Client Resources

• All Fresh Produce Shipments must be insulated with reflective foil.
• All Fresh and Frozen Seafood shipments must either be insulated with reflective foil or packed in styro-foam or wax boxes with gel packs and or dry ice.
• Freight Charges must be included in the value declared at time of booking.
• All shipments must be picked-up at destination within 12 hours upon arrival or the claim will be denied.
• Commodity Forwarders must be notified of all claims immediately upon arrival at destination or no later than 24 hours or claims will be denied. Claim intents must be submitted in writing by completing our Claim Notification form.
• Any claim in excess of $10,000 Commodity Forwarders must be notified immediately upon consignee pick-up. All goods must be made available for 3rd party surveyor inspection prior to any disposal of the product to substantiate the claim. Salvage may be performed prior to inspection if authorized by Commodity Forwarders.  
• Claims should be paid within 30 days after proof of loss or damage has been submitted as well as all necessary documentation to CFI.
• All formal claims must be submitted within 30 days from date of arrival of the shipment at destination or will be denied.
• Concealed loss or damage must be reported in writing either via fax or e-mail to CFI within 24 hours. Supporting documents including Pictures, Invoices, Inspection Reports, Dump Certificates etc. must be submitted within 7 days.
• Claims lodged based on the sole reasoning that damage or product deterioration was a result of delay in transit of less than 48 hours for domestic and 72 hours for international will not be considered a valid basis to file a claim and cannot be submitted to the carriers at any time.
• The Shipper or Consignee must make every reasonable attempt to mitigate the loss on the insurance carriers behalf. Based on the value of the claim the carrier reserves the right to have a surveyor examine the goods prior to mitigation. At no time does the insurance carrier or Commodity Forwarders take ownership of the cargo.
• The Insurance carrier shall not be liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by Acts of God, public authorities, strikes, labor disputes, acts of war, weather, mechanical, aircraft failures, acts or omissions of Customs or quarantine officials or civil commotions.

In tendering this shipment, the Shipper or Consignee agrees to these Terms & Conditions of Contract. No agent or employee of the parties may alter the attached document prepared by the Shipper or on Shipper’s behalf by Commodity Forwarders, Inc. henceforth known as CFI.

Due to the inherent nature of the airfreight business, CFI does not guarantee delivery by a stipulated date or a stipulated time, nor shall CFI be liable for the consequences of failure to make timely delivery. Although CFI, its agents or the airline will make every effort to secure and board your preferred flights, we are not responsible for loss of market value due to normal delays in transit, enhanced security protocols, failure to board scheduled flights, delays due to mechanical failure or lack of appropriate equipment necessary to properly tender the freight for air transportation.

Commodity Forwarders shall not be liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by Acts of God, public authorities, strikes, labor disputes, weather, mechanical, aircraft failures, acts or omissions of Customs or quarantine officials, or civil commotions. As a licensed IATA Air Freight Forwarder Commodity Forwarders acts as your agent with the carrier and does not influence the final ruling on any freight claim.

In the event of a freight claim in the absence of additional insurance coverage the airlines maximum liability on domestic air freight shipments is $.50 per lb. and $20.00 per Kilo on international shipments. As a customer of Commodity Forwarders you have the option to request at an additional charge excess insurance coverage and must do so at time of booking. Rates for this additional coverage differ and are based on airline tariff.

Shippers are required to pack their shipments to withstand 48 hours in transit for domestic air freight shipments and 72 hours for international air freight shipments. Commodity Forwarders offers our customers several options to help maintain the most optimal temperature while in transit. These options are a deterrent to temperature fluctuations and are in no means a guarantee concerning arrival temperatures. The carriers are not required to maintain a cold chain for air freight shipments nor required to possess cold storage. For those carriers that do have cold storage they do so on a space available basis only.

Claims lodged based on the sole reasoning that damage or product deterioration was a result of delay in transit of less than 48 hours will not be considered a valid basis to file a claim and cannot be submitted to the carriers at any time. To insure that both CFI and our customers do everything possible to collect on all valid claims, please read the following carefully. All claims must be completed in the following manner. Upon acceptance of goods at the carrier your staff or designated agent should follow the following guidelines to minimize the possibilities of a claim denial. Freight Invoice for all claim shipments must be paid in full prior to claim settlement payment.