I am no lawyer but this is the way CT's fine print looks to me.  

* Questionable practices - One shipment included items on two pallets;  one was delivered, one was not.  The CT Driver wanted me to sign as if the delivery was complete.  On another occasion, a shipment was left in the middle of a parking lot without notice and no signature.  That was the last time I used CT.  (I guess I should have filed a claim for non-delivery.)

I am not special.  Looking at other reviews, CT leads the industry in lost and damaged shipments.  It is time to put a stop to CT's continuing wilful negligence.