# Forwarder liability

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> When goods arrive damaged, a shipment is badly delayed, or a customs entry contains a costly error, forwarder liability comes into focus: the forwarder is accountable to the shipper for losses arising from a breach of its contractual or legal duties.

When goods arrive damaged, a shipment is badly delayed, or a customs entry contains a costly error, forwarder liability comes into focus: the forwarder is accountable to the shipper for losses arising from a breach of its contractual or legal duties. That liability is typically capped – under national forwarding law, applicable international conventions such as the CMR for road transport, and by contract terms, often expressed as a maximum per kilogram or per claim. The critical question in practice is fault: the forwarder can fully or partially escape liability by demonstrating that it acted with reasonable care, or that the loss resulted from force majeure or the shipper's own conduct. Forwarder liability is distinct from carrier liability, which falls on the executing carrier directly for physical loss or damage to the goods during transit – a different legal basis and a different party.

**Source:** [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spediteurhaftung](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spediteurhaftung)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Forwarder liability |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 144 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spediteurhaftung |

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