Insurance is not covered in your quote unless discussed with your Freight Agent. You may want to add additional insurance on your shipment. Please discuss your needs with your Freight Agent at FreightForwarding.com for your specific type of shipment.

Please take the time to read our Terms and Conditions regarding limitations of liability.

GENERAL INSURANCE

General insurance covers your goods and protects against partial and total loss. Most general insurance policies have a deductible that varies from $250 to $1,000 per occurrence.

CARGO INSURANCE

Cargo insurance protects your goods during transportation or relocation. It allows you to recover loses in the event of accident.

GROUND FREIGHT INSURANCE

Each Carrier publishes released-value rates, which indicate limits on the amount of recovery. The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) shows the released value and full-value rate for each commodity and classification. For each unit, the weight times the released-value per lb. sets the maximum amount recoverable.

AIR FREIGHT INSURANCE

Many carriers have adopted a ceiling of $0.50 per lb. times the total weight of the shipment. The international air carriers limit is $9.07 per lb. per article lost of damaged or $45.00 maximum unless DV is declared. There is a ceiling on the amount of recovery with each individual carrier. For example: Alaska Airlines states $0.50 per pound or $50.00 per shipment minimum coverage, unless DV is declared. Pilot Air Freight states $0.50 per pound minimum or more if DV is stated and paid for up to $50,000. Southwest Airlines state $0.50 per pound or $0.50 per $100.00 for DV. These standards are subject to change by the individual carrier. NOTE - DV (Declared Value) is not to exceed the value of the goods shipped.

MARINE INSURANCE

All ocean shipments are subject to a specific law passed by the U.S. Congress known as the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (CGSA). These regulations basically limit the liability of shipping companies to $500.00 per package, vehicle, or container.

FreightForwarding.com works with several underwriting insurance groups. The insurance premiums vary according to the commodity description and are calculated as a percentage of the declared value of the goods. Example: Household Goods - the premium is 2% or $2.00 per each $100.00 of declared value.

Five common law defenses printed on the Bill of Lading, which accompanies the shipment. These five common law defenses are beyond the control of the carrier and are noted for your information:

1. Act of God: An Act of God is a natural disaster that can neither be caused by human intervention nor prevented by human prudence. It refers to disasters that the carrier could not reasonably anticipate and avert, such as floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar events.
2. Act of public enemy: This exception refers to the belligerent actions of another nation's military forces. It does not include acts of terrorists, hijackers, or rioters.
3. Act of public authority: When legal processes against owners are used to seize their freight from the carrier, the carrier is not liable for the loss. In addition, states may use their police powers to seize or destroy contraband, impound cargo as evidence, or quarantine contaminated goods. Carriers obeying such authority are not liable for any loss.
4. Act of shipper: Acts of shippers most frequently involve improper loading or packaging. The general principle, however, is that the fault of the shipper must not be apparent through ordinary observation; if it is, the carrier has the duty to reject the shipment.
5. Inherent vice: Carriers are not liable for loss and damage from the "inherent vice" of a commodity. Inherent vice refers to such factors as natural defects, decay, or disease that cause deterioration over time. Examples include rusting, spoilage, shrinkage, and fermentation.