These Terms and Conditions are a legal contract between any shipper, consignor, consignee, or any other entity claiming an interest in the goods for which MX Logistics Group Inc., arranges transportation (“Shipper”) and MX Logistics Group Inc. (“Broker”):
1.1 Compliance with Applicable Law. Broker represents and warrants that it is duly and legally qualified to operate as a property broker and to arrange the transportation services contemplated herein. Broker agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, provincial, and foreign law, regulation, or ordinance (“Applicable Law”) regarding the provision of such brokerage services.
1.2 Broker’s Role. The Parties understand and agree that Broker functions as an independent entity, and not as a carrier, in selling, negotiating, and arranging for transportation for compensation, and that the actual transportation of shipments tendered to Broker shall be performed by third-party motor carriers (“Carriers”).
1.3 Exclusivity. Neither Broker nor Shipper intend to create an exclusive agreement hereunder. Broker may accept or reject any shipment tendered by Shipper, in Broker’s sole discretion. Nothing hereunder shall be construed as obligating Broker to arrange for the transportation of any minimum volume of shipments.
1.4.1 Shipper acknowledges and agrees that Broker shall have no obligation to arrange for a Carrier to provide any special handling (including, but not limited to, controlled-temperature transportation) unless Shipper, at the time of the initial request for services with respect to the individual shipment Shipper requests specialized handling for, provides written notice (“Special Handling Notice”) to Broker identifying the requested special handling, including without limitation any requirements related to condition, design, maintenance, or type of transportation equipment; sealing of trailers; cross-contaminant restrictions; segregation/isolation of Food (as defined below) shipments; record requirements relating to equipment (such as prior use or cleaning); temperature-range requirements; temperature records (including method of measuring, monitoring, and documenting temperature); pre-cooling requirements; and required transit times (any such instructions, hereinafter the “Specialized Instructions”). If Broker responds in writing that it agrees to arrange transportation in accordance with the Specialized Instructions, Broker’s sole obligation is to notify Carrier of the requirements in the Special Handling Notice. Each Special Handling Notice may be communicated in writing or via electronic means.
1.4.2 If a shipment contains Cargo intended for human or animal consumption (“Food”) for which controlled-temperature services are necessary, the corresponding Special Handling Notice must expressly confirm controlled-temperature services are required, as well as the required temperature range stated in degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, for each controlled-temperature shipment, the consignor shall ensure that commodities are within appropriate temperature ranges at the time of physical tender to the Carrier.
1.4.3 Any Food not requiring temperature control during transportation will be properly packaged prior to tender to Broker or its Carrier in such a manner as to ensure safe and sanitary handling during transportation without the need for any specialized handling procedures.
1.4.4 Broker’s sole responsibility with respect to Specialized Instructions is limited to providing such Specialized Instruction to the Carrier. Shipper acknowledges and agrees that actual or alleged failure by the Carrier to comply with Specialized Instructions, or a broken, missing, or unreadable trailer seal, shall not: (i) result in any presumption that Cargo has been adulterated, contaminated, or otherwise rendered unfit for its intended purpose, or (ii) be grounds for rejection of a shipment or filing of a claim for Cargo loss and damage without proof of actual loss or damage.
1.5 Shipments Containing Hazardous Material. Shipper shall notify Broker in writing prior to tendering any Hazardous Material and is solely responsible for properly identifying and describing, on any shipping documentation, in accordance with Applicable Law, Cargo to be transported. Shipper shall comply with all Applicable Law regarding tender of hazardous materials, as that term is used and defined in the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq., as well as any other hazardous or non-hazardous waste (“Hazardous Material”), including any and all applicable notices and/or manifests related to such hazardous material, as well as provide Broker, prior to tender of any shipment, with the applicable Safety Data Sheet for the Hazardous Material to be tendered to Carrier for transportation. Shipper shall indemnify, defend, and hold Broker, its employees, contractors, and agents harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse, any and all claims of loss, damage, delay, fine, civil penalty, or expense, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal costs, arising out of or related to the exposure to or release of any Hazardous Material, including without limitation, fines or expenses relating to the removal or treatment of Hazardous Material or other remedial action pertaining to the Hazardous Material under Applicable Law, if: (i) Shipper fails to timely provide the notice and information required by this provision; (ii) the contact, exposure or release resulted from improper packaging or from other acts or omissions of Shipper, its employees, contractors, or agents; or (iii) the contact, exposure of release occurred subsequent to the transport of the Hazardous Material by the Carrier.
1.5 Shipments Containing Hazardous Material. Shipper shall notify Broker in writing prior to tendering any Hazardous Material and is solely responsible for properly identifying and describing, on any shipping documentation, in accordance with Applicable Law, Cargo to be transported. Shipper shall comply with all Applicable Law regarding tender of hazardous materials, as that term is used and defined in the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq., as well as any other hazardous or non-hazardous waste (“Hazardous Material”), including any and all applicable notices and/or manifests related to such hazardous material, as well as provide Broker, prior to tender of any shipment, with the applicable Safety Data Sheet for the Hazardous Material to be tendered to Carrier for transportation. Shipper shall indemnify, defend, and hold Broker, its employees, contractors, and agents harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse, any and all claims of loss, damage, delay, fine, civil penalty, or expense, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal costs, arising out of or related to the exposure to or release of any Hazardous Material, including without limitation, fines or expenses relating to the removal or treatment of Hazardous Material or other remedial action pertaining to the Hazardous Material under Applicable Law, if: (i) Shipper fails to timely provide the notice and information required by this provision; (ii) the contact, exposure or release resulted from improper packaging or from other acts or omissions of Shipper, its employees, contractors, or agents; or (iii) the contact, exposure of release occurred subsequent to the transport of the Hazardous Material by the Carrier.
1.6 Shipments Requiring Rail Transportation. Notwithstanding anything in these Terms and Conditions to the contrary, in the event, whether upon request of Shipper or in Broker’s discretion, any portion of the underlying transportation is performed by a rail carrier (“Rail Carrier”), Shipper acknowledges and agrees that the Rail Carrier services, including, but not limited to, charges, liability (including limitations) for loss or damage to Cargo, and terms and conditions of services are governed by tariffs, circulars, or similar documents maintained by the Rail Carrier or other third-party logistics provider arranging such Rail Carrier services (the “Rail Conditions”). Shipper acknowledges and agrees that Shipper, and not Broker, shall be deemed as a shipper or beneficial Cargo owner for purposes of application of the Rail Conditions. As between Shipper and Broker, Shipper shall be solely responsible for: (a) proper packing of any and all shipments; (b) blocking and bracing all such Cargo in accordance with the Rail Conditions, as well as in accordance with industry standards (including, but not limited to, those imposed by the American Association of Railroads via Circular 43, Rules Governing the Loading, Blocking and Bracing of Freight in Closed Trailers and Containers for TOFC/COFC Service); and (c) compliance with any and all obligations or charges imposed by the Rail Carrier with respect to tender of Cargo for rail and/or intermodal transportation, including, but not limited to, any and all charges for accessorial services imposed by Rail Carriers whether or not included in the initial rates agreed upon by the Parties.
1.7 Notification of Accidents or Delays. Broker agrees to notify Shipper of any accident or other event of which Broker is appraised and which prevents the Carrier from making a timely or safe delivery.
2.1 Shipper warrants that it is the owner of the cargo, freight, products, goods, commodities, packages, and/or parcels (collectively, the “Cargo”), or is otherwise authorized to engage Broker to arrange for the transportation of the Cargo pursuant to these Terms and Conditions. Shipper will provide complete and accurate information regarding the Cargo and is solely responsible for complying with legal obligations imposed under Applicable Law on any shipper or offeror of Cargo. Shipper shall be solely responsible for preparing, marking, packing, labeling, and securing the Cargo so as to ensure safe transportation with ordinary care in handling.
2.2 Shipper will advise Broker in writing, prior to tendering any Cargo, whether transportation services require specific licensing, registration, or permitting. Shipper warrants and represents that each shipment for which it requests services is valued at less than $0.50 per pound, and less than $100,000 in total, unless Shipper notifies Broker in writing, at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to scheduled pick-up, that a specific shipment exceeds such values. Broker is under no obligation to arrange for a Carrier to assume full-value liability unless specifically agreed in a writing signed by an officer of Broker, which such writing must specifically identify the individual shipment to which it relates.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all Cargo tendered shall be accepted on a bill of lading which shall function as a receipt of the Cargo only; the terms and conditions of such bill of lading will not apply to transportation provided pursuant to these Terms and Conditions. Upon written request of Shipper, Broker shall instruct Carriers to obtain a delivery receipt from the consignee, showing the products delivered, condition of the shipment, and the date and time of such delivery. Shipper is solely responsible for properly identifying and describing the Cargo to be transported on any shipping documentation, as well as for complying with Applicable Law regarding tender of Cargo for transportation. Shipper acknowledges and agrees that Broker is under no obligation to arrange for any special handling or other services unless expressly requested in writing by Shipper receipt of which is acknowledged in writing by Broke
Broker shall make commercially reasonable efforts to place Shipper’s Cargo with responsible Carriers authorized to perform the services required by Shipper for the purposes of transporting Cargo with reasonable dispatch under the direction of Shipper. In no event will Broker tender any Cargo of Shipper to a Carrier holding an “unsatisfactory” safety rating. Broker also agrees to utilize only Carriers that possess all insurance coverages required by Applicable Law. However, the Parties understand and agree that Broker makes no express or implied warranties or guarantees concerning delivery time or the locating of a Carrier to provide the transportation services requested by Shipper. Moreover, Shipper acknowledges and agrees that such Carriers might limit Shipper’s recovery for claims for Cargo loss, damage or delay.
5.2 In no event will Broker or any of its affiliated entities, each of which shall be an intended third-party beneficiary of these Terms and Conditions, have any responsibility for, and Shipper will defend, indemnify, and hold Broker harmless from, and will pay and reimburse, any charges imposed by third parties with respect to: (i) use of equipment in which Cargo tendered by, to, or on behalf of Shipper is, has been, or will be laden, or for charges assessed with respect to storage or handling of any such equipment, including, but not limited to, charges assessed by steamship lines, rail carriers, rail terminal operators, marine terminal operators, or port authorities; (ii) charges arising from services, including, but not limited to, any and all amounts assessed by third parties related to requests for cancellation (including charges for services rendered prior to cancellation), costs related to requests for reconsignment or otherwise due to inaccurate or incomplete information provided by or on behalf of Shipper; or (iii) any rates or charges, or any increase in any rates or charges, the Carrier assesses to Broker, such as fuel surcharges, peak season surcharges, general rate increases, or amounts intended to cover assessments by third parties (including government regulators). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Broker shall have no liability for any such changes arising from or related to port congestion, lack of equipment availability, labor shortages, or other situations impacting port or intermodal transportation operations.
5.3 Broker shall have a possessory lien on all Cargo, and any proceeds therefrom, in its, or in its Carrier’s, dominion or control for the payment of any and all amounts due and owing from Shipper or with respect to services rendered at the request, or for the benefit of, Shipper. In addition, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, Broker will have a general lien on any Cargo under its, or its Carrier’s, dominion or control, and any proceeds thereof, for any and all amounts due and owing from Shipper or with respect to services rendered at the request, or for the benefit of, Shipper, regardless of whether those amounts relate to Cargo or proceeds against which the general lien is enforced.
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