In this week’s Trucknology Podcast, host Jeff Berlin sits down with attorney Cristina Belaval, a seasoned legal expert who specializes in transportation collections, one of the most complex and misunderstood parts of the freight ecosystem. Cristina shares her journey from practicing banking law in Puerto Rico to becoming a trusted collections authority for carriers, brokers, and factoring companies across the United States.

The conversation dives into how freight bills are legally enforced, why the bill of lading is the single most important document in transportation, and how carriers can legally pursue multiple parties (not just brokers) for unpaid freight. Cristina breaks down critical topics such as double brokering, carrier liability, shipper exposure, bond claims, MAP-21 violations, factoring company rights, and how various states differ in their treatment of carriers during collection disputes.

Listeners will gain practical, real-world advice on how to protect their business from non-payment, including what to look for when onboarding new customers, how to prevent double-payment scenarios, the legal role of the consignee, and what steps a carrier should take before and after an invoice goes delinquent. Cristina also explains why some states are more carrier-friendly and what that means for pursuing legal action.

Whether you’re a broker, carrier, factoring company, or shipper, this episode uncovers essential knowledge about freight collections, legal strategy, and avoiding costly mistakes. Cristina’s experience, paired with Jeff’s decades of industry insight, creates a powerful and accessible breakdown of one of trucking’s most complicated challenges. For more information about Freight Collections, click here.

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