Addressing risk transfer in global logistics

Freight forwarders may be held liable as contractual carrier under international conventions or national transport statutes

FREIGHT brokers and logistics intermediaries are central to global supply chains yet, when a catastrophic loss occurs, they are often treated as the “middleman who pays”. They may never touch the cargo or control the truck, vessel, or terminal, but expansive contracts and evolving liability theories can leave their insurers paying losses that should sit with the performing carrier. This article discusses why contractual risk transfer often fails in both US and non‑US logistics and suggests practical ways to align underwriting, contract drafting and claims strategy so that liability follows the party that controls the risk.