These terms are drafted for domestic carriage by road booked with HRL Cargo. They cover Door-to-Door Cargo, Pickup Services and Godown-to-Godown Cargo, as specified in the booking.
1. Contract, documents and applicable law
“HRL” means the HRL Cargo entity identified in the booking. “Consignor” means the party entrusting the goods; “consignee” means the intended recipient. “LR” means the lorry receipt or goods receipt issued for the consignment. The goods forwarding note, LR, accepted quote and any signed customer agreement together identify the consignment and the agreed service.
The Carriage by Road Act, 2007 and applicable rules govern carriage within their scope. Mandatory law prevails. A negotiated term applies only so far as it is lawful and properly agreed. A website update cannot retrospectively alter an existing booking, and no carrier liability is removed merely by labelling carriage “owner’s risk”.
2. Acceptance and service scope
A booking is subject to confirmation of the origin, destination, serviceability, cargo type, package count, weight, dimensions, value, handling requirements, payment terms and agreed service scope. An enquiry or pickup request alone is not acceptance of goods into custody. HRL must record actual receipt and any visible reservations at handover.
Door-to-door service applies between the agreed accessible pickup and delivery points. Godown-to-godown service applies between the specified booking and delivery godowns, with consignor drop-off and consignee collection arrangements stated in the booking. Pickup-only or additional delivery work must be identified separately. Any loading, unloading, labour, equipment or access obligations must be allocated before the movement.
3. Consignor declarations
The consignor must provide a complete and accurate goods forwarding note and required commercial or regulatory documents. Declare the nature and value of the goods, quantity, package marks, weight, dimensions, parties, addresses and special risks. Do not conceal hazardous, restricted, fragile, temperature-sensitive, high-value or perishable characteristics.
Where lawful, the consignor is responsible for loss reasonably attributable to incorrect or incomplete declarations or a breach of its obligations. HRL’s own statutory checks, negligence and other legal responsibilities are not transferred to the consignor by this clause.
4. Packaging and special handling
Goods must be packed and marked suitably for their declared nature and the agreed road transport and handling process. Packaging should protect against foreseeable handling, vibration, stacking and weather exposure. Fragile labels alone do not replace appropriate internal protection. Disclose special storage, temperature, orientation or handling requirements and obtain written acceptance before booking.
HRL may record visible packaging defects, request suitable repacking or decline goods that cannot lawfully or safely be carried. A packaging reservation does not automatically defeat an unrelated or legally valid claim. Sealed cartons are not represented as internally inspected unless an inspection is actually performed and recorded.
5. Prohibited, hazardous and regulated goods
Illegal or prohibited goods will not be accepted. Dangerous, hazardous or otherwise regulated goods may be carried only if HRL expressly accepts them and all applicable permissions, declarations, safeguards, labelling, vehicle requirements, insurance and statutory duties are satisfied. Disclosure alone is not acceptance. Goods requiring special facilities must not be tendered without an agreed arrangement.
HRL may cooperate with lawful inspection or directions from competent authorities. Emergency action must be lawful, proportionate and documented where practicable. This clause does not confer an unrestricted power to destroy or confiscate property.
6. Invoices, e-way bills and taxes
The parties must provide and maintain the invoice, delivery challan, e-way bill and other documents required for the particular movement. Responsibilities for generation, vehicle/transport updates, extension or correction must follow applicable law and the agreed process. A customer undertaking does not remove a carrier’s statutory obligations.
GST under reverse charge applies only where the transaction and recipient satisfy the applicable law. Other supplies, including CFA and storage-related services, require their own tax assessment. Freight and related charges must be supported by the appropriate invoice or other lawful document; the booking must identify the payer and applicable tax treatment.
7. Weight, volume and freight
The quote or rate agreement must state the charging basis, including actual or chargeable weight, measurement method, any volumetric divisor, minimum charge and applicable service charges. No default divisor, minimum or tariff is created by these terms. Any material remeasurement should be recorded and explained; the customer may request the basis of the revised amount.
Waiting, detention, redelivery, storage and return charges apply only where lawfully payable and supported by disclosed rates or an agreed arrangement. Liability for charges caused by a party’s own breach must not be arbitrarily shifted to the other party.
8. Route and transport partners
HRL may use attached vehicles, hubs, transshipment and competent transport partners where consistent with the agreed service and applicable law. A required direct or dedicated movement must be expressly agreed. Use of a partner does not by itself release HRL from a liability it bears as the contracting carrier. HRL will not promise fleet ownership or a particular vehicle from marketing illustrations.
9. Transit and delay
Transit estimates and booking commitments must be distinguished. Any agreed delivery period, service guarantee or special commercial deadline must be recorded in the booking and goods forwarding note where required. Traffic, access, operational constraints and lawful restrictions may affect timing; HRL should communicate material exceptions when known.
Delay liability is determined under applicable law and the recorded agreement, including the distinction in section 10 of the Carriage by Road Act between the agreed delay period and delay beyond it. These terms do not impose an automatic “no delay claims” exclusion or a universal exclusion of consequential loss that overrides mandatory law.
10. Delivery and proof of delivery
Delivery is made to the named consignee or a duly authorised recipient at the agreed point. HRL may require proportionate identity or authorisation checks and record receipt through a signature, stamp, electronic acknowledgement or another agreed lawful method. A tracking status alone does not replace proof of delivery.
Recipients should inspect the visible condition and package count, record apparent damage or shortage, and inform HRL promptly. Preserve packaging and relevant evidence. An unqualified receipt or failure to complain within an arbitrary short period does not automatically extinguish a claim protected by law, including a claim involving concealed damage.
11. Declared value, insurance and higher-risk carriage
Declare the true value of the consignment and disclose unusual risks before acceptance. Payment of freight or declaration of value alone does not establish an insurance contract or unlimited carrier liability. Cargo insurance must be expressly arranged and evidenced by the actual policy and insurer’s terms. Do not assume insurance has been arranged unless it is confirmed.
Where a lawful higher-risk carriage arrangement is available and agreed, record the higher rate, declared value and corresponding liability terms before dispatch, with statutory disclosure requirements satisfied. Insurance and higher-risk carriage are distinct arrangements. Any legally mandatory insurance requirement remains applicable regardless of the customer’s instructions.
12. Liability for cargo loss, damage and non-delivery
HRL’s liability is determined by the applicable Carriage by Road Act, 2007, rules and the lawful booking contract. The applicable measure or limitation depends on the facts, declared particulars, freight and any valid higher-risk arrangement. No arbitrary per-LR amount, per-kilogram cap or blanket “no liability” term is introduced here.
Rights concerning criminal acts and the statutory allocation of the burden of proof remain unaffected. Exclusions cannot override mandatory obligations. Any applicable limitation must be explained in the final approved booking terms and cannot exceed the protection the law permits. Insurance recoveries and carrier compensation must be accounted for without unlawful double recovery, while preserving the rights of authorised insurers or subrogated claimants.
13. Events outside reasonable control
Statutory exceptions may apply to events such as natural events, war, civil unrest, lawful seizure or government restrictions, depending on the facts and applicable law. There is no automatic exemption simply because an event is described as force majeure. HRL’s duties of due diligence, reasonable care, mitigation and any required notice continue to the extent imposed by law. Avoidable loss and HRL’s own fault are not excused by a broad label.
14. Failed delivery and unclaimed consignments
If delivery cannot be completed, HRL will seek instructions and record the reason and relevant communication. Return or storage arrangements and their charges must comply with the contract and law. A short period of non-collection is not automatically abandonment or transfer of ownership.
Where section 15 applies, non-perishable goods become unclaimed after the statutory period of 30 days from the carrier’s notice; the further statutory notice requiring removal within 15 days must precede sale under the relevant process. Perishable goods have a distinct statutory process, ordinarily involving 24 hours after service of notice or a lawfully agreed shorter period. Any sale, detention, recovery of expenses and return of surplus must comply with section 15 and other applicable law.
No blanket right to retain unrelated goods, dispose of stock at will, or keep the entire sale proceeds is created by these terms. Any other lien or retention right must have a valid legal or contractual basis and be exercised lawfully.
15. Claims and statutory notices
Report a claim promptly to connect@hrlcargo.com, quoting the LR, booking date, invoice/value evidence, issue, amount claimed, photographs, delivery record and available supporting documents. HRL should acknowledge and investigate the claim and may reasonably request missing evidence or a joint inspection. Keep damaged goods and packaging where safe and practicable. A police report is required only where appropriate to the event or law, not as a universal condition for every claim.
Section 16 requires written notice of loss or damage to be served on the common carrier before relevant proceedings and within 180 days from booking, subject to its legal applicability. This is not a statement that every proceeding has a 180-day filing limitation. Statutory notice, the time for bringing proceedings, insurance notice and operational reporting are distinct. Obtain advice promptly rather than waiting for an internal complaint to finish. No shorter contractual forfeiture period is imposed by this draft.
Formal notice address: HRL’s current address for service to be confirmed. An email acknowledgement or a support call must not be assumed to satisfy every applicable method of statutory service.
16. CFA, storage and collections
Standalone CFA, inventory, storage, order processing, invoicing and collections require a separate signed agreement. It should state custody and stock-reconciliation rules, dispatch authorisations, cash/credit limits, payment and bank controls, settlement, insurance, shortages, returns, expiry, tax treatment, termination and stock handover. CFA for Madhya Pradesh may involve dispatch from Indore, Bhopal, Bhiwandi, Delhi, Surat and Ahmedabad, according to the accepted arrangement. Carriage terms remain applicable to the road movement within their scope; website descriptions do not replace the CFA agreement.
17. Governing law and dispute resolution
Indian law applies. Contact HRL first where practical to seek resolution, without delaying statutory action. Courts and statutory authorities competent under applicable law retain jurisdiction. No unconfirmed exclusive-jurisdiction, compulsory-arbitration, waiver-of-consumer-rights or automatic claim-release clause is imposed. Any separately negotiated dispute clause requires valid agreement and must preserve mandatory remedies.
18. Contact and versions
Contact connect@hrlcargo.com or +91 78800 03224. The effective version must be provided or linked at booking, with a record of the applicable terms and acceptance. Later amendments apply prospectively and do not remove accrued rights.