I’m no legal expert — especially not on freight transportation matters. Which entity is legally responsible for a load in your situation: the shipper or the carrier?
It just depends on the shipping terms that were agreed upon at the time of the order. Sometimes it is FOB jobsite and sometimes it is FOB shipping point. If it was shipping point, then the customer is responsible for the equipment the time it leaves our dock. If it is FOB jobsite, we are responsible for it until it reaches its final destination. I’m not sure what the shipping terms were on these transformers. I know that we were able to recover one of them. The one we recovered was impounded. The others are no where to be found.We had the driver’s cell phone number, but since their phones are now shut off, we can’t get in touch with him.
The carrier or broker if it was brokered freight. Hopefully the carrier has proper insurance or valuation coverage with a insurance carrier. Many motor carriers are self covered.
Motor carriers offer VALUATION and not Insurance. They are not liecenced to sell insurance. The can offer Released coverage VALUATION.