The short answer
High-value freight is different because the commercial value of the goods may be greater than the carrier's standard contractual limit of liability.
Do these first
Make the value and coverage discussion part of booking, not a post-loss question.
- Document actual commercial value — keep invoice or other value support.
- Ask what standard carrier liability applies — tariffs and contracts differ.
- Ask whether additional carrier liability is available — and how it must be requested.
- Decide whether separate cargo insurance is needed — that is a different product.
Carrier liability is not the same as insurance
Old Dominion explicitly states that its Additional Cargo Liability option is not insurance. TForce's tariff likewise distinguishes excess declared value coverage from insurance.
Separate cargo insurance is an insurance contract offered by an insurer or licensed provider.
Declared value and additional liability
Carrier rules differ. A carrier may require value on the BOL, a specific additional-liability request, advance approval, an additional charge or commodity eligibility.
Do not simply write a high value on the BOL and assume that creates coverage.
Sources
- https://www.odfl.com/us/en/tools/freight-shipping-rate-estimate/freight-cargo-liability.html
- https://tforcefreight.com/ltl/apps/rulestariffs
- https://www.ups.com/worldshiphelp/WSA/ENG/AppHelp/mergedProjects/CORE/Codes/Shipment_Options_for_Ground_Freight_LTL_-_Ground_Freight_Pricing_Rate_Comparison.htm
Tell me the value before the shipment is tendered
Send the commodity, documented value, packaging and coverage questions before booking so the liability decision is made before the truck moves.
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