Nobody likes talking about insurance — until something happens. Then only one question counts: who is liable, and for how much? In freight transport the answer is more clearly regulated than many assume — but it has a limit worth knowing before you put a valuable shipment on the road.
Carrier liability is not the same as the value of the goods
A common misconception: "If something breaks, I get the value of the goods reimbursed." That is not how statutory transport liability works. Forwarders and carriers are liable by weight, not by value. The relevant framework is the German Freight Forwarders' Standard Terms (ADSp) and the freight law of the German Commercial Code (HGB), which form the standard in the industry.
The ADSp limit liability to 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of damaged or lost goods, and to a maximum of €1.25 million per claim. The SDR is a currency unit of the International Monetary Fund — one kilogram is thus worth only a few euros, regardless of what was actually in the box.
An example makes it clear
Suppose a 20 kg shipment of electronics worth €5,000 is lost. Under weight-based liability the carrier reimburses around 8.33 SDR × 20 kg — that is roughly €200, not €5,000. For light but high-value goods, a significant gap opens between liability and actual value.
There are two tools precisely for this gap: declaration of value and goods-in-transit insurance.
Declaration of value and transit insurance
Anyone having high-value goods transported should declare the value of the goods before the journey. On that basis, goods-in-transit or cargo insurance can be arranged that covers the actual value — not just the liability weight. The surcharge is usually small in relation to the risk, and for one-off high-value transports it almost always pays off.
Our vehicles and transports are insured through KRAVAG — one of the leading insurers in Germany's transport and logistics sector. For shipments that should be covered beyond statutory liability, we clarify the right insurance cover with you in advance, before the goods leave the warehouse.
What you can do yourself
Three things matter in the event of a claim:
- Declare the value in advance. Only declared values can be specifically insured.
- Pack the goods for transport. Liability does not apply to damage caused by inadequate packaging.
- Document damage immediately. A photo, a note on the proof of delivery, a prompt report — that secures your claim.
Transparency is part of the job
For time-critical or high-value transports we discuss the cover openly rather than letting it disappear in the small print. You should know where you stand before the shipment travels — not only once something has happened.
Are you planning a transport where value and security matter? Talk to us. A dedicated contact clarifies liability, insurance and the right service with you — and you receive your binding quote within 60 minutes at most.