Being a freight forwarder, you are responsible for the damages or lost goods during transit and sued against damaged goods. In order to be on the safe side, a freight forwarder should always ask its clients to buy cargo insurance. Clients should buy cargo insurance as it is their insurable interest to protect the cargo and it is also a standard and good practice to maintain an optimum cover to protect goods in transit. A freight forwarder should always make sure that the consignment is insured on the client’s end and if not. They should ask the clients to buy cargo policy since freight forwarders’ liability has limitations. And sometimes the value of the limit of liability is less than the value of the consignment. Therefore, it is important for a freight forwarder to ensure the consignment of its clients.
In order to achieve a competitive advantage, a freight forwarder can also buy cargo insurance for its clients. And provide coverage for a client’s consignment as value addition. Most big logistics firms invest in cargo insurance to provide an additional protective layer to their business.
Read: What is covered under cargo insurance?
For a freight forwarder, the freight forwarder insurance policy is the most important policy as it provides coverage against negligence, error, or omission. Any claim arising because of weather-related causes or inadequate packaging won’t be under freight liability insurance policy so it becomes important to buy cargo insurance. It is important to understand the difference between freight forwarder liability policy and freight insurance since both trigger different types of claim and the reason for the loss is the line of demarcation between them.
If any damage occurred to cargo during shipment because of a negligent act performed on the freight forwarder’s end. It can cover under freight forwarders liability insurance. Freight liability policy triggers claims in which carrier or freight forwarder is at fault and negligence, should prove in freight liability claims. But this is not the case in cargo or freight insurance as there is no need to prove negligence. As cargo insurance does not cover consequential losses or any liability-related losses. So it is crucial to buy both policies to avail complete protection against mishaps.
Read About: Tips to buy the best freight forwarder insurance policy
Case Study:
XYZ Logistics Ltd. company has freight liability insurance. One of its clients sued XYZ Logistics company against the loss of goods during transit. The client has not bought cargo insurance which turned the situation worse as the limit of liability under freight liability insurance is less than the value of lost goods. The client will be at loss, due to the unsettled loss amount. If either the client or the logistics firm would avail of freight insurance, the complete loss amount would recover. Freight liability insurance only covers a specified amount, mentioned in the policy as the limit of liability. It is crucial to prove negligence or unprofessional acts performed by freight forwarders that caused all the damage.
It is important for clients to mitigate the series of risks that can cause damage to goods in transit by purchasing cargo insurance. On the other hand, a freight forwarder should always buy freight liability insurance to cover all the liabilities which could befall him. If transportation of goods would not be in good condition. Freight Liability insurance can provide assistance in handling complaints from clients against error or omission or any negligent act. Cargo or freight insurance can do wonders for a freight forwarder if purchased with freight liability insurance. As these insurance policies will cover almost all probable risks during transit.
