Bonds Road and Air Services (RAS) Terms of Service

> These terms of service are applied in addition to the standard trading terms and the terms and conditions of the Bonds Transport Group.

Definitions (additional)

“Carrier” shall mean a 3rd party contracted transport, freight or logistics provider and their employees, servants, agents, subsidiaries, divisions and/or associated entities. Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender include all genders and words importing a person include firm and corporation where appropriate.

Not a Common Carrier

All Carriers are classed as not a common carrier and accept no liability as such. Services are arranged or performed by the Carrier and the Company (Bonds, as defined in the terms and conditions) subject only to these conditions of contract which constitute the entire agreement between the Carrier, the Company, and the Customer. No person has the authority of the Carrier or Company to waive or vary these conditions and the Carrier/Company reserves the right to refuse at its sole discretion the carriage of the Goods for any customer or any other Service whether before or after the carriage or Service has commenced and further reserves the right to open and inspect all Goods at its discretion and at the Customer’s expense.

Service Times

26. 1. The service ETA’s (estimated time of arrival) provided are a guide only and RAS service times are not guaranteed.
    2. Transit times exclude weekends/public holidays. Times may differ based on changes in schedules, the actual pick-up time, actual origin, actual destination, the service requested, and the characteristics of the packages (DG goods, oversize, overweight, etc.) or due to unforeseen circumstances (floods, backlogs, Covid outbreaks, etc.).
    3. No claim for consequential loss occasioned by a delayed delivery will be accepted.

Dangerous Goods

27. Absolutely no dangerous or hazardous consignments are to be booked unless specifically ordered by emailing re@bondstg.com.au. 

Loading/Unloading

28. A mechanical lifting device (Forklift or similar) MUST be available at both the collection & delivery points for items greater than 30Kg unless a “tail lift requirement” is indicated at the time of booking. If a carrier uses a tail lift to complete a collection or delivery – a tail lift fee will be applied to the final charge.

Labels and Consignment notes

29. 1. The freight MUST be labelled with the supplied carrier specific labels. All other transport labels must be removed from the freight. Additional charges may apply, and insurance voided if the correct labels are not on the freight.
    2. The connote (and manifest if available) must be supplied to the Driver along with labelled freight. Some carriers do not require a connote – the affixed labels will suffice. Additional charges may apply (manual con note fee) if the provided con note is not supplied to the driver. 

Pricing:

30. The Company will always strive to supply the Customer with an accurate costing estimate at the time of booking, however, additional fees and or surcharges may be applied without notice at the discretion of the 3rd party carrier. Any additional charges raised by the carrier will be added to the final charge. The final consignment charges levied may vary where the actual job parameters differ from those supplied as part of the quotation, such variations may include, but are not limited to:
    • Changes in the declared weight or dimensions of the goods
    • Futile pickup fee or futile delivery fee
    • Re-Delivery Fee (RED) where an initial attempt to deliver a consignment fails
    • Manual Consignment Note Fee
    • Returns
    • Storage
    • Tailgate Fee
    • Oversize Freight
    • Manual handling
    • Flood levies/surcharges
    • Peak season levies/surcharges
    • Residential Pickup or Delivery (RSP/RSD) If not indicated at time of booking.

Bonds RAS In-Transit Insurance

2. The Company provides automatic insurance cover, underwritten by QBE insurance (Australia) Limited of up to $1000 on road freight and $150 on satchels. For higher levels of cover the Customer should consider the additional options outlined below. How to arrange additional insurance:
   
   The Customer may request additional cover at time of booking by ticking the appropriate box on the insurance section of the Company website bookings page and specifying the level of cover required. Our Policy covers the Customer for most risk of physical loss or damage to general freight only, subject to the following important conditions:
   1. Packaging:

      The importance of packaging and labelling cannot be emphasised enough:

      • Cartons & carton packaging must be strong enough to be stacked with other cartons.
      • Fragile goods must receive additional padding/bubble wrap within cartons.
      • Pallet/skids must be of a sturdy nature suitable for the freight.
      • Goods on a pallet/skid must be suitably shrink wrapped or strapped.
      • Claims for loss or damage will not be accepted where they occur as a result of insufficient packaging or boxing or incorrect labelling.
   2. Labelling

      Bonds provide appropriate labelling that must be firmly secured to every item of freight. Manual connotes (handwritten) will void a claim.

      All goods must be properly and sufficiently prepared, packed, stowed, labelled and/or marked in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and in a manner that is sufficient to enable the Goods to withstand the ordinary risks that they could reasonably be expected to experience during the provision of the Services.

   3. In the event of a claim:
      1. The claimant must ensure that the damaged items are available for inspection in the same condition as delivered, at the same address they were delivered to and with all packaging retained for inspection by the carrier, or the claim will be voided.
      2. If the item/s are moved or repaired, or the packaging is not retained, the claim will be voided.
      3. Photos of any item/s damaged must accompany the claim along with photos of the external and internal packaging.
   4. Loss or damage claims will not be considered where an ‘Authority to Leave (ATL)’ has been provided, that is, where the shipment has been authorised to be left at the delivery address without obtaining a signature.
   5. Loss or damage claims will not be considered where a consignment has been signed for as “Received in full and in good order” on a carrier consignment note, PDA or other recording devise.

      If a shipment is thought to be damaged or items appear to be missing – this MUST be recorded on the documentation, or the consignment must be rejected, and Bonds notified immediately.

   6. Any claims may only be considered for the cost price of the goods.
   7. Prohibited/ Restricted Cargo types: (not covered by insurance)
      • Alcoholic beverages, Beer, Wine, Spirits
      • Animals, animal products, animal skins&
      • Fur(s), ivory, endangered animal products
      • Antiques, fine art or works of art
      • Bullion, currency or negotiable instruments
      • Collectibles and/or irreplaceable items
      • Any item worth more than its original purchase price or that is not commonly available
      • Dangerous goods, hazardous or combustible materials
      • Aerosols & perfumes tissue samples
      • Ceramics, pottery and items containing stone, granite or corian;
      • Flammable liquids, petrol, lighter fluid,
      • Flammable solids, non-safety matches
      • Furniture and whitegoods
      • Gases, mace, camping gas, oxidizers, bleach, poisons, pesticides, corrosives, car batteries, lithium batteries, mercury
      • Drugs / Narcotics (illegal) or pharmaceutical products
      • Explosives, detonators, fuses, grenades, mines and explosives, fireworks & flares
      • Firearms, parts thereof and ammunition
      • Human remains (including ashes)
      • Industrial diamonds or carbons
      • Medical samples
      • Household and personal effects
      • Items containing glass
      • Wrought or unwrought metals
      • Diagnostic specimens, blood, urine, bodily fluids, tissue samples
      • Perishable items
      • Flowers, dry ice, foodstuffs, items requiring temperature control or special handling, plants
      • Plant products and plants
      • Cotton, seeds, teas, tobacco
      • Pornography
      • Precious & semi-precious stones (including jewellery)
      • Watches & costume jewellery

      Please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for further information regarding the cover offered.

   8. Making a claim:

      Claims can only be made for the replacement value of the goods and not for consequential loss occasioned by damage, delayed delivery or loss and can only be made by the account holder.

      1. Excess:

         An excess applies to each and every claim:

         A$100.00 per claim for general cargo and A$200 per claim for Electronic goods.

         Satchels and envelopes have a A$50.00 excess and there is no cover for electronic goods.

         In the event that you may need to make a claim please download and complete the Claims form. The claim form (including any associated documents and photographs noted therein) must be submitted within 7 days of the affected delivery by emailing them to admin@bondstg.com.au.

Service:

32. 3rd Party Carriers will NOT call prior to pick and/or delivery. 
    1. Collections are usually made between 01:00pm and 05:00pm but can occur between 08:00am and 05:00pm based on “time ready”. Carriers may charge a futile fee if the goods are not ready or if the location is closed.
    2. Deliveries are usually made between 08:00am and 01:00pm but can occur up to 05:00pm (unless a time specific service is selected). Carriers may charge a futile fee and a redelivery fee if the location is closed or does not accept the shipment. 
    3. A pickup and/or delivery to a non-commercial zoned location or to a residential address will incur a Residential fee. Failure to declare this at time of booking will result in the charge being added to the job cost.

       NOTE: A ‘Residential’ or ‘Private’ Address is classed as a private residence or an address in a non-commercial location, including those where a business is operated from the home or private residence.

    4. If a Tail Lift is required and not advised at the time of quote or booking – a tail lift surcharge will be added to the freight charge. Some carriers may charge additional manual handling and tail lift fees as well.
    5. If the dimensions and/or weight provided at the time of booking are incorrect, – the Customer may incur a reweight/cube fee, and this will be added to your freight charge. 

       NOTE: If you want to dispute this charge – you will need to provide photographic evidence of the goods weight and dimensions before a carrier will entertain a claim.

33. All invoice or any other claims MUST be made within 14 days of receipt of an invoice.