What is DAT assurance?
DAT assurance helps carriers collect past due freight payments. Assurance is provided at no additional cost for active carrier DAT load board subscribers. If we can't collect, DAT will credit your account up to $1000 based on your level of subscription. The collections partner for the Assurance program is Debt Recovery Resources (www.debt-rr.com).
How does Assurance work?
- Find qualified loads on any of DAT load board as noted by the Assurance icon on the load details.
- You must select the "Assure It" logo link to be eligible for repayment, and then register the load.
- You will be prompted to fill out a short form. Submit the form, download and sign the Collections Services Agreement and submit to DAT.
- If you have not been paid for that load within 60 days, Debt Recovery Resources will attempt to collect the debt for you.
- If we are unable to collect the past due amount within 120 days, DAT will credit you for the outstanding amount, up to $1,000. (Credit amount may vary, and is detailed in your service agreement.) Our collections partner will continue to attempt collections on your behalf.
What can I expect from Assurance?
The process for registering a load with Assurance is as follows:
- Day 1: A carrier customer conducts a load search, chooses a load and if the
load qualifies, registers it with the Assurance Program. The carrier submits Collections Services
Agreement to DAT agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Assurance Program.
- Day 45: Carrier customer is sent 45-Day reminder email requesting notification
if the debt on the load has been paid. Customer notifies DAT Solutions that debt is not yet
paid.
- Day 60: Load registration period expires. Customer has 15 days to respond,
indicating if the debt was paid or not. Collections Services Agreement must be signed and submitted to
DAT. The customer *must* change the status from "In process" to "In collections" if not paid after Day
60. Customer must update status within 15 days otherwise no collections will be started.
- Between days 60 to 75: If payment is past due, update the status of the load,
to "In collections," DAT Solutions will then send load registration information to Debt Recovery
Resources with notification that the debt has been assigned for collection. Debt Recovery Resources
attempts to collect debt for Carrier customer for 60 days after the debt is assigned to
collection.
- Day 120: Debt Recovery Resources notifies DAT Solutions that debt hasn't been collected from the Broker. Carrier customer is then issued a credit from DAT Solutions up to $1,000 based on customer's subscription level. Debt Recovery Resources will continue to attempt collections on the carrier's behalf beyond Day 120 and will issue a credit to the carrier upon collection, less any credits provided to you by DAT.
Is there a limit to the number of loads I can assure?
There is no limit to the number of loads a carrier can register with Assurance. However, DAT Solutions will not permit registration of more than 100 loads simultaneously to an individual broker. If a broker has exceeded that limit, DAT Solutions reserves the right to refuse to register additional loads to that broker.
What is the waiting period for debt collection on a load?
After your load was registered, there is a waiting period of 60 days before your load may be submitted for collection. At that time DAT Solutions reminds you to submit the registered load for collection if it has not been paid.
How is the debt collected?
DAT Solutions partners with a leading credit collection service provider, Debt Recovery Resources. Using the load information and documentation provided by the carrier, Debt Recovery Resources will contact the debtor and attempt to collect the past due amount.
What happens after submitting a debt for collection?
You will be contacted within 3 business days from Debt Recovery Resources to verify the information and proceed with the process.
Debt collection time period
After an initial 60-day waiting period, Debt Recovery Resources attempts to collect the debt for another 60 days. At the end of 120 days, if Debt Recovery Resources is unable to collect the payment, DAT will issue a credit to the carrier customer, up to the maximum amount specified in the freight matching service agreement.
Debt Recovery Resources will continue to attempt collections on the carrier's behalf beyond Day 120 and will issue a credit to the carrier upon collection less any credits provided to you by DAT.
Collection service agreement
The collection services agreement is a legal contract stating the terms of the collection process. DAT Solutions must have this agreement on file before we can have Debt Recovery Resources assist you in collecting load payments.
What happens if the debt is paid before 60 days?
When you are paid for the load, mark the load as paid on the "Manage Loads" page in Assurance. No collection activity will be initiated.
What documentation do I need after I submit a debt for collection?
You will be contacted within 3 business days after submitting the debt for collection, to verify the information and begin the collection process. You will need to provide a copy of each of the following documents:
- the freight bill(s)
- the bill(s) of lading for each freight bill
- delivery receipt, if applicable
- proof of delivery, if bill of lading is not signed by consignee
- rate information between carrier and broker
- broker's agreement (if any)
This information is required at the time that the debt is submitted for collection. If you are unable to provide the required documentation within 15 days, collection will not be initiated and the load will no longer be eligible for the Assurance program.