Texas-based nationwide business-to-business collection agency, in operation since 1979, that works on a no recovery, no fee basis and offers field collectors and a legal network.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Burt & Associates, which styles its name Burt and Associates, is a commercial collection agency that recovers overdue business-to-business debts nationwide. Its home page describes it as providing "nationwide B2B debt collections since 1979," and its About page says it has served more than 17,000 clients.
Burt is a general commercial agency rather than a freight specialist. Its site does not have a dedicated trucking or transportation page. It belongs in this category because unpaid freight bills between businesses, such as a shipper that will not pay a broker or a broker that will not pay a carrier, are B2B debts of the kind it handles.
Carriers and brokers that want a large, established commercial agency with field collectors and legal support may find it useful, particularly for larger balances owed by debtors that are still in business.
Compare with other Freight Collections providers: The Kaplan Group, Alexander, Winton & Associates (AWA Collections) and Southwest Recovery Services, or see all Freight Collections.
Services
Burt's service list covers the full collection cycle. Before credit is extended, it offers new customer evaluation. Once an account is past due, it offers debtor investigation, including on-site visits, background checks and asset searches, plus a bankruptcy watch.
Collection itself starts with what the firm calls diplomatic arbitration, a low-key approach meant to keep the business relationship intact. If that fails, the firm uses certified field collectors, who it says can make on-site visits in every state, and a legal network for accounts where repayment agreements break down.
It also offers repayment solutions for debtors, full accounts receivable management and, on a case-by-case basis, short-term lending for clients facing cash-flow problems. The site covers both US and international collections and has an in-house licensed paralegal.
Who it is for
Burt serves businesses placing commercial accounts for collection. Within freight, that makes it a fit for brokers trying to collect from shippers, for carriers trying to collect from brokers or shippers that are still operating, and for logistics firms with aged receivables across many customers.
Because Burt is not transportation-only, carriers should ask how much freight work the firm handles and whether it understands broker bonds, double-payment disputes and the documents used in trucking, such as rate confirmations and proof of delivery.
The firm's mix of field collectors and investigation tools may suit larger balances where an in-person visit or asset search could change the outcome.
How working with them works
Clients start by requesting a quote or a free value analysis, or by booking a consultation through the site. The FAQ says the firm needs the amount owed, the debtor's name and company, the debtor's phone and email, and your company details to set up the account. Accounts can then be placed online through a Place an Account page, and clients get access to a client portal.
Collections are on contingency. The FAQ says you pay nothing unless the firm recovers the debt, and the home page uses the phrase "no recovery, no fee." Fee percentages, minimum account sizes and recovery timelines are not published.
The firm's sales line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it lists phone contacts for 12 cities including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.
Questions to ask before you sign
What contingency percentage will you charge on a freight invoice of this size and age, and does the rate change when an account goes to your legal network or a field visit?
Is there a minimum claim size?
How many transportation accounts do you handle, and do your collectors understand rate confirmations, bills of lading, proof of delivery and broker double-payment disputes?
If my debtor is a freight broker, will you help with a claim against its BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust, or should I file that myself?
How will you handle the federal 18-month limit to sue over interstate freight charges under 49 U.S.C. 14705?
Your site says you are licensed and bonded in every state that requires it. Can you confirm the license for the state where my debtor is located?
How often will I get status reports, and what can I see in the client portal?
Company background
Burt & Associates has worked in business debt collection since 1979, according to its website. The site lists its headquarters as McKinney, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, although the About page body also refers to Richardson, Texas. It does not publish a street address or name its owners or managers.
The firm's credentials page lists memberships in ACA International and the Commercial Law League of America, and states that it is fully licensed and bonded in every state where those credentials are required. It also has an in-house licensed paralegal and describes its collectors as certified.
Burt publishes an education section, a glossary, state-by-state collection law pages and a podcast for clients who want to understand the process.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
