Business News
CustomersSHIPMENTS ARRANGED BY COMPASS IN THIRD PARTY SERVICE ARE GOVERNED IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING:
Compass Service — Compass Consolidators, Inc is a transportation intermediary utilizing trucking and railroad Intermodal and carload services for the mutual benefit of shipper and carrier. Traffic coordinated by Compass is subject to rules and regulations published in truck and rail tariffs, circulars, and the Uniform Freight Classification (UFC) and National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). Shippers utilizing the services of Compass are charges with presumptive knowledge of those items.
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Valuation — Freight services coordinated by Compass are subject to limitations of liability, limited valuation of specific commodities, e.g. so-called "released rates" and maximum valuation per vehicle. Specific information can be located within the UFC and exempt TOFC/COFC circular published by individual rail carriers. Compass will handle shipments with valuations higher than the maximum allowed by carriers only on prior written notice from the shipper and where Compass quotes a specific charge for those shipments in writing.
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Freight Loss and Damage Claims — Compass Consolidators, Inc as a shippers' agent, procures transportation by the carrier(s) and handles the details of the shipments. Compass shall not be liable for any common carrier liability for loss and/or damage other than for the caused as a direct consequence of its own willful neglect. Shippers desiring additional or supplemental cargo insurance may request in writing for Compass to purchase same in their behalf. Compass will furnish, on request, a detail of the optional cargo insurance, but does not make a judgment or endorsement.
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Maximum Weight — Normally, Intermodal movements between/within the United States, Canada, and Mexico use various types of van, containers, chassis', and tractors. The weight of such equipment combinations directly affects the load's legality. The following summarizes recommended loadings limits of the major equipment moving in these corridors:
- 20' container — 34,000 lbs
- 40' container — 42,000 lbs
- 45' container — 44,000 lbs
- 48' container — 44,000 lbs
- 53' container — 44,000 lbs
- 45' trailer -47,000 lbs
- 48' trailer — 47,000 lbs
Following the above recommended loading, 96% of the time the shipment would meet all Federal and State gross and bridge weight restrictions in so long as the load is distributed EVENLY within the unit. Tri-axels are available for smaller containers, which will weigh over the recommended weight, and help to distribute weight evenly.
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Overweight Vehicles — Any vehicles loaded by the shipper which receive fines for loading in excess of posted legal weights limitations above will not be allowed in Compass' service and any fines for overweight violations imposed by State and Federal law enforcement will be the responsibility of the shipper. Shipper is responsible for all carrier accessorial costs relating to an overweight shipment.
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Collect Shipments — Shipments accepted from the shipper or consignor on a "collect" basis shall be subject to full rights of recourse, and will only apply on a transportation portion of the shipment. If the consignee fails to pay the amount due Compass within 30 days of the invoice dated, the shipper or consignor shall pay said amount within 10 days of the receipt of notice from Compass of the consignee's failure to pay. It is understood that acceptance of Compass as an agent is joint and integral to the consignor and consignee. Compass reserves the right, but not the duty, to collect charges before delivery of shipment. Compass will not collect nor will be held liable for any monies due on actual product or merchandise inside vehicle.
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Intermodal Charges— quoted by Compass include rail costs and our fees from the rail Intermodal ramps at origin to destination Intermodal ramps. Any inbound rail, trucking, drayage, dock handling or other costs before or after arrival when not quoted further than the origin or destination ramps are additional. Charges are for a consolidation service as a shipper's agent and services are limited to the terminal areas. Charges are subject to change without notice whenever costs are increased and increases will be based upon approximately the same level as the increased costs on vehicles where Compass receives notification of ramp arrival on or after the increase effective date. Unless otherwise indicated on the quote, charges including pick up or delivery are quoted on a driver staywith while being loaded or unloaded. Charges for the driver to assist in loading or unloading are additional. Under law, customer has 180 days after shipment date to contest the actual rate billed. Conversely, rail and drayage carriers have 180 days after shipment date to submit supplement billing.
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Equipment — Unless otherwise indicated in our written quotations, charges for our ramp-to-ramp, door-to-door, or combination thereof, services are for railroad or steamship line controlled General Service trailers or Containers as described in The Official Intermodal Equipment Register. Equipment other than described here may cause greater or lower charges in Compass' service. Please call for information and charges before shipping other than railroad or steamship line controlled dry van trailers or containers in our service. Shipper is also responsible for determining what size will be needed to contain the freight based upon measurement that can be requested from Compass.
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Hazardous Materials — Packaging, shipping, placarding, indication or proper shipping instructions, "UN" numbers, notification to Compass and trucker and advise to railroads of hazardous materials are the responsibility of the shipper and Compass demands that all laws and rules are followed according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Homeland Security, and the railroad rules. Compass will not forward a hazardous shipment without proper shipping instructions faxed to Compass prior to loaded dispatch and, also, a properly described and endorsed bill of lading furnished to the origin trucker at the time of pick up or the origin railroad at the time of switch service. The Compass fax number is 800-525-8404 or 630-243-0250.
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Blocking and Bracing — Loading of vehicles properly for movement via rail to protect cargo is the shipper's responsibility and all railroad and trucking rules must be followed. Compass is not responsible for advising shipper proper loading procedures. If there are questions regarding loading, we cannot answer them. We will however, request the carrier(s) involved to contact you. We have copies of the American Association of Railroads Circular 43 and we will furnish these on your request, also available are the rules of blocking and bracing from each railroad. Any damage to trailer or container because of improper loading or unloading is the responsibility of the shipper and/or consignee. Shipper is responsible for providing all vehicle doors with seals.
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Shipping Documents — Inasmuch as Compass is not a carrier, we do not issue bills of lading for shipments. Shippers must execute a bill of lading to move their shipment from their dock to the rail ramp and consign the trailer to Compass at that point. The bill of lading should show the ultimate consignee in the body and any other remarks needed for the shipment. To prevent errors it is recommended shipper fax their bill of lading to Compass at 800-525-8404 or 630-243-0250.
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