When transporting goods of significant value, it is not enough just to fill out an application form with a transport company and receive a receipt. To protect your company from all possible risks, you must conclude a transport service agreement.
Constituent documents of the counterparty
First of all, you need to make sure that the organization is reliable enough. To do this, you should request the company's charter or a copy of the manager's passport if it is an individual entrepreneur. You also need copies of the TIN, an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (no later than 30 days before the day of the request), a copy of the certificate of state registration of the OGRN.
It is good if all provided copies are certified by the seal and signature of the head.
To avoid risks with the tax inspectorate, it is necessary to request a certificate on the status of taxes and fees for the last quarter, a certified copy of the VAT declaration, with a stamp of the tax authority on delivery. It should be borne in mind that the marks of the tax authorities can be electronic.
If you had no previous experience of working with a transport company, you should pay attention to its assets. Does she own or lease vehicles (confirmation - copies of PTS), does she rent premises (confirmation - lease or property agreement), etc.
What to look for when concluding
First of all, the name. The contract for the provision of transport services obliges the carrier to simply transport the goods from point A to point B. If, however, a contract of freight forwarding services is concluded, the company will also be responsible for escorting the goods, correct paperwork, correct storage in the back, compliance with the conditions for storing the goods in the process of transportation. This option gives the customer much more chances to be right in controversial issues.
It is important to describe in as much detail as possible the process of loading, unloading, delivery of documents, payment terms. Who is responsible for what, and at what point responsibility is transferred to another counterparty.
Risks of the service agreement
The customer is interested in protecting himself as much as possible from all possible risks. These include the risk of delay in transport due to the fault of the forwarder, breakdown of the car on the way. It is better if the contract stipulates the obligation of the logistics company to provide a similar one instead of a broken car in a timely manner, otherwise provide for penalties.
For the correct positioning of the load in the body, its fixation, the responsibility can also be assigned to the driver. Or oblige him to check the reliability of fastening pallets or boxes with belts - he should be interested in ensuring that the cargo reaches its destination safe and sound.
