Common use of Loading and unloading Clause in Contracts

Loading and unloading. It is the principal’s own responsibility to ensure that the loading and unloading of the freight is carried out. Damage caused by circumstances during loading or unloading falls exclusively within the principal’s liability; this also applies if the principal is not in a contractual relationship with the actual loader/unloader. If in an individual case the loading and unloading is actually carried out by a vicarious agent of the contractor, this agent is regarded as a vicarious agent of the principal. The responsibility for loading and unloading always lies with the principal without exception. The principal must ensure that the cargo is secured in accordance with the regulations, complies with the statutory provisions and, in addition, is secured and stowed in a way that is safe for traffic and operation. The obligation to secure the load is the sole responsibility of the principal, even if the goods have been loaded by the truck driver. The principal assures that the packaging is suitable for transport. The provisions of the AÖSp also explicitly apply to such services (packaging services, stowage services, container stuffing, load securing). Furthermore, the contractor is not obliged to inspect the goods for repair. In the case of temperature controlled transports, the principal is obliged to properly pre-cool the goods.