A common misconception is that carriers are automatically liable for the full value of cargo lost or damaged in transit. In practice, carrier liability under standard shipping terms is limited — often to a fairly modest amount per kilogram — which is well below the actual value of most commercial cargo. Cargo insurance is what closes that gap.
Cargo insurance covers loss or damage in transit, across all modes — ocean, air, rail, and road — for the declared value of your goods, subject to the policy terms. It is typically priced as a small percentage of cargo value, which for most shipments is a modest cost relative to the protection it provides.
Claims, when they are needed, move faster when documentation is in order from the start — which is part of why accurate commercial invoices and packing lists matter beyond customs clearance alone; they are also what an insurer needs to process a claim.
Cargo insurance is available across all the modes we operate, as part of our Financial & Value-Added Services, alongside claims support and guidance on landed-cost planning. For high-value or time-critical shipments particularly, it is worth building insurance into the plan from the outset rather than treating it as an afterthought.