Any item relocation involves risks! Especially if it takes place on roads, and particularly those with heavy traffic. The risk increases if the transportation is not only within a single populated area, but even more so when it crosses a country’s borders or, especially, when the distance is thousands of kilometers through multiple countries.
Therefore, when you need to transport cargo, it is crucial to understand what risks you may encounter along the way. Much depends on the choice of the carrier. Here are the factors to pay attention to:
1. Carrier's competence and reputation – primarily reviews or recommendations, as well as the company's staff's ability to provide consultations, answer your questions, and also ask questions to better understand the specifics of your cargo. This requires competency and experience in organizing cargo transportation.
2. Information about the cargo – all information about the item is necessary, starting from its specific characteristics, known only to the manufacturer or sender, as well as transportation specifics, such as temperature requirements (not just for food items). It's also important to know the nuances of loading, unloading, and moving the cargo, whether it’s in the vehicle's cargo space, storage, or elsewhere.
3. Cargo packaging – if the cargo is in its original packaging, it should typically be suitable for safe transportation and marked with visible special symbols. However, original packaging is often not sufficient to ensure safety! Many goods are also not transported in specialized packaging, or they may be consolidated on pallets made up of multiple units. In such cases, it’s essential to pay attention to how the cargo is prepared in the pallet or unit packing process. Items must be packaged so they cannot easily be damaged, and of course, all critical information should be shared with the carrier.
4. Cargo placement and securing – securing the cargo is essential for safe transportation. The carrier must have the appropriate equipment and skills to secure the cargo properly and safely; however, the key factor remains the information and instructions from the cargo manufacturer or sender. The carrier must follow instructions on the placement and securing of the cargo rather than relying on their own discretion. It is also worth noting that transport companies may have requirements for how the cargo is placed, for instance, oversized or heavy items, to ensure that the allowable axle load on the trailer is respected. Of course, this depends on several factors, such as the type of cargo, the vehicle used, and the characteristics of other goods if multiple items are transported.
In any case, these points must be discussed prior to transportation! And your carrier "Latcarrier" will provide you with guidance on these issues.
Despite all the points mentioned above, no one can guarantee that nothing will happen to the cargo with 100% certainty. That’s why mechanisms have been developed to protect against potential losses, which are important to understand.
Firstly, the often-mentioned "CMR insurance" is not cargo insurance (i.e., insurance for your item) but rather carrier liability insurance. It’s important to know that carrier liability is limited by the CMR Convention and amounts to up to 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per 1 kg of damaged or lost cargo, regardless of its value, which is less than 10 euros. Thus, the owner will receive less than 10 euros per kilogram of cargo. (Unfortunately, this applies even to high-tech items like computers, which are also calculated by weight). This sum, and only if the carrier is found to be at fault, is paid by the carrier’s insurance company.
The same applies to other insurance policies that transport companies often mention, claiming that their cargo is insured for various sums, up to 1 million euros. In these cases, it is the carrier’s liability that is insured, not the cargo itself.
The only way to truly insure your item and receive compensation for its damage or loss is to insure a specific cargo by submitting a waybill with the cargo value to the carrier (if they offer this option, like “Latcarrier”) and paying the insurance premium, which constitutes a percentage of the value (usually from 0.2% to 2%, determined individually).
So, to reduce the risk of damage to your item, you should choose a reliable and professional carrier, providing them with full information about the cargo characteristics and transportation specifics. If the cargo is particularly valuable, it is recommended to insure it separately. You should also pay attention to the documents and their signing when receiving the cargo because if visible damage is not documented, any claims may be rejected.
Your carrier, "Latcarrier," provides its clients with quality service, including all the factors mentioned above, as well as cargo insurance upon request!
Therefore, when you need to transport cargo, it is crucial to understand what risks you may encounter along the way. Much depends on the choice of the carrier. Here are the factors to pay attention to:
1. Carrier's competence and reputation – primarily reviews or recommendations, as well as the company's staff's ability to provide consultations, answer your questions, and also ask questions to better understand the specifics of your cargo. This requires competency and experience in organizing cargo transportation.
2. Information about the cargo – all information about the item is necessary, starting from its specific characteristics, known only to the manufacturer or sender, as well as transportation specifics, such as temperature requirements (not just for food items). It's also important to know the nuances of loading, unloading, and moving the cargo, whether it’s in the vehicle's cargo space, storage, or elsewhere.
3. Cargo packaging – if the cargo is in its original packaging, it should typically be suitable for safe transportation and marked with visible special symbols. However, original packaging is often not sufficient to ensure safety! Many goods are also not transported in specialized packaging, or they may be consolidated on pallets made up of multiple units. In such cases, it’s essential to pay attention to how the cargo is prepared in the pallet or unit packing process. Items must be packaged so they cannot easily be damaged, and of course, all critical information should be shared with the carrier.
4. Cargo placement and securing – securing the cargo is essential for safe transportation. The carrier must have the appropriate equipment and skills to secure the cargo properly and safely; however, the key factor remains the information and instructions from the cargo manufacturer or sender. The carrier must follow instructions on the placement and securing of the cargo rather than relying on their own discretion. It is also worth noting that transport companies may have requirements for how the cargo is placed, for instance, oversized or heavy items, to ensure that the allowable axle load on the trailer is respected. Of course, this depends on several factors, such as the type of cargo, the vehicle used, and the characteristics of other goods if multiple items are transported.
In any case, these points must be discussed prior to transportation! And your carrier "Latcarrier" will provide you with guidance on these issues.
Despite all the points mentioned above, no one can guarantee that nothing will happen to the cargo with 100% certainty. That’s why mechanisms have been developed to protect against potential losses, which are important to understand.
Firstly, the often-mentioned "CMR insurance" is not cargo insurance (i.e., insurance for your item) but rather carrier liability insurance. It’s important to know that carrier liability is limited by the CMR Convention and amounts to up to 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per 1 kg of damaged or lost cargo, regardless of its value, which is less than 10 euros. Thus, the owner will receive less than 10 euros per kilogram of cargo. (Unfortunately, this applies even to high-tech items like computers, which are also calculated by weight). This sum, and only if the carrier is found to be at fault, is paid by the carrier’s insurance company.
The same applies to other insurance policies that transport companies often mention, claiming that their cargo is insured for various sums, up to 1 million euros. In these cases, it is the carrier’s liability that is insured, not the cargo itself.
The only way to truly insure your item and receive compensation for its damage or loss is to insure a specific cargo by submitting a waybill with the cargo value to the carrier (if they offer this option, like “Latcarrier”) and paying the insurance premium, which constitutes a percentage of the value (usually from 0.2% to 2%, determined individually).
So, to reduce the risk of damage to your item, you should choose a reliable and professional carrier, providing them with full information about the cargo characteristics and transportation specifics. If the cargo is particularly valuable, it is recommended to insure it separately. You should also pay attention to the documents and their signing when receiving the cargo because if visible damage is not documented, any claims may be rejected.
Your carrier, "Latcarrier," provides its clients with quality service, including all the factors mentioned above, as well as cargo insurance upon request!