Terms of Carriage & Freight Service Agreement

1. Definitions & Regulatory Framework

These Terms of Carriage ("Agreement") constitute a legally binding agreement between the Consignor / Consignee ("Shipper") and LOAD BEARER Transportation & Logistics ("Carrier", "we", or "us").

All freight movement and consignment notes (Lorry Receipts / LR) issued by LOAD BEARER are subject to the Carriage by Road Act, 2007, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, and relevant state transport regulations across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and connecting Indian states.

2. Trailer Allocation & Booking Commitments

Our 30-minute allocation guarantee applies to standard 32ft–40ft open flatbed and multi-axle trailers confirmed within active dispatch hub radial perimeters (e.g., Suraram, Medchal, Balanagar, Cherlapally, Pashamylaram, Patancheru):

• Vehicle Assignment: Once an order is confirmed via our digital booking console, phone dispatch desk, or verified WhatsApp link, trailer registration and driver telematics credentials are transmitted to the consignor.
• Order Cancellation: If a vehicle is placed at the pickup loading yard and the consignor cancels the trip without fault of the Carrier, a dry-run mobilization charge of ₹3,500 applies to cover diesel and repositioning.

3. Weighbridge Verification & Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

To uphold MoRTH road safety guidelines and prevent bridge damage, the following standards are strictly enforced:

• Certified Weighbridge Slips: All steel consignments (TMT rebars, plates, structural beams, HR coils) must be weighed at a recognized electronic weighbridge upon loading. Tare weight, gross weight, and net payload must be legibly recorded on the Consignment Note.
• Zero Tolerance for Overloading: Vehicles will not depart the origin yard if the net payload exceeds the vehicle's registered Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) capacity (typically 28 MT for 32ft trailers, 32–35 MT for 40ft standard trailers, and 45 MT for tridem multi-axle trailers).
• Overloading Fines: Any statutory penalty imposed by transport authorities due to inaccurate weight declarations by the Shipper shall be debited directly to the Shipper's account.

4. Free Window & Detention Halting Policy

To maintain high fleet velocity across national express corridors, LOAD BEARER operates a standardized, transparent detention schedule:

5. Freight Tariffs, Fuel Provisions & GST (RCM)

Freight rates calculated via our digital calculator or confirmed by dispatch quotes are calculated on a transparent per-metric-ton or per-trip Full Truckload (FTL) basis:

• Diesel Fuel Surcharge (FSC): Standard quotes incorporate current baseline diesel tariffs. Route contracts exceeding 30 days adjust proportionally if local retail diesel prices fluctuate by more than ±₹2.50 per liter.
• Goods and Services Tax (GST): Freight transportation services provided by LOAD BEARER as a Goods Transport Agency (GTA) are billed under the 5% Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM), unless an explicit forward-charge agreement is executed in writing. Under RCM, the registered recipient pays GST directly to the tax authorities.
• Tolls & Border Checkpoints: Standard highway electronic tolls (FASTag) are included in all door-to-door freight quotes unless explicitly itemized as reimbursable on project cargo contracts.

6. Lashing Protocols & Shipper Obligations

Safety of the driver and public highway traffic is paramount during steel haulage:

• Certified Dunnage & Timber Bedding: All flatbed trailers arrive equipped with certified hardwood runners, concave coil cradles (for cylindrical coils), and rubber edge protectors.
• Lashing Binders: Our crew enforces 10mm high-tensile steel chain lashings with ratcheting load binders. Consignors must provide safe crane hook access for secure anchoring.
• Valid e-Waybill: No trailer will exit the loading yard without an active, verified GST e-Waybill matching the vehicle registration number and consignment destination.

7. Cargo Transit Insurance & Carrier Liability

In accordance with Section 10 of the Carriage by Road Act, 2007:

• Owner's Risk (Standard): All heavy freight is transported at Owner's Risk ("OR") unless the Shipper explicitly books and pays the Carrier's Risk ("CR") surcharge prior to loading.
• Marine Cargo Insurance: Industrial shippers are required to maintain valid all-risk Marine Cargo Insurance covering their goods during road transit.
• Carrier Legal Liability: In cases of Carrier negligence resulting in overturn or vehicular impact, Carrier liability is strictly limited to statutory caps outlined in the Carriage by Road Rules or the declared Carrier Risk valuation noted on the face of the Lorry Receipt.
• Inspection & Damage Endorsement: Any transit defect, denting, or chain abrasion must be endorsed on the physical Consignment Note at the moment of offloading in the presence of the vehicle pilot. Claims lodged post-unloading will not be entertained.

8. Proof of Delivery (POD) & Billing Reconciliation

LOAD BEARER provides rapid documentation turnaround to accelerate our clients' working capital:

• Digital e-POD: High-resolution, geostamped photographs of the consignee-signed Lorry Receipt and weighbridge slip are uploaded to the customer portal within 6 hours of successful offloading.
• Physical Original LR: Hard-copy stamped original delivery documents are couriered to the client's corporate billing address within 3 to 5 business days.
• Payment Schedules: Standard terms require 70% freight advance upon vehicle loading and 30% balance against submission of the digital stamped e-POD, unless a formal corporate credit line has been authorized by our credit committee.

9. Force Majeure & Highway Exceptions

Neither party shall be held liable for transit delays caused by circumstances beyond reasonable operational control, including but not limited to: Acts of God (flash floods, landslides, monsoons causing ghat road closures), unannounced highway blockades, interstate border shutdowns, civil disturbances, or sudden statutory route diversions imposed by the National Highways Authority of India.

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

This Agreement and all consignments handled by LOAD BEARER shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. In the event of any irreconcilable dispute, difference, or claim arising out of freight services, the competent civil courts in Hyderabad, Telangana shall have exclusive jurisdiction.