1. In these Terms and Conditions,
unless the context otherwise permits or requires, the following expressions shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "The Carrier" means
LIGHTNING TRANSPORT GROUP Ltd.
(b) "The Client" means any
person, firm or company requesting the Carrier to transport a Consignment and includes:
(i) the person who signs the order
form on the reverse of these Terms or any person, firm or company on whose behalf it has
been signed, and
(ii) any servant, agent or sub
contractor of the Client:
(c) "Consignment" means any
communication, parcel, package, envelope, letter or other items contained in one parcel,
envelope or package or any number of separate parcels, envelopes or packages sent at one
time, in one load, at the request of the Client from any collection Point/s to any one or
more Delivery Points:
(d) "Collection Point"
means the address at which any Consignment is to be collected or received by the Carrier:
(e) "Delivery Point" means
the address at which any Consignment is to be delivered by the Carrier including any
alternative Delivery Point specified by the Client under Clause 7(1) below:
(f) "Dangerous Goods" means
any goods which are specified in the special classification of Dangerous Goods issued by
the British Railways Board or goods of a similar nature or which present a comparable
hazard.
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
2.(1) Any consignment or other
business undertaken by the Carrier or any information advice or service supplied by the
Carrier, (whether charged for or not) is undertaken or provided subject to these Terms and
Conditions which shall be the terms of any contract for delivery of Consignments between
the Carrier and the Client.
(2) These terms subject to and
together with any variation agreed in writing between the Carrier and the Client shall
constitute the entire contract between the Carrier and the Client and shall override or
supersede any previous agreement or arrangement between the Carrier and the Client and in
particular shall operate to the exclusion of any terms and conditions at anytime referred
to or purportedly imposed on the Client. On acceptance by the Carrier of any Consignment
the Client shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms.
(3) These Terms shall alone govern
the Contract to the exclusion of any other conditions of the Client notwithstanding that
they may set out in any order, invoice, acceptance or other document used by the Client in
dealing with the Carrier. The Client acknowledges that the presence or continued presence
of its own standard terms and conditions on its documents any time during its dealings
with the Carrier under this contract is only a matter of administrative convenience to the
Client and is not intended by the Client to qualify or amend these Terms in any way.
(4) The Client acknowledges that it
has not entered into this Agreement relying upon any representation made by or on behalf
of the Carrier and in particular the Client has not relied upon any correspondence,
statement or sales literature issued by or on behalf of the Carrier.
3. The Carrier is not a common
carrier and will only carry Consignments subject to these Terms and Conditions. The
Carrier reserves the right at its absolute discretion to:
(i) subcontract any part or parts of
a delivery:
(ii) refuse to accept any Consignment
or part thereof for delivery:
(iii) deliver the Consignment by any
available route:
Þ(iv) refuse to accept Dangerous
Goods or any Consignment containing Dangerous Goods for delivery:
4. (1) The Client hereby warrents
that:
(a) The Consignment does not
constitute or contain Dangerous Goods or any substance the possession, storage or delivery
of which is a criminal offence or a breach of the provisions of any relevant statute
regulation or bye-law under the laws of any part of the United Kingdom or of any
jurisdiction to or through which the Consignment is to be delivered or in which it may be
stored:
(b) The Client has authority in
respect of the Consignment to authorise collection and delivery by the Carrier from the
Collection Point to the Delivery Point:
(2) The Client hereby agrees to
indemnify the Carrier and hold the Carrier harmless against any loss, damage, claim, cost
or expense which the Carrier, its employees, sub contractors or agents may incur directly
or indirectly as a result of any breach of the warrentry given in clause 4(1) above.
DELIVERIES
5. (1) The Carrier shall use its
reasonable endeavours to deliver the Consignment to the Delivery Point within the time
specified by the Client, but time of the delivery shall not be of the essence unless
agreed by the Carrier in writing prior to the placing of the order.
(2) The Carrier shall take all
reasonable steps to obtain a receipt from the consignee or his or its employee, agent or
sub-contractor and such receipt shall be conclusive evidence of the date, time and place
of the delivery.
6. (1) The Carrier shall make one
attempt to deliver the Consignment to the Delivery Point within the delivery time
specified by the Client. If the Consignment cannot be delivered the Carrier will have the
option to either make a further attempt to deliver the Consignment to the Delivery Point
or to deliver the Consignment to any other Delivery Point specified by the Client. In
either event at the Clients cost.
(2) If Delivery does not take place
under the provisions of Clause 6 (1) other than by reason of any failure or default of the
Carrier its employees, sub contractors or agents or if the Client does not specify an
alternative Delivery Point within 24 hours of being requested to do so by the Carrier, the
Client shall be liable to the Carrier for all storage charges incurred by the Carrier
between the date on which the delivery was first attempted and the date on which delivery
is made under Clause 6(1) above or the date of sale of the Consignment under the
provisions of Clause 6(3) below.
(3) If delivery does not take place
under the provisions of Clause 6(1) the Carrier shall be entitled to dispose of the
Consignment or any part thereof at any time after giving the Client 7 days written notice
of its intention to do so.
(4) The Carrier shall be under no
obligation to deliver a Consignment or Consignments as a whole at any one time and shall
be free in its absolute discretion to make more than one delivery or to deliver in parts.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
7. The Carrier shall not be under any
obligation to provide any plant, equipment, machinery power or labour which may be
required for loading or unloading the Consignment at the Collection or Delivery Point.
8. Any Consignment or part thereof
requiring any special appliance or equipment for loading on to and/or unloading from any
vehicle is accepted for carriage only on the condition the Client has duly ascertained
that such appliances are available at the Collection and Delivery Points and the Client
shall be responsible for the provision and cost of such appliances or equipment.
9. Any assistance given by the
Carrier beyond the usual act of collection and delivery (including without prejudice to
the generality of the forgoing the provision of plant, machinery, equipment, power or
labour for loading and unloading at the Collection and Delivery Points) shall be at the
sole risk of the Client who will save harmless and keep the Carrier indemnified against
any damage, expense, loss, costs, claims or demands (including without limitations damage
to the Consignment or to any property of the Client, the Carrier, the consignee or any
third party whether or not arising out of the negligence of the Carrier, its employees ,
sub-contractors or agents) arising directly or indirectly from the provision of such
assistance.
LIABILITY FOR LOSS AND DAMAGE
10. (1) Subject to the provisions of
Clauses 5, 9 and 11 the Carrier shall not be liable for any loss, mis-delivery,
non-delivery or damage to any Consignment unless such loss, mis-delivery, non-delivery or
damage has arisen from any wilful default by or negligent act or omission of the Carrier,
its employees, sub contractors or agents.
(2) The Carrier shall not be liable
for damage to or loss of a Consignment unless and until it has collected the Consignment
from the Collection Point and its liability for loss or damage to the Consignment shall
cease on which ever of the following events first occurs:
(a) delivery of the Consignment to
the Delivery Point as first advised to the Carrier by the Client:
(b) the tendering by the Carrier or
the Carrier offering to and being ready, willing and able to tender delivery of the
Consignment to the Delivery Point as first advised to the Carrier by the Client:
(c) delivery of the Consignment to
any alternative Delivery Point as specified by the Client under Clause 6(1) above:
(d) the tendering of delivery by the
Carrier or the Carrier offering to and being ready willing and able to tender delivery to
an alternative Delivery Point as specified by the Client under Clause 6(1) above.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
11. (1) Subject to Clauses 5, 9 and
to Clause 10 hereof the liability of the Carrier to the Client arising from any loss of or
damage to any Consignment or for non delivery or mis delivery thereof shall be limited to
the reasonable market value of the Consignment whether such loss or damage, non delivery
or mis-delivery arises by reason of breach of contract or negligence on the part of the
Carrier or its employees, agents or sub contractors or otherwise howsoever. Provided that:
(i) the liability of the Carrier
shall in any case be limited to £10,000 in respect of any one Consignment,
(ii) the Carrier shall not in any
case be liable for any indirect, consequential or economic loss or damage incurred by the
Client or any third party:
(iii) the Carrier shall not be liable
in respect of any loss or damage to any Consignment that cannot be carried within lockable
equipment normally provided by any vehicle requested by the Client from the Carrier for
delivery of such Consignments or if the Consignment is not properly packed or prepared for
transit in parcels, envelopes or packages suitable for transit goods, items or matters of
a nature comprising the Consignment or any part thereof:
(iv) the Carrier shall be entitled to
receive written evidence to a reasonable satisfaction of the value of the Consignment
damaged or lost:
(v) notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary in the Terms, the Carrier shall not be liable for loss or damage to,
non-delivery or mis-delivery of any cash, notes, stamps, deeds, tickets, cheques, bankers
cheques, or drafts, travellers cheques, jewellery, watches, precious metals, works of art
or similar valuable articles:
(vi) the Carrier shall not be liable
for any loss or damage suffered by reason of:
(a) the failure of the Client to
address the Consignment note correctly or at all
(b) delivery of the Consignment in
good faith at the Delivery Point to a person claiming to be the consignee or his or its
employee, sub-contractor or agent or:
(c) any breach of the warrentry given
by the Client in Clause 4 above:
(d) the inability of the Carrier to
perform its obligations due to any circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the
Carrier including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any strike, lock
out, state of hostilities or climatic conditions:
(vii) the Carrier shall not be liable
for any loss of or damage to a Consignment unless a claim is made upon the Carrier in
writing:
(a) within 7 days after completion of
the delivery:
(b) in the case of loss,
mis-delivery, or non-delivery, within 28 days of acceptance by the Carrier of the
Consignment concerned:
(viii) the Carrier shall not be
liable for any damage to or deterioration or perishing of goods of a fragile or perishable
nature except where such damage, deterioration or perishing occurs by any reason of
default or neglect on the part of the Carrier, its employees, sub-contractors or agents (
and subject always to the provisions of Clauses 5 and 11 (1) (iii) or for reasonable wear
and tear incurred during transit or storage:
(ix) the limit referred to in Clause
11 (1) (i) shall only apply to loss or damage occurring within the geographical limits of
Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, including journeys
within these areas. For deliveries outside these areas, liability shall be restricted to
the amount recoverable by the Carrier and actually recovered (whether under any convention
relating to international carriage of goods from time to time in force or otherwise) from
the international agent or carrier, chosen by the Carrier at its absolute discretion to
deliver the Consignment.
(2) The Carrier and the Client have
freely and openly negotiated this Contract in the knowledge that the liability of the
Carrier is to be limited in accordance with these Terms and the price charged by the
Carrier has been calculated accordingly. The Client acknowledges that a greater price
would be payable but for such limitation. It is intended that the terms and conditions
should be reasonable as between the Carrier and the Client having regard to the nature of
the contract, but if at any time any of them is either unenforcable or void at law it
shall nor adversely affect or prejudice the remainder of them or the Contract and it shall
be deemed to be excluded from these Terms.
(3) The Client shall (or the Carrier
shall at the Clients written request and at the Clients expense) insure the Consignment
against all risks (or such risks for which insurance is readily available on ordinary
terms and at normal rates) for a sum equal to the amount by which the Consignments
replacement value exceeds the limit of the Carriers liability pursuant to Clause 11(1)(i).
CHARGES
12. (1) The Client shall in respect
of delivery of any Consignment pay the Carriers charges in accordance with the Carriers
current tariff of charges within 30 days from the date of the Carriers invoice thereof.
The Carrier reserves the right to increase its charges at any time. The tariff of charges
is available for inspection by the Client at the Carriers office(s) (and a copy will be
provided on request) and the tariff shall be deemed to have been inspected by the Client
whether or not actually inspected.
(2) The Carrier may at its absolute
discretion withdraw credit facilities at any time.
(3) No quotation or estimate of
charges given by the Carrier shall bind the Carrier, unless expressed in writing to be a
fixed quotation with a date to which such fixed quotation shall be valid, in which case
the quotation or estimate must be accepted by the Client and delivery must take place
prior to or on that date.
13. The Client shall pay to the
Carrier VAT on all monies due to the Carrier at the appropriate rate in force from time to
time.
14. Unless paid within 30 days of the
date of invoice from the Carrier, the Carrier shall be entitled to interest on any unpaid
sum at the rate of 2 percent per month computed from the date of any such unpaid invoice
until the payment of such sum and computed on a daily basis both before and after
judgement.
15. For the purpose of the Terms the
price stated in the current tariff of charges of the Carrier shall be deemed to be a basic
price and any other expenses incurred by the Carrier on the Clients behalf (such as
payments for Red Star Parcels or gratuities) shall be added to such price with VAT (where
applicable) at the appropriate rate.
16. All monies due to the Carrier
shall be payable to the Carrier in sterling.
17.The Carrier shall have a lien over
any and all Consignments in respect of any unpaid invoices whether relating to a
particular Consignment or otherwise and the Client appoints the Carrier, its attorney or
agent to sell or otherwise dispose of the same and to apply the net sale proceeds in
reduction or extinguishment of the Clients liability to the Carrier.
18. No payment due to the Carrier
from the Client shall be withheld by the Client in respect of any claim or alleged claim
or the consignee against the Carrier howsoever arising and whether by way of set-off
counterclaim or otherwise.
19. The Client agrees to indemnify
the Carrier for all costs and expenses including legal fees and expenses on a Solicitor
and own Client basis in respect of the recovery of any outstanding amounts due under this
contract.
LAW AND JURISDICTION
20. These Terms and Conditions shall
be subject to the laws of England and the parties hereby submit to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of England & Wales.