Terms & Conditions

(a) “Company” shall mean, HLI Laredo, LLC its subsidiaries, related companies, agents and/or representatives;

(b) “Customer” shall mean the person for which the Company is rendering service, as well as its principals, agents and/or representatives;

(c) “Documentation” shall mean all information received directly or indirectly from Customer, whether in paper or electronic form;

(d) “Third parties” shall include, but not be limited to, the following: carriers, truckmen, cartmen, lightermen, railroads, barge operators, forwarders, agents, warehousemen and others to which the goods are entrusted for transportation, cartage, handling and/or delivery and/or storage or otherwise.

The Company acts as the “agent” of the Customer for the purpose of performing duties in connection with arranging for transportation services or other logistics services in any capacity other than as a carrier.

(a) Unless subject to a specific statute or international convention, all claims against the Company for a potential or actual loss, must be made in writing and received by the Company, within 90 days of the event giving rise to claim; the failure to give the Company timely notice shall be a complete defense to any suit or action commenced by Customer.

(b) All suits against Company must be filed and properly served on Company within two (2) years from the date of the loss or damage.

Unless services are performed by persons or firms engaged pursuant to express written instructions from the Customer, Company shall use reasonable care in its selection of third parties, or in selecting the means, route and procedure to be followed in the handling, transportation, clearance and delivery of the shipment.  Advice by the Company that a particular person or firm has been selected to render services with respect to the goods, shall not be construed to mean that the Company warrants or represents that such person or firm will render such services nor does Company assume responsibility or liability for any actions(s) and/or inaction(s) of such third parties and/or its agents, and shall not be liable for any delay or loss of any kind, which occurs while a shipment is in the custody or control of a third party or the agent of a third party.  All claims in connection with the Act of a third party shall be brought solely against such party and/or its agents.  In connection with any such claim, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Customer, which shall be liable for any charges or costs incurred by the Company.

Quotations as to fees, rates of duty, freight charges, insurance premiums or other charges given by the Company to the Customer are for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice.  No quotation shall be binding upon the Company unless the Company in writing agrees to undertake the handling or transportation of the shipment at a specific rate or amount set forth in the quotation and payment arrangements are agreed to between the Company and the Customer.  Any alterations or other changes to the scope of work, including changes to the weights or dimensions of the cargo involved, are subject to the company’s right to adjust the quotation price and completion schedule and, in all events, are subject to the right of the company to refuse to agree to any proposed alterations or changes.  Unless otherwise expressly stated in the quotation, all sales taxes, excise taxes, customs duties, value added taxes and similar value added taxes and similar items are additional, where applicable, to the quotation price(s).

All items must be properly packaged, reinforced or braced and suitable for handling using the methods described in the price quotations.  The cargo must have proper jacking points, lashing points, and support points provided by customer or other third parties.  Company accepts no libability for damages to cargo due to insufficient packaging.  Any special conditions or requirements of the applicable permit(s), which are not specifically described in the scope of work on the price quotations shall be billed extra at cost plus fifteen (15) percent.  Hazardous goods will not be accepted for transport, handling or storage.

(a) Third parties to whom the goods are entrusted may limit liability for loss or damage.  The Company will request excess valuation coverage only upon specific written instructions from the Customer, which must agree to pay any charges therefore.  In the absence of written instructions or the refusal of the third party to agree to a higher declared value, at Company’s discretion, the goods may be tendered to the third party, subject to the terms of the third party’s limitations of liability and/or terms and conditions of service.

(b) When rail transportation is included in the scope of work, the terms and conditions and any limitations in liability of the rail carrier(s) involved in the transportation and handling of shipments will prevail should a conflict arise between the Company’s terms and conditions and those of the railroad.  The railroad terms and conditions are public documents and available for public viewing, and can be obtained by contacting the railroad directly.

Unless requested to do so in writing and confirmed to Customer in writing, Company is under no obligation to procure insurance on Customer’s behalf; in all cases, Customer shall pay all premiums and costs in connection with procuring requested insurance.

(a) Except as specifically set forth herein, Company makes no express or implied warranties in connection with its services;

(b )In connection with all services performed by the Company, Customer may obtain additional liability coverage, up to the actual or declared value of the shipment or transaction, by requesting such coverage and agreeing to make payment therefor, which request must be confirmed in writing by the Company prior to rendering services for the covered transaction(s).

(c) In the absence of additional coverage under (b) above, unless Company is acting as a carrier, the Company’s liability shall be limited to the payments actually received by Company pursuant to its contract with Customer.

(d) In no event shall Company be liable or responsible for consequential, indirect, incidental, statutory or punitive damages, even if it has been put on notice of the possibility of such damages, or for the acts of third parties.

All charges must be paid by Customer in advance unless the Company agrees in writing to extend credit to Customer.  The granting of credit to a Customer in connection with a particular transaction shall not be considered a waiver of this provision by the Company.

The Customer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold the Company harmless from any claims and/or liability, fines, penalties and/or attorneys’ fees arising from any conduct of the Customer, including but not limited to the inaccuracy of data supplied by Customer or its agent or representative, which violates any Federal, State and/or other laws, and further agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless against any and all liability, loss, damages, costs, claims, penalties, fines and/or expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, which the Company may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay by reason of such claims.  In the event that any claim, suit or proceeding is brought against the Company, it shall give notice in writing to the Customer by mail at its address on file with the Company.

In any dispute involving monies owed to Company, the Company shall be entitled to all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney’s fees and interest at 15% per annum or the highest rate allowed by law, whichever is less unless a lower amount is agreed to by Company.

(a) Company shall have a general and continuing lien on any and all property of Customer coming into Company’s actual or constructive possession or control for monies owed to Company with regard to the shipment on which the lien is claimed, a prior shipment(s) and/or both;

(b) Company shall provide written notice to Customer of its intent to exercise such lien, the exact amount of monies due and owing, as well as any on-going storage or other charges; Customer shall notify all parties having an interest in its shipment(s) of Company’s rights and/or the exercise of such lien.

(c) Unless, within thirty days of receiving notice of lien, Customer posts cash or letter of credit at sight, or, if the amount due is in dispute, an acceptable bond equal to 110% of the value of the total amount due, in favor of Company, guaranteeing payment of the monies owed, plus all storage, demurrage, detention or other ancillary charges assessed by third parties accrued or to be accrued, Company shall have the right to sell such shipment(s) at public or private sale or auction and any net proceeds remaining thereafter shall be refunded to Customer.

Where Company prepares and/or issues a bill of lading, Company shall be under no obligation to specify thereon the number of pieces, packages and/or cartons, etc.  Unless specifically requested to do so in writing by Customer or its agent and Customer agrees to pay for same, Company shall rely upon and use the cargo weight supplied by Customer.

These terms and conditions of service may only be modified, altered or amended in writing signed by both Customer and Company; any attempt to unilaterally modify, alter or amend same shall be null and void.

The compensation of the Company for its services shall be included with and is in addition to the rates and charges of all carriers and other agencies selected by the Company to transport and deal with the goods and such compensation shall be exclusive of any brokerage, commissions, dividends, or other revenue received by the Company from carriers, insurers and others in connection with the shipment.

Company shall not be liable for losses, damages, delays, wrongful or missed deliveries or nonperformance, in whole or in part, of its responsibilities under the Agreement, resulting from circumstances beyond the control of either Company or its sub-contractors, including but not limited to: (i) acts of God, including flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, power failure or other natural disaster; (ii) war, hijacking, robbery, theft or terrorist activities; (iii) incidents or deteriorations to means of transportation, (iv) embargoes, (v) civil commotions or riots, (vi) defects, nature or inherent vice of the goods; (vii) acts, breaches of contract or omissions by Customer, Shipper, Consignee or anyone else who may have an interest in the shipment, (viii) acts  by any government or any agency or subdivision thereof, including denial or cancellation of any import/export or other necessary license; or (ix) strikes, lockouts or other labor conflicts.

In the event any Paragraph(s) and/or portion(s) hereof is found to be invalid and/or unenforceable, then in such event the remainder hereof shall remain in Full force and effect. Company’s decision to waive any provision herein, either by conduct or otherwise, shall not be deemed to be a further or continuing waiver of such provision or to otherwise waive or invalidate any other provision herein.

(a) These terms and conditions of service and the relationship of the parties shall be construed according to the laws of the State of New York without giving consideration to principles of conflict of law.  Customer and Company

(b) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court and the State courts of New York;(c) agree that any action relating to the services performed by Company, shall only be brought in said courts;

(d) consent to the exercise of in personam jurisdiction by said courts over it,

(e) consent to accept service of process via certified mail; and

(f) further agree that any action to enforce a judgment may be instituted in any jurisdiction.

Sec. 1. (a) The carrier or the party in possession of any of the property described in this bill of lading shall be liable in accordance with the provisions herein for any loss thereof or damage.

(b) The carrier shall not be liable for any loss or damage to a shipment or for any delay caused by an Act of God, the public enemy, the authority of law, or the act or default of shipper. Except in the case of negligence of the carrier or party in possession, the carrier or party in possession shall not be liable for loss, damage or delay which results: when the property is stopped and held in transit upon request of the shipper, owner or party entitled to make such requests; or from faulty or impassible highway, or lack of capacity of a highway bridge or ferry; or from a defect or vice in the property; or from riots or strikes. The burden to prove freedom from negligence is on the carrier or the party in possession.

Sec. 2. Unless arranged or agreed upon, in writing, prior to shipment, carrier is not bound to transport a shipment by a particular schedule or in time for a particular market, but is responsible to transport with reasonable dispatch. In case of physical necessity, carrier may forward a shipment via another carrier.

Sec. 3. (a) As a condition precedent to recovery, claims must be filed in writing with any participating carrier having sufficient information to identify the shipment.

(b) Claims for loss or damage must be filed within nine months after the delivery of the property (or, in case of export traffic, within none months after delivery at the port of export), except that claims for failure to make delivery must be filed within nine months after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed.

(c) Suits for loss, damage, injury or delay shall be instituted against carrier no later than two years and one day from the day when written notice is given by the carrier to the claimant that the carrier has disallowed the claim or any part of parts of the claim specified in the notice. Where claims are not filed or suits are not instituted thereon in accordance with the foregoing provisions, carrier shall not be liable, and such claims will not be paid.

(d) The carrier or party liable for loss of or damage to any of said property shall have the full benefit of any insurance that may have been effected, upon or on account of said property, so far as this shall not avoid the policies or contracts of insurance, PROVIDED, that the carrier receiving the benefit of such insurance will reimburse the claimant for the premium paid on the insurance policy or contract.

Sec. 4 (a) If the consignee refuses the shipment tendered for delivery by carrier or if carrier is unable to deliver the shipment, because of fault or mistake of the consignor or consignee, the carrier’s liability shall then become that of a warehouseman. Carrier shall promptly attempt to provide notice, by telephonic or electronic communication as provided on the face of the bill of lading, if so indicated, to the shipper or the party, if any, designated to receive notice on this bill of lading. Storage charges, based on carrier’s tariff, shall start no sooner than the next business day following the attempted notification. Storage may be, at the carrier’s option, in any location that provides reasonable protection against loss or damage. The carrier may place the shipment in public storage at the owner’s expense and without liability to the carrier.

(b) If carrier does not receive disposition instructions within 48 hours of the time of carrier’s attempted first notification, carrier will attempt to issue a second and final confirmed notification. Such notice shall advise that if carrier does not receive disposition instructions within 10 days of that notification, carrier may offer the shipment for sale at

(c) Where carrier has attempted to follow the procedure set forth in subsections 4(a) and (b) above and the procedure provided in this section is not possible, nothing in this section shall be construed to abridge the right of the carrier at its option to sell the property under such circumstances and in such manner as may be authorized by law. When perishable goods cannot be delivered and disposition is not given within a reasonable time, the carrier may dispose of property to the best advantage.

(d) Where carrier is directed by consignee or consignor to unload or deliver property at a particular location where consignor, consignee, or the agent of either, is not regularly located, the risk after unloading or delivery shall not be that of the carrier.

Sec. 5. (a) In all cases not prohibited by law, where a lower value than the actual value of said property has been stated in writing by the shipper or has been agreed upon in writing as the released value of the property as determined by the classifications or tariffs upon which the rate is based, such lower value shall be the maximum recoverable amount for loss or damage, whether or not such loss or damage occurs from negligence.

(b) The carrier will not carry or be liable in any way for any documents, coin money, or for any articles of extraordinary value not specifically rated in the published classification or tariffs unless a special agreement to do so and a stipulated value of the articles are endorsed on this bill of lading.

Sec. 6. Every party, whether principal or agent, who ships explosives or dangerous goods, without previous full written disclosure to the carrier of their nature, shall be liable for and indemnify the carrier against all loss or damage caused by such goods. Such goods may be warehoused at owner’s risk and expense or destroyed without compensation.

Sec. 7. (a) The consignor or consignee shall be liable for the freight and other lawful charges accruing on the shipment, as billed or corrected, except that collect shipments may move without recourse to the consignor when the consignor so stipulates by signature or endorsement in the space provided on the face of the bill of lading. Nevertheless, the consignor shall remain liable for transportation charges where there has been an erroneous determination of the freight charges assessed, based upon incomplete or incorrect information provided by the consignor.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) above, the consignee’s liability for payment of additional charges that may be found to be due after delivery shall be as specified by 49 U.S.C.§13706.

(c) Nothing in this bill of lading shall limit the right of the carrier to require the prepayment or guarantee of the charges at the time of shipment or prior to delivery. If the description of articles or other information on this bill of lading is found to be incorrect or incomplete, the freight charges must be paid upon the articles actually shipped.

Sec. 8. If this bill of lading is issued on the order of the shipper, or his agent, in exchange or in substitution for another bill of lading, the shipper’s signature on the prior bill of lading or in connection with the prior bill of lading as to the statement of value or otherwise, or as to the election of common law or bill of lading liability shall be considered as part of this bill of lading as fully as if the same were written on or made in connection with this bill of lading.

Sec. 9. If all or any part of said property is carried by water over any part of said route, such water carriage shall be performed subject to the terms and provisions and limitations of liability specified by the “Carriage of Goods by Sea Act” and any other pertinent laws applicable to water carriers.

Sec. 10  The Carrier shall have a general lien on any and all property (and documents relating thereto) of shipper in its possession, custody or control or en route, for all claims for charges, expenses or advances incurred by Carrier in connection with this shipment, or any previous shipment, of shipper.  If such claim remains unsatisfied for 30 days after demand for its payment is made, Carrier may sell at public auction or private sale the property or so much as may be necessary to satisfy such lien and the costs of recovery, and apply the net proceeds of such sale to the payment of the amount due Carrier. Surplus from such sale shall be transmitted to Merchant, and Merchant shall be liable for any deficiency in the sale.