These terms govern the use of United State Shipping Service's website and transportation, logistics, and freight-forwarding services. By requesting a quote, booking a shipment, or otherwise using our services, you agree to the terms set out below.
These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a binding agreement between you and United State Shipping Service ("USSS," "we," "us," or "our") governing your access to our website and your use of our trucking, ocean freight, air freight, warehousing, and related logistics services (the "Services").
By submitting a quote request, booking a shipment, signing a bill of lading, or otherwise using the Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you should not use the Services.
USSS arranges and provides transportation and logistics services, which may include:
Depending on the shipment, USSS may act as a carrier, a broker arranging transportation through third-party carriers, or a freight forwarder coordinating multiple legs of a shipment. The specific role we play in a given shipment will be reflected in your quote, booking confirmation, or bill of lading.
You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into a shipping agreement on behalf of yourself or the business you represent. If you book shipments on behalf of a company, you confirm that you are authorized to bind that company to these Terms.
You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide, including shipper and consignee details, cargo descriptions, weights, dimensions, and declared value. Inaccurate information may result in delays, additional charges, or refusal of the shipment.
Quotes provided by USSS are estimates based on the information available at the time and are subject to change if the actual weight, dimensions, classification, origin, destination, or service level of a shipment differs from what was originally provided.
A booking is confirmed only once USSS issues a written booking confirmation or bill of lading. Rates may exclude accessorial charges such as detention, demurrage, storage, redelivery, re-classification, or additional handling, which will be billed separately when they apply.
Invoices are due upon receipt unless a separate credit agreement has been arranged with USSS. Late payments may accrue interest and may result in the suspension of future bookings until outstanding balances are settled.
USSS reserves a carrier's and warehouseman's lien on cargo in its possession, or in the possession of a carrier acting on our arrangement, for unpaid freight charges, duties, and related fees, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
You are responsible for accurately describing your cargo and for packaging it to withstand normal handling during transportation. USSS may refuse, hold, or return shipments that are improperly packaged, mislabeled, or misdeclared.
Unless separately agreed to in writing, USSS does not accept for shipment:
Shippers are solely responsible for complying with applicable hazardous materials regulations, including proper classification, labeling, and documentation.
Transit times quoted by USSS are estimates, not guarantees, unless a specific guaranteed service is purchased in writing. USSS is not liable for delays caused by weather, port congestion, customs holds, carrier equipment shortages, labor actions, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control ("force majeure events").
In the event of a force majeure event, USSS will make commercially reasonable efforts to notify affected customers and to reroute or reschedule shipments where practical.
For international shipments, you are responsible for ensuring that goods comply with the import and export laws of both the origin and destination countries, and for providing accurate and complete documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, and any required licenses or permits.
Where USSS or its affiliated brokerage provides customs clearance services, this is done on your behalf as your agent, based on the information you supply. You remain responsible for the payment of duties, taxes, and tariffs assessed by customs authorities, and for the accuracy of the declarations filed on your behalf.
Liability for loss or damage to cargo is governed by the terms of the applicable bill of lading, tariff, or service agreement, and by the liability framework applicable to the mode of transport involved (for example, the Carmack Amendment for domestic motor carriage, or the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act for ocean shipments).
Claims for loss, damage, or shortage must be submitted in writing within the timeframe specified on your bill of lading or service agreement, and in any event as soon as reasonably possible after discovery. Claims submitted after the applicable deadline may be denied.
Standard carrier liability coverage is often limited and may not reflect the full value of your cargo. USSS offers optional cargo insurance that can be added at the time of booking. Unless cargo insurance is purchased and confirmed in writing, your shipment is covered only by the default liability limits applicable to the mode of transport used.
The Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Except as expressly stated in a signed service agreement, USSS makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the Services, including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, USSS's total liability for any claim arising from the Services — whether in contract, tort, or otherwise — is limited to the applicable liability amount specified in the governing bill of lading, tariff, or service agreement, and in no event will USSS be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits or business interruption.
You agree to indemnify and hold USSS, its officers, employees, and agents harmless from any claims, damages, fines, or expenses arising from your breach of these Terms, your inaccurate description or documentation of cargo, or your violation of applicable law in connection with a shipment.
The USSS name, logo, website content, and related materials are the property of United State Shipping Service and may not be copied, reproduced, or used without prior written permission, except as necessary to use the Services as intended.
Our collection and use of personal information in connection with the Services is described in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the state in which United State Shipping Service is incorporated, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where federal transportation law (such as the Carmack Amendment) applies to a specific shipment.
Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Services will first be addressed through good-faith negotiation between the parties before either party pursues formal legal action.
USSS may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, industry regulations, or business practices. The revised Terms take effect once posted to our website. Continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
If you have questions about these Terms, reach out and a member of our team will follow up.
Send us a note and we'll get back to you with a clear answer — no automated runaround.
info@unitedstateshippingservices.com