Policies

Master Terms of Service & Global Logistics Policy

Document Reference: Legal Policy Framework 2026-v4

Effective Date: Immediate upon account creation, quote acceptance, or cargo tender

Jurisdiction: International Multimodal Transport & Regulatory Compliance

Welcome to US Freight Master. By accessing our web portals, utilizing our digital logistics dashboards, engaging our customs brokerage services, or tendering cargo for physical transport, you (“Shipper,” “Customer,” “Exporter,” “Importer,” or “Consignee”) agree to be bound by the following comprehensive Terms of Service and Global Shipping Policies.

Navigation & Policy Sections

  1. Scope of Agreement & International Treaty Framework
  2. Incoterms® 2020 Allocation & Risk Transfer Protocol
  3. Statutory Limits of Carrier Liability & SDR Cap Ratings
  4. Mandatory Claims Timelines & Legal Notice Preconditions
  5. Cargo Preparation, Packaging, & Weight Verification (VGM)
  6. Dangerous Goods, Hazardous Materials, & Chemical Protocols
  7. Customs Brokerage, Duties, Demurrage, & Storage Liabilities
  8. Trade Sanctions, Export Control, & Anti-Bribery Compliance
  9. Force Majeure, Statutory Immunities, & Route Alteration
  10. Carrier General Maritime Lien & Asset Realization Rights
  11. York-Antwerp General Average & Salvage Security Protocol
  12. Cyber Resilience, Data Protection, & Jurisdiction Clauses

1. Scope of Agreement & International Treaty Framework

This agreement governs all freight forwarding, non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) operations, motor carriage, air freight consolidation, warehousing, and customs brokerage performed by US Freight Master (“the Carrier”) and its operating subsidiaries.

Depending on the mode of transport specified on the Bill of Lading, Sea Waybill, or Air Waybill, services are governed by mandatory international transport conventions:

Transport Mode Governing Treaty / Statutory Instrument Jurisdiction / Standards
Ocean Freight Hague-Visby Rules / US Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA 46 U.S.C. § 30701) International Maritime Law
Air Freight Montreal Convention of 1999 / Warsaw Convention Systems ICAO / IATA Regulations
Overland Road CMR Convention (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) Cross-Border Highway Code
Rail Logistics COTIF / CIM Uniform Rules Concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods Intermodal Rail Directives

Tendering cargo, executing an electronic booking, or issuing transport instructions constitutes unconditional acceptance of these legal frameworks, overriding any conflicting purchasing terms issued by the Customer.

2. Incoterms® 2020 Allocation & Risk Transfer Protocol

All price quotations, operational handoffs, and logistics responsibilities are governed by the International Chamber of Commerce Incoterms® 2020 rules.

[ EXW / FOB ] ----(Origin Risk Transfer)----> [ CIF / CFR ] ----(Destination Handoff)----> [ DDP / DAP ]
  • Risk Transfer Points: The transfer of operational risk, insurance responsibility, and freight payment obligations occurs precisely at the boundary specified by the agreed Incoterm (e.g., EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP).
  • Documentation Alignment: US Freight Master executes transport solely against the Incoterms declared on the Commercial Invoice and Shipping Manifest.
  • Dispute Indemnity: The Carrier is not responsible for financial losses, demurrage charges, or transit delays resulting from conflicting trade term interpretations between buyer and seller.

3. Statutory Limits of Carrier Liability & SDR Cap Ratings

In accordance with international legal conventions, the liability of US Freight Master for physical cargo damage, loss, theft, or destruction is strictly limited by law and is not calculated based on the commercial invoice value unless a higher value is declared in writing prior to dispatch and applicable supplemental insurance premiums are paid.

Statutory Liability Caps (Special Drawing Rights – SDR):

  • Ocean Cargo: 2 SDR per kilogram OR 666.67 SDR per package/unit (Hague-Visby/COGSA).
  • Air Cargo: 26 SDR per kilogram (Montreal Convention 1999 amendments).
  • Road Freight: 8.33 SDR per kilogram (CMR Convention standard).

Supplemental Cargo Insurance Recommendation

Because statutory liability caps often recover only a fraction of high-value cargo worth, US Freight Master strongly advises all Customers to procure all-risk Marine & Cargo Insurance through our licensed underwriting partners prior to cargo pickup.

4. Mandatory Claims Timelines & Legal Notice Preconditions

To maintain legal standing for damage or loss compensation claims, strict statutory deadlines must be observed by the Shipper or Consignee. Failure to submit formal written notice within the windows detailed below constitutes an absolute legal defense against the claim.

+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Claim Type       | Mandatory Written Notice Window                           |
+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Apparent Damage  | NOTED IMMEDIATELY on Delivery Receipt (POD) before signoff|
| Concealed (Sea)  | Within 3 Calendar Days of delivery                        |
| Concealed (Road) | Within 7 Calendar Days of delivery                        |
| Concealed (Air)  | Within 14 Calendar Days of delivery                       |
| Transit Delays   | Within 21 Calendar Days from expected delivery date       |
| Total Loss Claim | Within 90 Calendar Days from cargo receipt by Carrier     |
+------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+

Note: Formal legal proceedings against US Freight Master must be formally instituted within one (1) year from the date of cargo delivery or the date when delivery should have occurred.

5. Cargo Preparation, Packaging, & Weight Verification (VGM)

The Shipper guarantees that all cargo tendered to US Freight Master is securely packaged, bound, labeled, and sealed to withstand the ordinary stresses of ocean, air, rail, and highway transportation.

  • Container Weight Compliance (SOLAS VGM): Under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the Shipper is legally responsible for providing a certified Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for all packed export containers prior to terminal cut-off times.
  • Indemnification for Cargo Shift: The Shipper agrees to indemnify US Freight Master for any vessel damage, vehicle rollover, structural failure, or third-party injury caused by improper internal container loading, uneven weight distribution, or inadequate dunnage.

6. Dangerous Goods, Hazardous Materials, & Chemical Protocols

The transportation of hazardous cargo, regulated chemicals, or lithium batteries is subject to strict regulatory oversight.

Regulated By: IMDG Code (Ocean) | IATA DGR (Air) | 49 CFR (US DOT Ground)
  1. Declaration Mandatory: The Shipper must supply complete Safety Data Sheets (SDS), UN numbers, proper shipping names, and hazard class classifications prior to booking confirmation.
  2. Emergency Mitigation Rights: If undeclared, mislabeled, or unsafe hazardous materials are detected in transit, US Freight Master reserves the right to store, unload, neutralize, or destroy the shipment without prior notice or financial liability.
  3. Shipper Liability: The Shipper remains fully liable for all environmental clean-up costs, vessel damages, port fines, and legal expenses resulting from non-compliant dangerous goods shipments.

7. Customs Brokerage, Duties, Demurrage, & Storage Liabilities

US Freight Master acts as a licensed forwarding agent and customs broker where explicitly contracted. However, the Customer remains the official Importer of Record (IOR) or Exporter of Record (EOR).

  • Documentation Accuracy: The Customer guarantees the accuracy of all tariff classifications, valuation claims, origin declarations, and import licenses submitted to customs agencies.
  • Demurrage & Detention: The Customer assumes full financial liability for container storage charges, port demurrage, terminal handling fees, and equipment detention costs caused by customs holds, regulatory inspections, late documentation, or delayed consignee pickup.

8. Trade Sanctions, Export Control, & Anti-Bribery Compliance

US Freight Master operates in strict compliance with international trade controls, including rules enforced by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), European Union Sanctions directives, and applicable UN Security Council resolutions.

Zero Tolerance Protocol: The Customer warrants that neither the shipment, the end-user, the cargo owner, nor any connected entity appears on restricted party lists (e.g., Specially Designated Nationals List). The Carrier will immediately freeze and report any shipment that violates international trade sanctions or anti-bribery statutes (FCPA / UK Bribery Act).

9. Force Majeure, Statutory Immunities, & Route Alteration

US Freight Master shall not be held liable for cargo damage, physical losses, operational delays, or failure to perform arising from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

  • Recognized Force Majeure Events: Acts of God, severe weather events, hurricanes, earthquakes, acts of war, terrorism, piracy, civil unrest, labor strikes, port lockouts, quarantine directives, canal blockages, or severe infrastructure failures.
  • Rerouting & Cost Adjustments: In the event of transit obstructions (e.g., maritime passage blockages or emergency port closures), US Freight Master reserves the right to alter routes, substitute carriers, or discharge cargo at alternative safe ports. Any accrued secondary storage, freight, or handling costs will be charged to the Shipper.

10. Carrier General Maritime Lien & Asset Realization Rights

To secure payment of outstanding invoices, US Freight Master retains a general and continuing legal lien under maritime and commercial contract law over all cargo, bills of lading, and documentation within its physical or constructive possession.

[ Invoice Default ] ---> [ Formal 14-Day Demand Notice ] ---> [ Cargo Auction / Asset Sale ]
  1. Scope of Lien: This lien applies to unpaid freight charges, storage costs, customs duties, advanced fees, and legal expenses—including balances owed from prior unrelated shipments.
  2. Asset Liquidation: If unpaid balances remain outstanding after formal written notice, US Freight Master reserves the right to sell the held cargo at public or private auction to liquidate the debt, remitting any remaining proceeds to the Customer.

11. York-Antwerp General Average & Salvage Security Protocol

Ocean freight transport managed by US Freight Master is subject to the York-Antwerp Rules governing General Average declarations.

  • Understanding General Average: If a shipmaster sacrifices cargo or incurs extraordinary vessel expenses to save a ship and its payload from a common maritime catastrophe, all cargo owners on board are legally obligated to contribute proportionally to the financial loss.
  • Cargo Release Requirements: Cargo held under a General Average declaration will not be released by vessel operators until the Shipper or Cargo Insurer provides an approved General Average Bond, cash deposit, or legal security guarantee accepted by the designated Average Adjusters.

12. Cyber Resilience, Data Protection, & Jurisdiction Clauses

  • Data Protection (GDPR / CCPA): Personal and business shipping data entered into US Freight Master systems is processed in compliance with global privacy regulations solely for executing transport contracts.
  • Cyber Resiliency: While US Freight Master maintains enterprise cybersecurity protocols, the Carrier is not liable for system outages caused by third-party cyberattacks, telecommunication failures, or internet disruptions.
  • Governing Law & Forum: All legal disputes arising under these Terms of Service shall be governed exclusively by federal maritime law or the laws of the state of Delaware, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action must be brought in the appropriate state or federal courts within that jurisdiction.

Need Assistance or Specialized Cargo Terms?

Our legal, compliance, and underwriting teams are available to address custom insurance needs, master service agreements (MSAs), and specialized project cargo contracts:

  • Compliance Office: info@usfreightmaster.com
  • Legal Department: info@usfreightmaster.com