GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Aug 1, 2026

Force Majeure

Wildfires block several access roads in southwestern France – a freight forwarder is unable to meet agreed delivery deadlines and invokes force majeure toward the customer.

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Last updated: 1 August 2026

Source: Frachtportal News: "Waldbrände stören Iberien-Verkehre – Stückgut Region Bordeaux betroffen"

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Logistics Concept

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1 min

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152

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Definition & Explanation

Wildfires block several access roads in southwestern France – a freight forwarder is unable to meet agreed delivery deadlines and invokes force majeure toward the customer. Force majeure refers to an unforeseeable, externally caused event that cannot reasonably be averted and that makes fulfilling a contract temporarily or permanently impossible – for example natural disasters, wars, strikes, or government orders. In transport law, force majeure regularly releases the carrier from liability for delays or failed deliveries, provided the event was not partly caused by their own fault and reasonable steps were taken to mitigate the damage. Many freight contracts and standard terms such as the ADSp contain their own force majeure clauses that define the scope more precisely. Important for shippers and forwarders: the mere existence of a disruptive event is not automatically sufficient – documented evidence of cause, duration, and countermeasures taken is decisive if contracting parties later dispute delay damages.

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