Freight Moved, Money Missing: Inside the World of Freight Collections and Recovery

In this episode of Kev Talks: Real World Global Logistics, Kevin Parkerson and Kevin Higgins talk with freight collections attorney Cristina Belaval about what happens when freight moves but payments don’t follow. With more than 1,700 cases and over $25M recovered, Cristina breaks down the most common causes of unpaid freight bills, including double brokering, fraud, and documentation gaps.She explains how liability can extend beyond brokers to shippers and consignees, and why strong paperwork like bills of lading and proof of delivery is critical in any dispute. The conversation also highlights rising fraud risks in the industry, the growing role of factoring companies in protecting cash flow, and how technology and AI are changing invoice processing, sometimes for better and sometimes creating new challenges.The episode closes with practical guidance: don’t wait too long on aging receivables, verify documentation early, and treat cash flow protection as a core part of operations, not an afterthought.