Insurance & Liability
Freight involves real money and real legal obligations. When cargo is lost or damaged in transit, someone bears the cost, and it is important that everyone using Travomate Cargo understands, before they book, who that is.
Travomate Cargo Is a Marketplace, Not a Carrier
Travomate Cargo connects cargo owners with capacity providers. It is a marketplace and matching platform. It does not move goods, and it is not a party to the contract of carriage.
The contract of carriage is agreed directly between the cargo owner and the capacity provider. Travomate Cargo:
- Does not carry, handle, or take custody of any cargo
- Is not a freight forwarder, carrier, or logistics operator
- Is not liable for loss of, damage to, or delay of any shipment arranged through the platform
This position is part of the platform's broader legal framework. See Legal.
Who Bears the Risk
Because Travomate is not the carrier, liability sits between the two transacting parties and depends on the terms they agree.
| Party | Typical responsibility |
|---|---|
| Capacity provider | Carrier liability for the goods while in their custody, up to the limits of the applicable transport convention or their own terms |
| Cargo owner (shipper) | Insuring the goods for their full value; declaring cargo accurately; meeting packaging requirements |
| Travomate Cargo | None for the carriage itself: the platform facilitates the connection only |
Carrier liability is limited: it is not full cover
Standard carrier liability is capped by international conventions (for example CMR for road, the Hague-Visby Rules for sea, the Montreal Convention for air). These caps are usually calculated by weight and are frequently far below the actual value of the goods. Carrier liability is not a substitute for cargo insurance.
Arrange Your Own Cargo Insurance
Both sides should treat insurance as their own responsibility:
- Cargo owners should arrange cargo (goods-in-transit) insurance covering the full value of the shipment. Do not assume the provider's liability will make you whole after a loss.
- Capacity providers should hold appropriate carrier liability cover for their operations and be able to show proof of it on request.
Ask before you book
Cargo owners: request proof of the provider's liability coverage before confirming a booking. A provider who cannot or will not show it is a risk. See Trust & Verification for how verification and badges signal a legitimate, registered provider.
Incoterms Decide Where Risk Passes
When goods cross a border, the point at which risk transfers from shipper to receiver is governed by the Incoterm the parties agree, not by assumption. CIF and CIP, for example, oblige the seller to arrange insurance for a leg of the journey; EXW places almost all risk on the buyer from the outset.
Agree the Incoterm explicitly so both sides know who is responsible for insurance on each leg.
What This Means in Practice
- A shipment is lost at sea. The provider's carrier liability covers a capped amount by weight; the cargo owner's own cargo insurance covers the remaining value, if they arranged it.
- Cargo arrives damaged. Whether the provider is liable depends on the agreed terms and the applicable convention. This is exactly why keeping the arrangement documented on-platform matters, see Messaging.
- No insurance was arranged and carrier liability falls short. The uncovered loss sits with whoever owns the goods. There is no platform compensation fund.
On the Horizon
Insurance handling will deepen alongside the platform:
- An optional "insurance held" field on capacity listings, so providers can signal cover up front
- Proof of insurance as a possible criterion for the Verified Freight Provider badge, see Trust & Verification
- Exploration of embedded per-shipment insurance through specialist partners in a later phase
This page is a summary, not a policy
This page explains the platform's position in plain terms. It is not legal advice and does not replace the full Legal terms or the contract of carriage between the parties. Where cover matters, consult your insurer.