A clear contract
The terms of carriage, the acceptance and delivery procedure, liability and claim deadlines are set out in a document you can read before shipping, not discover afterwards.
Choosing
Choosing a carrier: what to compare and what to ask
Carrier offers are hard to compare directly: some include pickup and packing, others only cover transport between terminals. To make a fair choice, compare not the final figure but what lies behind it: transit times, liability, documents and restrictions.
Compare terms, not figures: services that look the same can include very different things.
We do not recommend carriers or publish prices. Below are the signs that make any offer easy to compare, and the questions you should get answered in writing before handing over your cargo.
What to look for
Six signs that help you tell a clear offer from one that may turn into a dispute.
The right method
The carrier handles your type of cargo — fragile, heavy, oversized or temperature-sensitive — and can explain how it will be transported.
Tracking
The shipment has a number that shows where the cargo is and what is happening to it, and if there is a delay, there is someone you can ask.
Insurance
It is clear up to what limit the carrier itself is liable for the cargo, and whether you can insure the shipment for its real value on top of that.
Packing requirements
The carrier tells you in advance what packing it considers sufficient and warns you when cargo without a crate or pallet will be refused or accepted without liability.
Terms for international shipments
If the cargo crosses a border, it is clear who prepares the documents, who handles customs clearance and who pays the related costs.
What to ask before shipping
- What the price includes — pickup, packing, transport, storage at the terminal, door delivery — and what is charged separately.
- Whether the cargo is insured, how much the carrier is liable for without extra insurance and how to insure it for its full value.
- What transit times are considered normal and what can push them back: transfers, weather, inspections, public holidays, how full the vehicle is.
- Who is liable for damage or loss and to what extent, the deadline for claims and which documents you will need.
- How to track the shipment and how the carrier tells you about delays or route changes.
- Where and how the cargo is received — delivery to an address or collection from a terminal — how many days it is stored free of charge and who may collect it.
- Which documents you need to provide when shipping and which you will receive: a waybill, a packing list, a receipt record and, for international shipments, an invoice.
- What restrictions apply to the cargo: weight and size per piece, prohibited and dangerous items, special requirements for fragile or valuable contents.
Read next
- Reviews
A comparison of shipping methods and common shipper decisions — plus the guide's article catalogue.
- Problems
What to do if cargo is delayed, not tracking, arrives damaged or incomplete, or is stuck at customs.
- Questions
Answers to common questions about this guide, about sending cargo and about receiving it, including customs.
Sources
- International Chamber of Commerce — Incoterms 2020
- Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
This information is based on the documents in force on the date of publication. International rules, carrier terms and customs requirements are updated regularly, so before you ship, check the current texts and the terms of whoever will be carrying your cargo.