These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the services provided by Atlas Bridge Logistics, a U.S.-based freight forwarding company (“Atlas Bridge,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By creating an account, requesting a quote, booking a shipment, or otherwise using our website, dashboard, APIs, or services (collectively, the “Services”), you (“Customer,” “you,” or “your”) agree to be bound by these Terms.
If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
1. Definitions
- “Carrier”means any third-party air, ocean, or surface freight carrier, parcel courier, or last-mile delivery provider who actually performs the transportation (e.g. UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, Maersk, MSC, etc.).
- “Shipment” means any goods, parcel, container, pallet, or cargo tendered for transportation under these Terms.
- “Account” means the registered user account created by you on the Atlas Bridge dashboard.
- “Quote” means an estimated price for freight services issued by Atlas Bridge, valid for the time period specified therein.
2. Role of Atlas Bridge — Forwarder, Not Carrier
Atlas Bridge acts as a freight forwarder and booking agent only. Atlas Bridge is not a common carrier and does not operate trucks, vessels, or aircraft. All physical transportation is performed by independent third-party Carriers under their own published tariffs and terms of carriage.
Atlas Bridge is not a licensed U.S. customs broker. Where a customs entry must be filed, that filing is performed by an independent, appropriately licensed customs broker. Atlas Bridge coordinates and prepares documentation but does not itself act as a customs broker within the meaning of 19 U.S.C. § 1641. Where Atlas Bridge arranges ocean transportation, it does so through licensed ocean transportation intermediaries; Atlas Bridge does not hold itself out as an FMC-licensed ocean freight forwarder or NVOCC.
For parcel shipments, the applicable Carrier’s Service Guide and tariff terms apply (UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, FedEx Service Guide, DHL Express Terms and Conditions, USPS Domestic Mail Manual, and any successor documents). For ocean shipments, the Carrier’s bill of lading terms and applicable maritime law (including the U.S. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30701 note) apply. For air shipments, the Montreal Convention, Warsaw Convention, and the issuing Carrier’s air waybill terms apply. For surface shipments inside the United States, the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706, applies. By tendering a Shipment, you accept the applicable Carrier’s terms in addition to these Terms.
3. Account & Authorization
You must be at least 18 years old and authorized to bind your organization to enter into these Terms. You are responsible for keeping your Account credentials secure and for all activity that occurs under your Account. Notify us immediately at security@atlasbridgelogistics.com if you suspect unauthorized access.
By using the Services, you represent and warrant that:
- You have full legal authority to enter into these Terms;
- You are the owner of the Shipment or are authorized by the owner to tender it for shipment;
- All information you provide (addresses, contents, weights, dimensions, declared values, customs classifications, hazardous material designations) is true, accurate, and complete;
- The Shipment does not contain any item listed on our Prohibited Items page or otherwise restricted by applicable law or the Carrier; and
- You will comply with all applicable export, import, sanctions, and trade-control laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, OFAC sanctions, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements).
4. Pricing, Quotes & Payment
4.1 Parcel rates
Parcel rates displayed in the dashboard are negotiated rates obtained from our rate-aggregation provider and may include an Atlas Bridge markup. Rates are estimates only at the time of quote and may be revised by the Carrier post-shipment based on actual weight, dimensions, residential delivery, additional handling, fuel surcharges, or other accessorial charges. You authorize us to charge any such Carrier-imposed adjustments to your saved payment method.
4.2 Freight quotes
Freight quotes (air, ocean, road LTL/FTL) are valid only for the period stated on the Quote and are subject to space availability, capacity, and Carrier confirmation. Quotes do not constitute a binding booking until both parties confirm in writing.
4.3 Payment terms
Parcel labels are payable in full at time of purchase via Stripe. Freight bookings are payable per the terms stated on the accepted Quote (default: NET 7 from invoice date). Late payments accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law. We may suspend or terminate Services for any Account with overdue invoices.
5. Customer Obligations
5.1 Packaging
You are solely responsible for packaging your Shipment to withstand the ordinary rigors of transportation, including handling, compression, vibration, temperature variation, and humidity. Damage resulting from inadequate packaging is not eligible for claim recovery.
5.2 Declarations
You must accurately declare the contents, value, weight, and dimensions of every Shipment. False or misleading declarations may result in (a) denial of insurance coverage, (b) Carrier or government penalties, and (c)immediate termination of your Account, in addition to your indemnification obligations under Section 11.
5.3 Customs and trade compliance
For international Shipments, you are the importer of record on the destination side and the exporter of record on the origin side (unless we have agreed otherwise in writing). You are responsible for: (i) accurate Harmonized System (HS) classification; (ii) payment of all duties, taxes, brokerage fees, and storage charges levied by any government authority; (iii) any required licenses, permits, or certificates of origin; and (iv) compliance with all sanctions and embargo regulations of the United States and the destination country.
5.4 Prohibited Items
You will not tender, and you represent that no Shipment will contain, any item listed on our Prohibited Items page. Discovery of a prohibited item permits Atlas Bridge or the Carrier to (a) refuse the Shipment without refund, (b) abandon, return, or destroy the Shipment at your expense, and (c) report the Shipment to law-enforcement or customs authorities.
6. Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials (“hazmat”) may only be tendered with Atlas Bridge’s written pre-approval and full compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, IMDG Code, 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations, and any other applicable rules. You must provide a complete and accurate dangerous-goods declaration with every hazmat Shipment. Undeclared or misdeclared hazmat is grounds for immediate Account termination, civil penalties, and criminal prosecution. You agree to indemnify Atlas Bridge for any fines, clean-up costs, third-party claims, or other losses caused by undeclared or misdeclared hazmat.
7. Limitation of Liability
Read this section carefully. It limits your right to recover damages from Atlas Bridge.
7.1 Carrier liability passthrough
Atlas Bridge’s liability for loss, damage, or delay to any Shipment is limited to the amount actually recovered from the Carrier under the Carrier’s tariff and applicable convention or statute. Recovery beyond Carrier limits is available only if you have purchased and paid for additional cargo insurance through us or a separate carrier prior to dispatch.
7.2 Maximum liability cap
In no event will Atlas Bridge’s aggregate liability for any Shipment exceed, at our option, (a) the actual amount recovered from the Carrier, (b) the actual sound market value of the goods at origin, or (c) U.S. $50.00 per Shipment, whichever is least. This limitation applies regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, statute, or otherwise.
7.3 Excluded damages
Atlas Bridge will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost profits, lost sales, loss of goodwill, lost opportunity, or business interruption, even if Atlas Bridge has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
7.4 Excluded perils
Atlas Bridge is not liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by: (a) acts or omissions of you or any third party; (b) inherent vice or nature of the goods; (c) insufficient or improper packaging, marking, or addressing; (d) perils of the sea or air; (e) acts of God, weather, port congestion, labor disputes, civil unrest, war, terrorism, pandemic, or any other event beyond our reasonable control (Section 9 — Force Majeure); (f) seizure or detention by customs or any government authority; (g) Carrier insolvency or cessation of operations; or (h) any cause permitted as a defense under the applicable Carrier convention.
7.5 No transit-time guarantee
All transit times displayed on the dashboard or in any Quote are Carrier estimates and are not guaranteed. Atlas Bridge has no liability for delayed delivery unless a money-back guarantee is offered by the Carrier and a refund is actually paid by that Carrier.
8. Insurance
Cargo insurance is notincluded in any Shipment unless you have separately purchased and paid for it through Atlas Bridge or another insurer prior to dispatch. The default Carrier liability limits noted in Section 7 are typically a small fraction of the actual value of most Shipments. We strongly recommend insuring high-value or fragile goods. Coverage terms, deductibles, and exclusions are governed by the issued insurance certificate or policy.
9. Force Majeure
Neither party will be liable for any failure or delay in performance to the extent caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, weather events, earthquake, fire, flood, pandemic or epidemic, government action, war, terrorism, riot, civil disturbance, strike or other labor dispute, port closure, supply-chain disruption, cyber-attack, internet or utility outage, or any failure by a Carrier to perform.
10. Claims Procedure
All claims for loss, damage, or delay must be submitted in writing to claims@atlasbridgelogistics.com and must include: (a) the Atlas Bridge shipment ID; (b) a copy of the commercial invoice and packing list; (c) photographs of damaged goods and packaging; (d) a written explanation of the claim; and (e) any other documentation reasonably requested by us or the Carrier. Claims must be submitted:
- Visible damage or partial loss: noted on the delivery receipt at time of delivery and reported to us within 3 business days;
- Concealed damage: within 5 business days of delivery;
- Total loss or non-delivery: within 30 days of the expected delivery date;
- Cargo claims under Carmack/COGSA/Montreal: within the deadlines set by the applicable statute or convention, whichever is shorter.
Failure to submit a timely and complete claim is a complete bar to recovery.
11. Indemnification
You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Atlas Bridge, its officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, and Carriers from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, damages, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to:
- Your breach of these Terms or the applicable Carrier terms;
- Any false, inaccurate, or incomplete declaration made by you (including value, classification, or contents);
- Tender of any prohibited or restricted item;
- Tender of undeclared or misdeclared hazardous materials;
- Violation of any export, import, sanctions, or trade-control law;
- Any duty, tax, fine, or penalty assessed by any government authority on a Shipment tendered by you;
- Any third-party claim arising from your use of the Services or the contents of your Shipment.
12. Right of Refusal & Suspension
Atlas Bridge may refuse to accept, transport, or release any Shipment, and may suspend or terminate any Account, at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to non-payment, suspected fraud, suspected breach of these Terms, or sanctions screening results. We will refund any unused prepaid amounts; we are not liable for any other damages arising from refusal or termination.
13. Lien & Set-Off
Atlas Bridge has a general lien on all Shipments and proceeds in our possession or control for all sums due from you, whether or not relating to the specific Shipment held. We may sell or otherwise dispose of held Shipments after 30 days’ written notice and apply proceeds to your account.
14. Confidentiality & Data
Each party will keep the other’s confidential information confidential. We process your personal data and your Shipment data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Aggregated and anonymized data may be used to improve the Services.
15. Service Changes & Discontinuation
We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any portion of the Services at any time. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes affecting paid Services. Continued use of the Services after a change constitutes acceptance.
16. Modification of Terms
We may amend these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated by email and posted on this page with a new Effective Date. Continued use of the Services 14 days after notification constitutes acceptance.
17. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services will be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be conducted in Los Angeles County, California, in English, before a single arbitrator. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Class-action waiver:Disputes will be brought only in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative action. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one party’s claims or preside over any class proceeding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for amounts within that court’s jurisdiction.
18. Notices
Notices to Atlas Bridge must be sent to legal@atlasbridgelogistics.com. Notices to you will be sent to the email address on file in your Account.
19. General
Severability. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force. No waiver. Failure to enforce any right is not a waiver of that right. Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Prohibited Items list, and any signed Quote or master services agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings. Survival. Sections 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19 survive termination.
20. Translations
These Terms are presented in English. Translations into other languages are provided for convenience only. In the event of any conflict, the English version controls.