These Terms and Conditions of Carriage (“Terms”) govern every vehicle, package and freight shipment tendered to Northline Transportations (“we”, “us”, “the Carrier”), including open and enclosed car transport, international vehicle shipping and air, land, sea and door delivery services, within the United States and worldwide. By booking a shipment, tendering a vehicle or using our tracking tools, the customer agrees to these Terms on its own behalf and on behalf of the owner, the receiver and anyone else with an interest in the shipment.
Definitions
“Shipment” means the vehicle, packages or freight moving under one tracking code. “Customer” means the person or business that books the service. “Receiver” means the person or business named for delivery. “Tracking code” means the unique identifier we issue for each shipment.
Booking and Quotes
Quotes are based on the information provided, including vehicle year, make, model, size, running condition, route and transport type. Prices may change if the information is inaccurate or the vehicle is modified, oversized or inoperable. Pickup dates are windows, not guarantees, unless a guaranteed pickup service is purchased.
Vehicle Preparation
The customer must remove all personal belongings, toll tags and loose accessories, secure or remove custom parts, disable alarms, and leave the fuel tank no more than one quarter full. Carriers are not licensed to carry household goods, and we accept no liability for personal items left in a vehicle. The vehicle must be in the condition described at booking, with no fluid leaks.
Inspection and Condition Report
A condition report with photographs is completed at pickup and signed by the customer or their representative. At delivery the receiver must inspect the vehicle and note any new damage on the report before signing. Damage not noted on the delivery report is presumed not to have occurred in transit.
Customer Responsibilities
The customer warrants that it owns the vehicle or is authorized to ship it, that the title is free of undisclosed liens, and that all addresses and contact details are correct. For international shipments the customer must supply the original title and any documents required by export and import authorities. Additional charges caused by inaccurate information, failed pickups, storage or waiting time will be billed to the customer.
Prohibited and Restricted Items
We do not accept cash or negotiable instruments, firearms or ammunition, illegal substances, live animals, hazardous materials stored in a vehicle, or any item whose carriage is prohibited by law. Dangerous goods are accepted for freight services only when declared and prepared under DOT, IATA or IMDG rules. We may refuse, hold or return any shipment that we reasonably believe does not comply.
Rates, Invoicing and Payment
Charges are confirmed at booking and include the transport type and accessorial services selected. Port, customs, duty and tax charges for international shipments are the responsibility of the importer unless agreed otherwise in writing. A deposit may be required to dispatch a carrier, and the balance is due as stated on the invoice before or at delivery.
Delivery and Transit Times
Transit times are estimates and may be affected by weather, traffic, road and port conditions, vessel schedules, customs inspections and other events outside our control. Delivery is made to the address booked or, where a large carrier cannot safely access it, to the nearest safe location agreed with the receiver.
Shipment Holds
A shipment may be placed on hold for reasons including incomplete documentation, customs or port review, an unpaid balance, a failed delivery attempt, an incorrect address or a request from the customer. The tracking page shows the hold status and our remarks. Storage charges may apply to shipments held for more than five business days for reasons attributable to the customer or receiver.
Insurance and Liability
Vehicles are covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance against damage caused by the carrier during transport, subject to the condition reports. Coverage excludes pre-existing damage, mechanical or electrical failure, normal road wear and stone chips on open transport, acts of nature and personal items. For freight, unless a higher value is declared and the charge paid, liability is limited to US $100 per shipment or the actual value, whichever is less. International carriage may be subject to the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, the Hague-Visby Rules or the Montreal Convention. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of use or rental costs.
Claims
Claims for damage must be noted on the delivery condition report and submitted in writing within 7 days of delivery with photographs. Claims for freight loss or concealed damage must be submitted within 60 days of the shipping date. Charges must be paid before a claim is processed and may not be deducted from a claim.
Tracking Information and Privacy
Anyone holding a tracking code can view the full shipment record, including the sender and receiver names and addresses, the destination, the vehicle or package details, the status and the route. Treat your tracking code like a receipt and share it only with people who need it. Tracking codes are randomly generated and cannot be guessed. We process personal data only to provide our services and as required by law, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation for customers served by our German office.
Force Majeure
We are not responsible for delay, loss or damage caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, acts of government, port closures, strikes, civil unrest, epidemics and failures of third-party networks.
Governing Law
Shipments booked through our United States headquarters (California, United States) are governed by the laws of the State of California and applicable United States federal law. Shipments booked through our European headquarters (Germany) are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mandatory consumer protection rules of the customer’s country of residence remain unaffected.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The version published on this page when a shipment is booked applies to that shipment.
Contact
Questions about these Terms can be sent to contact@northlinetransportations.com.