Do I require cargo insurance for my delivery?

Cargo insurance is a type of insurance that covers a buyer or seller against cargo damage or loss during the transportation process. Many business owners question whether they need to invest in cargo insurance; it can seem like an easy way to cut costs, and you might be willing to ride your luck when it comes to cargo damage. However, damage to deliveries is more common than you might expect, and it can be caused by many different factors. For this reason, it is vital to ensure your merchandise is covered by cargo insurance for the duration of its journey.

How does cargo damage occur?

Damage to cargo can occur due to many different reasons. These reasons may vary depending on whether transportation is happening by road or rail. In either scenario, potential causes of damage include but are not limited to:

• Gravitational force: the effects of gravity on your cargo
• Frictional force: cargo moving against other objects can cause heat, scratches, and other damage
• Random Deceleration: both during braking, and in the case of emergency stops
• Random Acceleration: sudden changes in speed can cause cargo to shift and fall
• Centrifugal force: any circular movement can cause cargo to shift and fall
• Vibratory force: the vibration of a vehicle’s engine can damage delicate cargo
• Longitudinal and horizontal forces: cargo can slip holding ropes
• Transverse horizontal forces
• Wagon oscillation (yaw): carriages rocking from side to side

From all these factors, you can see that your freight could get damaged, stolen, or lost at any moment throughout its journey. It is therefore crucial to invest in cargo insurance to protect against any scenario.

Speedshift | Shipping With Full Cargo Insurance call 0845 519 0270