Freight Collections: How to Protect Cash, Enforce Liens, and Survive Slow Pay | Episode 314

Cash flow isn’t just paperwork—it’s survival for a freight business. In this episode, attorney Cristina Belaval (Freight Collection Solutions) and consultant Janie Howerton share the habits, documents, and legal tools that actually get brokers and carriers paid. From weekly AR routines and clean invoicing to lien rights, setoffs, and collection strategies, they outline how to turn booked margin into real cash while avoiding costly delays. If you want stronger AR discipline and fewer payment surprises, this one’s a tactical roadmap.

Cristina Belaval – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-belaval-657619132/
Janie Howerton – https://www.linkedin.com/in/janie-mae-business-profit-consultant-and-strategist/

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0:00 Welcome, Guests, and Why Money Flow Matters
3:39 Meet Cristina and Janie: Collections and Financial Clarity
6:59 Brokers Are Banks: Cash Flow Risks in Down Markets
11:59 Cristina’s Path and The Scale of Recoveries
15:49 Cost, Contingency vs Hourly, and Business Sense
19:04 Janie’s Hard Lesson: Reading the P&L and AR
22:29 Weekly AR Discipline: Aging, Calls, and Notes
27:19 Liens 101: Secured Creditors, BOL, and Equity
32:55 Double Brokering, Double Payment Liability, Enforcement
38:45 When Good Customers Slow Pay: Freeze, Warn, Escalate
44:15 Inside Legal Tactics: Demand Letters and Multi-Party Suits
49:05 Statutes, Docs, and JP Court for Small Claims
53:45 Paperwork Wins: Rate Confirms, BOLs, and Proof
58:45 Claims vs Unrelated Invoices: Setoff and Contracts
1:04:05 Bonds, Timing, and How Firms Bill Without Retainers
1:08:05 How to Engage Cristina and National Options
1:10:15 Final Takeaways: Track, Enforce Rights, Get Paid