Understanding your rights and our responsibilities. NationsWay's cargo liability framework protects your shipment from origin to destination — by road, air, and sea.
Cargo liability defines the legal responsibility NationsWay holds for your freight during transit. It establishes the maximum compensation payable in the event of loss, damage, or delay to your shipment while in our care, custody, or control.
Our liability is governed by national and international regulations applicable to each transport mode — road, air, and ocean — and may be subject to declared value, weight, and commodity type.
Shippers are strongly encouraged to declare the full value of their cargo and consider additional cargo insurance where the shipment value exceeds standard liability limits.
Important: Standard carrier liability is not the same as cargo insurance. If your shipment value exceeds our standard limits, we recommend purchasing additional all-risk cargo insurance through your broker or our partner providers.
You may declare a higher value for your shipment at the time of booking. An additional charge applies, but it increases our liability ceiling for your cargo.
Without a declared value, liability defaults to the standard per-kilogram or per-unit limits set by the applicable convention for each transport mode.
Cross-border and international shipments are governed by the Warsaw Convention (air), Hague-Visby Rules (sea), and CMR Convention (road).
Certain commodities, inherent vice, improper packaging, and force majeure events may limit or exclude NationsWay's liability. See full exclusions below.
Our liability limits vary by transport mode and are set in accordance with applicable international conventions and regulatory requirements. All limits shown are per shipment unless otherwise stated.
FTL, LTL, and expedited road freight within the USA is governed by the Carmack Amendment. Cross-border Canada/Mexico shipments may vary.
International air cargo is governed by the Montreal Convention 1999. Domestic air freight follows applicable IATA regulations.
Ocean freight liability is governed by the Hague-Visby Rules or Hamburg Rules depending on the jurisdiction of loading port.
If cargo is visibly damaged or short at the time of delivery, note all exceptions clearly on the delivery receipt or proof of delivery (POD) before the driver leaves. Photographs are strongly recommended. Failure to note exceptions at delivery may limit your claim.
Contact our claims department within 5 days of delivery for visible damage, or within 14 days for concealed damage. For total loss claims, notification must be made within 9 months for road freight, 14 days for air freight, and 3 days for sea freight.
Do not dispose of damaged cargo or original packaging until the claim is fully resolved. NationsWay reserves the right to inspect the shipment, packaging materials, and delivery location as part of our investigation process.
Complete the NationsWay cargo claim form and submit it along with all required documentation. Claims submitted without complete documentation will be held until all information is received.
Our claims team will review your submission, conduct any required inspections, and issue a determination within 30 days of receiving a complete claim. Approved claims are settled within 14 business days of determination.
Time-sensitive: All claims must be submitted within the applicable convention window. Late claims may be denied regardless of merit. Contact our team as soon as loss or damage is discovered.
Send all claim documentation to our dedicated claims email or use the contact form on our website. Our claims team is available Monday – Friday, 8AM – 6PM MST.
Contact Claims TeamA declared value surcharge of approximately 0.5%–1.5% of the declared amount applies. This increases our liability ceiling but is not cargo insurance.
Cargo must be packed to withstand normal transit conditions. NationsWay reserves the right to refuse shipments deemed improperly packaged without liability.
Misdeclaration of cargo nature, weight, or value may void any liability. Undeclared hazardous materials are not covered and may result in additional charges.
For high-value shipments, we strongly recommend purchasing all-risk cargo insurance through a licensed insurer. Our team can provide referrals upon request.
Have a question not answered here? Our team is available 24/7 to assist with liability and claims inquiries.
Ask a QuestionOur team is available around the clock to help you understand your liability coverage, file a claim, or arrange additional cargo insurance for your shipment.