GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026

default of acceptance

Shippers and freight forwarders depend on timely handover – when that fails, default of acceptance applies: it describes the situation in which the consignee does not enable receipt of the shipment at the agreed time or place, whether through outright refusal, an inaccessible warehouse, or insufficient unloading capacity.

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Last updated: 16 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/annnahmeverzug-104440

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Definition & Explanation

Shippers and freight forwarders depend on timely handover – when that fails, default of acceptance applies: it describes the situation in which the consignee does not enable receipt of the shipment at the agreed time or place, whether through outright refusal, an inaccessible warehouse, or insufficient unloading capacity. Once default occurs, the consignee bears the risk of accidental loss or damage to the goods, as well as costs for additional transport legs, interim storage, and administrative handling. The specific claims that arise depend on the freight contract and the governing law – in cross-border European road transport, the CMR Convention typically applies. Unlike the acceptance obligation, which defines the content of the duty, default of acceptance governs solely the legal consequences when that duty is not met.

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