Companies that provide a full range of logistics-based functions must ensure their conditions of contract cover all of the services that they offer, warns UKWA chief executive Peter Ward.

Many companies in the warehousing and haulage sectors use the UKWA conditions as the basis for their standard terms and conditions.

They cover a broad range of services such as freight forwarding, haulage and, of course, warehousing, so that members don’t have to prepare different contracts relating to each distinct area of their business – one document is sufficient.

It is important that hauliers who are looking to add warehousing services to their service portfolio have some form of storage contract in place, as goods held in a warehouse face a much wider range of potential causes of damage than goods in transit. Indeed, once in the warehouse, careless handling – whether manual or by forklift truck, damp, fire, pest or even the proximity of other goods that have the ability to contaminate products stored nearby, are all potential causes of product damage.

Very often hauliers, warehouse operators and freight forwarders quote more than one set of terms when dealing with customers. They may, for example, have separate storage terms and haulage terms.

If a problem arises – say, a dropped pallet in the yard – it is sometimes not clear which set of conditions applies to that situation, and sometimes the legal position may be that none do.

By using UKWA’s conditions of contract, operators and their clients know exactly where they stand. Use of the UKWA conditions is strictly restricted to UKWA member companies only.

Gain industry insights at UKWA conference

UKWA’s National Conference takes place on 7-8 March at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield.

This national event is open to members and non-members and offers a superb opportunity to network with peers, hear industry leaders and gain insights into new business development opportunities.

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