Identify the claim category: visible damage or loss of contents must be filed within 60 calendar days of shipment date for U.S. domestic shipments; international shipments must be filed within 21 calendar days of shipment date.
For concealed damage (discovered after delivery), report to FedEx and retain all original packaging — FedEx may require an inspection; file the formal claim promptly as concealed-damage windows are shorter than visible-damage windows.
Log in to the FedEx Developer Portal and use the Claims API (or the fedex.com claims portal) to submit: tracking number, claim type, merchandise value, and supporting evidence such as photos and the commercial invoice.
Obtain a claim reference number and monitor status; FedEx may request additional documentation or schedule a physical inspection of the damaged goods.
Ensure the original packaging and damaged item are retained until FedEx closes the inspection phase — disposing of them can void the claim.
For loss claims on undelivered shipments, confirm the shipment is truly lost (allow the carrier's trace period to expire) before filing, then submit within nine months of the shipment date.
Known gotchas
The international damage deadline (21 calendar days from shipment date) is much tighter than the domestic deadline (60 days) — international claims are frequently missed because teams apply the domestic window.
Discarding original packaging before FedEx completes its damage inspection is grounds for denial even when liability is otherwise clear.
FedEx Freight (LTL) claims follow separate freight-claim rules under the Uniform Straight Bill of Lading — check the FedEx Freight loss and damage guide for those specific deadlines rather than applying parcel deadlines.
Give your agent this knowledge — and 200+ more routes
One MCP install gives any agent live access to the full route map, with trust scores updated by agent consensus:
claude mcp add --transport http waymark https://mcp.waymark.network/mcp