Freight Forwarding Terms and Conditions of Contract 

  

These Terms and Conditions of Contract are subject to change, visit www.davistrucking.com for a current copy. 

1. In tendering the shipment herein for carriage, the Shipper agrees to these Terms and Conditions of Contract between itself, including all other parties at any time having an interest in the goods, and Davis Trucking, LLC. (herein after referred to as “Davis Trucking”) and that this waybill is non-negotiable and has been prepared by the shipper, his authorized agent or Davis Trucking on the Shipper’s behalf. No agent or employee of the parties may alter the Terms and Conditions of Contract. Carriage and other services performed hereunder are subject to these conditions and to the rates, rules, classifications, and restrictions set forth in Davis Trucking’s Standard Rates and Tariff, available from Davis Trucking and by reference incorporated herein, unless otherwise negotiated. This contract incorporates all the written representations and warranties of both parties and supersedes any or all oral negotiations and representations. As used in this Contract, “Shipper” means the party, its authorized agent or representative, or any party having interest in the shipment being released to Davis Trucking for transport. 

1. The Shipper certifies the following: That the information inserted on the face of the waybill is complete and the description of the contents is accurate. That all goods have been properly and sufficiently prepared, packed, labeled and marked for transport. That the shipment does not contain any explosive, incendiary or other device, unauthorized hazardous substance or weapon which may endanger the safety of any person or transport conveyance or which may cause or is likely to cause loss, damage, injury or death of any person or property. That the goods do not contain any undeclared hazardous materials within the specifications of the current IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and Shipper will not tender such goods to Davis Trucking without obtaining prior consent. Where such consent is granted, Shipper warrants that all such goods are packed, marked, and labeled and otherwise meet all documentation requirements and provisions of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and that it has complied with all statutes, rules and regulations of any and all governmental agencies regarding transportation of such substances. 

1. Davis Trucking shall not be liable in any event for damage or loss unless evidence of abusive handling and or loss is evident and is so noted on the delivery receipt at the time of delivery. Under no circumstances shall Davis Trucking be liable for loss and/or damage to the external shipping containers of any kind. A shipment in which delivery is made in exchange for a clear delivery receipt shall be prima facie evidence of the shipment having received ordinary care in handling. 

1. The shipper has the responsibility to prepare and present a non-negotiable Davis Trucking waybill with each shipment tendered for transportation. Each shipment shall be subject to Davis Trucking Terms and Conditions of Contract in effect on the date of acceptance of the shipment by Davis Trucking or its authorized agent. If the shipper fails to present such a waybill at the time of tender, Davis Trucking will accept the shipment accompanied by an alternative, non-negotiable shipping document but Davis Trucking’s current Terms and Conditions of Contract shall supersede any and all other terms and conditions noted on such document. 

1. At the time of delivery, the Consignee must note on the delivery document any exceptions to the shipping container(s) that would indicate a discrepancy i.e., shortage in the shipment or damage to the container(s). The Consignee may not inspect the contents of the shipping container(s) until the Consignee signs for the shipment on the delivery receipt. Notations such as “subject to inspection” and “subject to recount” are not valid exceptions. 

1. Davis Trucking shall not be liable in any event for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of profit, income, interest, utility, or loss of market share. 

1. Rates and charges in effect on the day the shipment is accepted by Davis Trucking or its authorized agent will apply. Except as otherwise provided, transportation rates will be assessed on the chargeable weight of the shipment using its actual or dimensional weight, whichever is greater. Dimensional weight is the volumetric weight of the shipment determined by calculating the shipment’s cubic inches using the greatest dimensions in length, width and height per piece in inches, multiplied by the number of pieces, and divided by 194 for domestic cargo or 166 for international air cargo. In computing inches, all measurements are rounded upward to the next higher whole number prior to multiplication. 

1. Davis Trucking, exercising due diligence, will determine the routing of all shipments. In the absence of any special instruction by the shipper, Davis Trucking shall have the right to substitute alternative carriers or other means of transportation to expedite the delivery of the shipment. In an event that the shipper’s special routing instructions caused Davis Trucking to incur additional charges, these charges will be passed on to the billable party. 

1. The shipper, consignee, and billable party shall be liable, jointly and severally, (a) to pay or indemnify Davis Trucking for all unpaid charges of a shipment per this contract, including cost of collection (b) pay or indemnify Davis Trucking for all claims, fines, penalties, damages, cost, or other sums which may be incurred by Davis Trucking by reason of any violation of this contract or any other default. 

1. The C.O.D. amount of a shipment shall be deemed to be the Declared Value for carriage amount unless another value is declared. C.O.D. service is provided under the following conditions: a) the shipper must identify the shipment as a C.O.D. shipment by entering the amount to be collected in the “Shipper’s C.O.D. Box” on the front of this waybill; b) shipper must specify the form of payment to be received (cashier’s check or company check) in the “Check Form of Payment Box” on the front of this waybill; and c) The sole responsibility of Davis Trucking shall be to secure the appropriate financial instrument as requested by the shipper, and to exercise due care and diligence in forwarding it to the shipper. Davis Trucking is not a guarantor of the validity of the financial instrument. 

1. U.S. Domestic Liability: Davis Trucking’s liability, in the absence of a higher Declared Value for carriage or cargo insurance, is limited to $50.00 per shipment or $0.50 per pound on the weight of the lost or damaged cargo, whichever is greater, except that in no event shall Davis Trucking’s liability exceed the actual invoice value of the goods. This limitation is subject to provisions as published in Davis Trucking’s governing tariff (if any) in effect at the time of shipment. Values declared for carriage in excess of $0.50 per pound, per piece, shall be subject to an excess valuation charge. 

1. International Air Liability: All rules relating to liability as established by the Warsaw Convention or Montreal Convention shall apply, except as otherwise provided in Davis Trucking’s tariffs or conditions of carriage, if not governed by the Warsaw Convention, the Warsaw Convention as amended by the Hague Rules, the Warsaw Convention as amended by Montreal Protocol 4, the Montreal Convention or any other international air treaties, laws, other government statutes or regulations, orders or requirements, Davis Trucking’s maximum liability for loss, damage, delay, shortage, misdelivery or non-delivery shall be 22 SDRs per kilogram or the actual value of the loss, whichever is less, unless a higher value for carriage is declared on the face hereof and an additional charge is paid for such declaration. Davis Trucking accepts this shipping document as a Shipper’s Letter of Instructions with authorization to prepare and sign on shipper’s behalf, an international air shipping document, and Davis Trucking reserves the option to act as agent of the carrier, instead of as a forwarder, in which event the direct carrier’s tariffs shall apply to this shipment. The shipper may select, by inserting a value on the face of this shipping document and indicating the desired option, either cargo insurance or Declared Value for carriage. 

1. International Ocean Liability-International ocean shipments shall be governed by these Terms and Conditions of Contract, the terms and conditions of the Ocean Bill of Lading and where they apply, the terms and conditions of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of the United States of America approved April 16, 1936 or any other applicable convention, statute or law governing Davis Trucking’s right to limit its liability. 

1. Mexico Liability-Unless cargo insurance providing additional coverage has been requested and approved: Davis Trucking’s legal liability for trans-border, ground shipments from the U.S. to Mexico ends upon arrival at the U.S./Mexico border. Davis Trucking’s liability for trans-border, ground shipments from Mexico to the U.S. does not begin until the shipment has cleared the Mexico/U.S. border. Unless a greater value is declared in writing prior to shipment, Davis Trucking’s liability for shipments transported solely within Mexico is limited to the amount equivalent to 15 days' minimum wage in the Federal District per ton, or proportionate share in the case of shipments of lower weight. 

1. Canada Liability-Unless a greater value has been insured or declared: Davis Trucking’s legal liability for trans-border, ground shipments from the U.S. to Canada is governed by item 11 of these Terms and Conditions of Contract. Davis Trucking’s legal liability for trans-border, ground shipments from Canada to the U.S. and for shipments transported solely within Canada is limited to a maximum of $2.00 Canadian per pound computed on the total weight of the lost or damaged cargo. 

1. Where Declared Value coverage is available and requested in writing prior to shipment and unless each piece of the shipment has a Declared Value stated and specifically identified on the Davis Trucking waybill at the time of the shipment when it is so identified on the delivery receipt as being lost, damaged, misdelivered or otherwise adversely affected, Davis Trucking’s maximum liability, subject to any tariff provision in effect at that time, shall be the average Declared Value per pound multiplied by the packaged weight of the piece(s) adversely affected. The average Declared Value per pound shall be determined by dividing the total Declared Value of the shipment by the total weight of the shipment. 

1. All claims including overcharge or duplicate billing, but excluding concealed loss or damage claims, non-delivery of international air shipments and delay of international air shipments, must be received in writing by Davis Trucking within 270 days of the actual or anticipated date of delivery on domestic shipments and within 14 days on international air shipments. Concealed loss and damage claims defined as claims for loss or damage discovered by the consignee after delivery and after a clear receipt has been given to Davis Trucking, must be reported in writing within 5 days after delivery for domestic shipments, within 14 days after delivery for international air shipments and within 3 days after delivery for international ocean shipments, with privilege to Davis Trucking to make inspections of the shipment, its container(s) and packing material(s) at the delivery location shown on this waybill. Claims for non-delivery of international air shipments must be received within 120 days of the date of issue of the waybill. Claims for delay of international air shipments must be made within 21 days from the date on which the cargo was placed at the disposal of the person entitled to delivery.  

1. No claims with respect to a shipment, any part of which is received by the consignee, will be entertained until all transportation charges have been paid. Claims will not be deducted from the transportation charges and no claim amount may be deducted from any charges owed to Davis Trucking. Legal action to enforce a claim after it has been denied in writing by Davis Trucking, in whole or in part, must be brought within 2 years from the date the claim was disallowed for domestic shipments, within 2 years of actual or scheduled delivery date for international air shipments and within 1 year of actual or scheduled delivery date for international ocean shipments. 

1. For any shipment valued over $25,000.00 USD, advance approval or arrangement with Davis Trucking must be obtained prior to pickup. 

1. In the event of litigation, arbitration or any other legal action arising under this agreement or regarding a shipment transported by Davis Trucking, including claims for non-payment of invoices, the prevailing party shall be entitled to its reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 

1. All claims or disputes arising out of or in any way related to Davis Trucking’s services or its Terms and Conditions of Contract shall be determined under the federal law of the United States of America, without regard to its conflict of laws rules or, in the absence of such federal law, then under the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Without prejudice to a party’s right to remove an action to federal court, the exclusive and mandatory venue for any such claims or disputes shall be the state courts in San Diego County, California or the United States District Court for the District of San Diego, California, to the exclusion of all other courts. The parties agree to irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of the above courts and to waive any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to those courts. The parties further agree to waive their right to trial by jury in any of the above courts. 

1. Shipper understands and agrees that if it were to file an action anywhere other than the mandatory venue under section 21, then Shipper shall be responsible for all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that Davis Trucking pays or incurs to transfer the action to the mandatory venue. Shipper understands and agrees that it shall reimburse Davis Trucking for all such costs within 10 days of its written demand for such reimbursement. Shipper’s failure to timely reimburse Davis Trucking shall entitle it to recover all costs it pays or incurs to collect that unreimbursed amount, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. 

1. If any provision of the Contract, including the tariffs incorporated by reference, is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this contract shall endure and not be affected thereby. 

1. All invoices not paid in full within thirty (30) days of invoice date will be subject to a charge of two percent (2%) per month of the total invoice balance. 

1. Davis Trucking shall not be liable for any loss, damage, delay, misdelivery, nondelivery or other result caused by Act of God (wind, floods, ice, storm, tornadoes, lightning, etc), public enemies, public authorities acting with actual or apparent authority, authority of law, act or default of shipper, inherent nature or vice of the shipment, strikes, labor disputes, civil unrest, acts or omissions of Customs or quarantine officials, hazards incident to a state of war, acts of terrorism, compliance or noncompliance with delivery or special instructions, and by acts, defaults, or omissions of the shipper, consignee and any Third Party to observe these Terms and Conditions of Contract including, but not limited to improper packaging, marking, and description of the goods being transported, waybill information and rules relating to shipments not acceptable for transportation. 

1. The Shipper and Consignee shall hold Davis Trucking and its agents harmless for loss, damage, or delay which is a result of auxiliary services including but not limited to local cartage, crating, uncrating, packing and unpacking which are requested by the shipper or consignee and arranged by Davis Trucking as a customer service unless such service are actually performed by Davis Trucking or its agents. Such limitation shall extend to the selection by Davis Trucking of the providers of the auxiliary services. Auxiliary services are those which are performed prior or subsequent to transportation and which may be billed directly by the provider of the service or Davis Trucking. Providers of the auxiliary services are contractors for the Shipper or Consignee and are not agents for Davis Trucking. Under no circumstances will the liability of Davis Trucking for loss, damage, or delay, which is a result of any auxiliary services performed by Davis Trucking or its agents, be greater than the liability stated elsewhere in this contract. 

1. In the event of the failure or inability of the consignee to take delivery of the shipment after forty eight (48) hours of notice of the shipment’s arrival is given, Davis Trucking will notify the Shipper in writing at the address shown on the waybill and request disposition instructions. If the Shipper fails to provide disposition instructions within thirty (30) days after the date of notice by Davis Trucking or its agent, Davis Trucking will return the shipment to the Shipper at the Shipper’s expense. If the Shipper fails to accept delivery of a shipment thus returned, Davis Trucking may, upon thirty (30) days notice to the Shipper, dispose of the shipment at public or private sale and pay itself out of the proceeds to satisfy the transportation charges owing on the shipment. Any sums collected by Davis Trucking in excess of such transportation will be paid to the debtor. No sale pursuant to this rule will discharge any liability or lien to any greater extent than the proceeds thereof. The Shipper, the Consignee, and Third Party shall remain liable, jointly, and severally, for any deficiency. 

1. The following commodities are not acceptable for carriage and Davis Trucking shall have no liability for them: Any shipment prohibited by law; human remains; human organs or by-products; diagnostic specimens; bonds; one of a kind items; original works of art; antiques; coins not in collections; currency and currency equivalents; furs and fur clothing; fresh foods and all other perishables (except frozen foods via refer container); gems of any kind; pearls; software licenses; electronic data; prototypes; bagged or bulk commodities; nuclear fuels; ceramics; pottery; porcelain; fine china; Class 1 explosives; Class 7 radioactive materials; securities, negotiable and non-negotiable items. 

1. Where Declared Value coverage is otherwise available and requested in writing prior to shipment, the following commodities are not acceptable with a Declared Value exceeding Davis Trucking’s maximum, legal liability referenced elsewhere herein: Bulk products; cash in transit; cigarettes and other tobacco products; computers and/or electronic components assembled in racks; computer chips, memory modules, cards and similar; cotton; eggs; evidence for a trial; fine arts; flowers and plants; fresh foods and other perishables (except frozen foods via reefer container); household goods and personal effects; jewelry; precious stones and metals; knitting and textile machines; laptop and tablet computers and similar; live animals; metals in bulk/rolls/carto, etc.; mobile/cellular telephones; models including architectural; pharmaceutical drugs; specie; stamp collections and/or coin collections; windows, plate glass or similar products; lasers and laser equipment; server racks (when containing computers, servers and/or electronic equipment); televisions and monitors. 

1. Cargo Insurance (if available) is based on Davis Trucking’s open insurance policy in effect at the date of acceptance of the shipment. The shipper or its agent must insert at least the full invoice value of the good(s) in the “Insured Value” field on the face of the waybill and may insert up to the full invoice value, plus Davis Trucking’s freight charges on the shipment, plus up to 10% of that combined total. Failure to insert at least the full invoice value of the good(s) shall reduce any insurance payment proportionately by the applicable percentage that the shipment was under insured. Value insured for carriage by the shipper at the time of receipt by Davis Trucking shall be subject to a valuation charge per $100.00 insured. A deductible may apply to claims on insured shipments. 

1. Cargo tendered for transportation is subject to Federal Security Controls and where applicable, other governmental regulations. Copies of all relevant shipping documents showing the cargo’s shipper, consignee, commodity description and other relevant data will be retained on file for at least 30 days from the date the cargo was tendered to Davis Trucking. All shipments are subject to visual and physical inspection by Davis Trucking. Pursuant to U.S. Transportation Security Administration regulations we are required to notify you that all cargo tendered in the U.S. for transportation by air is subject to screening. Shipments may not be transported by air and must be refused for air transportation unless the shipper consents to cargo screening. This notification is required by federal regulations, applies to all shipments from the date these Terms and Conditions of Contract were first presented to you and evidence of presentation will remain on file with Davis Trucking, LLC. for a minimum of 30 days after termination of our air cargo business relationship. 

1. All claims on U.S. Domestic and International shipments must be sent to claims@davistrucking.com .