Formal Payment Demand Letter for Haulage Services

Yes, you are legally entitled to charge interest on overdue commercial invoices under standard contract terms or statutory interest laws. You should calculate this interest based on the agreed rate in your credit agreement or the statutory rate from the date the invoice became overdue. Be sure to clearly itemize these interest charges as a separate line item in your demand letter.

You must separate the payment of your haulage invoice from any insurance or damage claims, as cargo claims are handled under separate liability frameworks. Instruct the client to pay the outstanding transport invoice in full while filing a formal transit claim with your insurance provider. Referencing your standard terms of carriage, such as RHA or BIFA conditions, will help protect your right to immediate payment.

You prove demurrage by attaching detailed waiting-time sheets, GPS tracking logs, or driver logs that clearly document arrival and departure times at the loading or unloading site. These logs must be cross-referenced with your original contract or quote, which must clearly state the allowed free time and the hourly or daily rate for delays. Providing this objective data prevents the debtor from disputing the waiting charges.

If the payment deadline passes without a response, you should immediately escalate the matter to a specialized debt collection agency or initiate a small claims court action. Delaying your next step weakens your position and signals to the debtor that you are not serious about enforcing the demand. Ensure you keep copies of the sent letter and proof of its delivery to use as evidence in your legal proceedings.