Tennessee moves freight. Memphis has one of the world's largest air cargo hubs and a major Mississippi River port, and Nashville and Chattanooga sit on busy interstate routes. Auto plants, health care companies, music and entertainment businesses and distilleries round out the state's commercial base. Creditors owed money by a Tennessee business often deal with logistics firms, manufacturers or health care operators.
Business debt in Tennessee
Memphis is a logistics center, home to a large global air cargo hub and a river port, with five Class I railroads and Interstates 40 and 55. Its warehouses and distribution centers serve retailers and manufacturers across the country. Nashville has grown into a center for health care management companies, music and entertainment, and corporate offices, and its construction sector has been busy for years.
Automotive manufacturing is a major industry, with assembly plants in Smyrna, Spring Hill and Chattanooga and newer electric vehicle and battery projects in West and Middle Tennessee. Knoxville has research ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and a mix of manufacturing. Tennessee whiskey distilleries in Lynchburg and elsewhere attract suppliers for barrels, bottles and grain. Agriculture includes cattle, soybeans and cotton. The Tri-Cities area in the northeast corner has chemical manufacturing and close ties to Virginia markets.
Unpaid invoices in Tennessee often involve trucking and logistics companies around Memphis and Nashville, auto suppliers dealing with chargebacks, and subcontractors on the many construction projects in Middle Tennessee. Health care providers and the vendors serving them also face slow payments tied to reimbursement cycles.
Where Tennessee collections come from
Logistics and air cargo
Memphis warehouses, carriers and freight forwarders handle goods for national shippers, and unpaid freight bills and storage disputes are a frequent source of commercial collections.
Automotive supply
Plants in Smyrna, Spring Hill and Chattanooga depend on regional suppliers, and production changes or quality disputes often lead to delayed or partial payments.
Health care services
Nashville-based health care companies buy staffing, IT and medical supplies on credit, and reimbursement delays can slow payments to vendors and contractors.
Construction in Middle Tennessee
Steady growth around Nashville keeps contractors busy, and slow draws, change orders and retainage regularly lead to disputes over subcontractor payments.
Taking a Tennessee debtor to court
Tennessee's circuit and chancery courts are the trial courts for larger civil claims. General sessions courts handle many smaller civil cases and do not use a separate small claims court, with a civil limit set by statute. Creditors should verify the current general sessions limit before filing.
We verify the debtor's legal entity before any demand, and if a claim needs to go to court we send you a written recommendation with costs first. How legal collections work.
Cities we collect from
- Nashville
- Memphis
- Knoxville
- Chattanooga
Frequently asked questions
Can you collect from a freight company in the Memphis area?
Yes. Memphis has a large concentration of trucking companies, freight brokers and warehouses, and unpaid freight charges are common. Collection relies on rate confirmations, bills of lading and proof of delivery. When a broker is involved, determining who owes the carrier or shipper requires careful review. Federal rules on freight charges and broker bonds may apply, so creditors should consult counsel on larger claims.
Can you collect from a Tennessee business if my company is elsewhere?
Yes. We collect from Tennessee businesses for creditors anywhere in the U.S. and abroad. If suit becomes necessary, it is usually filed where the debtor is located, through local counsel and only with your approval.
Owed money by a Tennessee business?
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