貨運承攬業者報價書中的免責條款應如何撰寫

概要

貨運承攬業者的報價書,並不是單純的價格表。它是在國際運輸中,向貨主說明業務範圍、費用範圍、責任範圍、追加費用、貨物保險、報價有效期限、不可抗力,以及標準交易條款適用的重要實務文件。

如果報價書中的免責條款或注意事項不充分,事故、延誤、檢查、保管費或其他追加費用發生後,容易出現爭議。貨主可能主張:「我以為這些費用包含在報價內」、「我以為貨物保險也包含在內」、「既然延誤了,貨運承攬業者應該負責」。

本文說明貨運承攬業者在報價書中應如何設計免責條款與注意事項,並將其與標準交易條款、FCR、貨物保險說明、追加費用、不可抗力及報價有效期限連結起來。這是管理報價相關風險時的重要實務整理。

免責條款不是單純逃避責任

報價書中的免責條款,有時會被理解為貨運承攬業者為了逃避責任而加入的文字。然而,實務上免責條款的目的,是防止貨運承攬業者被要求承擔原本並未包含在報價服務中的無限制風險。

貨運承攬業者可能負責安排運輸、製作文件、協調通關、搬入搬出、配送,以及與海外代理店聯絡。但是,這並不代表貨運承攬業者當然要承擔所有貨物事故、延誤、追加費用、法令上的停止,或貨物保險未安排所造成的結果。

因此,報價書應明確寫明:包含哪些內容、不包含哪些內容、在何種條件下費用可能變更,以及哪些風險應由貨主自行確認。免責條款不只是保護貨運承攬業者,也能讓貨主在沒有誤解的情況下作出商業判斷。

報價書中應記載的基本項目

報價書不應只列出金額。它應清楚記載報價所依據的前提條件。在國際運輸中,貨物內容、數量、重量、容積、路線、出貨時期、港口費用、當地費用、匯率、附加費等發生變化時,費用也可能隨之變動。

至少,報價書中通常應記載以下項目:

  • 報價有效期限。
  • 對象貨物、數量、重量及容積。
  • 對象路線、運輸模式、裝貨地及卸貨地。
  • 報價中包含的費用。
  • 報價中不包含的費用。
  • 船公司、航空公司及當地費用可能變更。
  • 艙位及船期、航班並非保證。
  • 是否包含貨物保險。
  • 危險品、特殊貨物、溫度管理貨物等的申告義務。
  • 標準交易條款的適用。

如果只提示金額,而未明確說明這些前提,日後容易就報價範圍及責任範圍發生爭議。

報價有效期限條款

報價書中應一定記載有效期限。國際運輸費用會受到海上運費、航空運費、燃油附加費、匯率、當地費用、港口費用、倉庫費用、卡車費用等影響而變動。

如果報價書沒有有效期限,貨主日後可能主張:「我是依照之前的報價下單」。特別是跨月案件、旺季、艙位不足時期、航空貨物、危險品及冷凍冷藏貨物,更需要明確記載有效期限。

條款範例:

“This quotation shall be valid for [●] days from the date of issue. Any order placed after the expiry of the validity period shall be subject to reconfirmation of costs, space, schedule, local charges and other conditions, and may require a revised quotation.”

如果在前次報價有效期限經過後才收到正式委託,貨運承攬業者應回覆「將依現行條件重新確認」。這樣可以留下紀錄,避免舊報價被理解為自動繼續有效。

報價範圍與除外費用條款

報價書中,應將包含費用與不包含費用分開記載。在國際運輸中,除海上運費或航空運費外,還可能發生CFS Charge、D/O Fee、THC、港口費用、倉庫費、檢查費、追加配送費及當地費用等。

如果未明確列出除外費用,日後發生追加費用時,貨主可能主張:「我以為這些都包含在報價內」。

條款範例:

“This quotation covers only the charge items expressly stated herein. Customs inspection charges, quarantine or regulatory inspection charges, storage charges, demurrage, detention, additional delivery charges, cancellation charges, holiday or overtime charges, and any other charges not expressly stated in this quotation are not included.”

特別是在進口案件中,D/O Fee、CFS Charge、保管費、檢查費、國內配送費、free time超過費用等容易成為爭議,因此必須明確區分。

追加費用條款

在貨運承攬實務中,報價時無法預測的追加費用經常發生。例如港口壅塞、海關或檢疫檢查、搬入延誤、倉庫保管、再配送、卡車等待、船公司附加費調整、當地費用變更等。

如果這些費用全部由貨運承攬業者吸收,實費負擔可能相當大。報價書中應明確記載,第三方費用及實費變更可另行向貨主請求。

條款範例:

“Any charges incurred or changed by shipping lines, airlines, ports, warehouses, customs brokers, quarantine authorities, local agents or other third parties shall be charged separately as actual costs.”

“Additional costs not foreseeable at the time of quotation, including inspection costs, storage charges, free-time excess charges, waiting charges, re-delivery charges and cancellation charges, shall be charged separately after they are incurred.”

艙位與船期、航班的免責條款

報價書中有時會記載預定本船或預定航班。然而,這只是報價時點的資訊,並不應被理解為保證。船公司、航空公司、港口、天候、罷工、航路變更、blank sailing、積殘等因素,均可能導致船期或航班變更。

如果報價書沒有船期或航班免責條款,延誤發生時,貨主可能主張:「報價書上寫了這個日程」。

條款範例:

“Any schedule stated in this quotation is based on information available at the time of quotation and may be changed by shipping lines, airlines, ports or local circumstances. Unless the delay is caused by reasons attributable to us, we shall not be liable for loss or damage arising from delay, blank sailing, cargo rollover, route change or schedule change.”

不過,實務上如果貨運承攬業者掌握到延誤資訊,仍應儘速通知貨主,並在可能範圍內提出替代方案。

不可抗力條款

國際運輸中,許多事件並非貨運承攬業者可以控制。例如颱風、地震、海嘯、戰爭、恐怖行為、港口罷工、感染症、港口壅塞、海關系統障礙、艙位不足及航班取消等。

這些事件導致延誤或追加費用時,貨運承攬業者不應當然負責。因此,報價書中應加入不可抗力及第三方事情的免責條款。

條款範例:

“We shall not be liable for delay, additional costs, loss or damage caused by natural disasters, war, civil unrest, terrorism, strikes, port congestion, epidemics, laws or governmental procedures, or circumstances involving shipping lines, airlines, ports, warehouses, local agents or other third parties, unless such delay, cost, loss or damage is caused by reasons attributable to us.”

不可抗力條款不只是為了免除責任,也是在明確區分貨運承攬業者可管理的範圍與不可管理的範圍。

貨主申告條款

貨運承攬業者是根據貨主提供的貨物資訊進行報價及安排。若貨名、數量、重量、容積、危險品該當性、溫度管理條件、進口規制、包裝狀態、HS Code、原產地等資訊有誤,費用及安排內容可能發生變更。

特別是危險品、溫度管理貨物、食品、化學品、醫藥品相關貨物、中古機械、重量物、長尺貨物等,正確的貨主申告非常重要。

條款範例:

“This quotation is based on the cargo information, quantity, weight, volume, cargo nature, packing condition and transport requirements provided by the customer. If such information is incorrect, incomplete or changed, the costs, schedule, availability of arrangement and scope of responsibility may change.”

另一條款範例:

“Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, special cargo and cargo subject to legal or regulatory restrictions must be accurately declared in advance. We shall not be liable for loss, additional costs or delay arising from non-declaration, incomplete declaration or inaccurate information, unless caused by reasons attributable to us.”

貨物保險條款

貨物保險是否包含在報價中,必須在報價書中明確記載。有些貨主會誤以為:「既然委託了貨運承攬業者,保險也自然包含在內」。但實際上,貨物保險並不會自動附加,除非另行安排。

報價書中應明確寫明貨物保險費是否包含、是否可依貨主要求另行安排,或是否由貨主自行安排。對於高價貨物、中古品、溫度管理貨物、展覽品、危險品、三國間交易,以及FOB、EXW、FCA交易,尤其需要確認保險。

條款範例:

“Cargo insurance premium is not included in this quotation. If cargo insurance arrangement is required, please instruct us separately before shipment.”

另一條款範例:

“The customer should decide whether cargo insurance is required after considering the cargo value, cargo nature, packing condition, transport conditions, Incoterms and sales contract terms. We recommend that cargo insurance be reviewed for high-value cargo, used goods, temperature-controlled cargo, fragile cargo, exhibition goods and triangular trade shipments.”

外航貨物海上保險具有高度專業性。必要時,貨主應諮詢專門處理外航貨物海上保險的保險代理店或保險經紀人。

保險說明與保險招攬的界線

貨運承攬業者若向貨主說明貨物保險,必須確認自己是否具有保險代理店或保險經紀人資格,並能依法進行保險招攬。未作為保險中介人的貨運承攬業者,應避免推薦具體保險商品,或斷定補償內容及保險金支付可否。

另一方面,提醒貨主確認貨物保險的必要性,在貨運承攬實務中非常重要。外航貨物海上保險與一般國內損害保險不同,需要理解Incoterms、被保險利益、保險期間、ICC條件及代位求償處理等專門知識。

條款範例:

“Where we do not arrange cargo insurance, the customer should confirm whether cargo insurance is required and what insurance conditions are appropriate. Where necessary, we recommend that the customer consult a specialist marine cargo insurance broker or agent.”

另一條款範例:

“Where we do not act as an insurance agent or broker, we do not make any definitive statement regarding coverage, claim payment, or the suitability of insurance conditions.”

與標準交易條款的關係

在報價書中詳細寫入所有責任條款並不現實。因此,報價書應與貨運承攬業者的標準交易條款相連結。特別是在與貨主之間沒有基本交易契約或主服務契約時,提示標準交易條款更為重要。

報價書中應明確記載標準交易條款適用,並透過連結、附件、背面條款、FCR記載或其他方式,使貨主可以確認其內容。

條款範例:

“Our standard trading conditions shall apply to this transaction. By placing an order based on this quotation, the customer shall be deemed to have agreed to our standard trading conditions.”

另一條款範例:

“Our standard trading conditions provide for the scope of services, limitation of liability, exclusions, cargo insurance, shipper’s declaration obligations, notice obligations in case of accident, and treatment of additional charges.”

僅在報價書中加入一句標準交易條款適用,未必在所有案件中都足夠。實務上,應結合報價書、受注確認郵件、FCR、網站掲載及附件資料,使貨主處於可以合理確認條款的狀態。

與FCR的關係

在沒有基本交易契約的貨主交易中,發行附有標準交易條款的FCR,是貨運承攬業者重要的防禦措施之一。

FCR,即Forwarder’s Cargo Receipt,可以作為表示貨物受領或運輸安排的實務文件。若在FCR中附加或引用標準交易條款,便能較清楚地將貨運承攬業者的責任範圍、免責、責任限制、貨物保險有無及貨主申告義務,連結到每一票貨物。

條款範例:

“Our standard trading conditions shall apply to any FCR issued by us. The FCR is a practical document relating to cargo receipt or transport arrangement and does not mean that cargo insurance is automatically attached.”

另一條款範例:

“If cargo insurance arrangement is required, please instruct us separately before issuance of the FCR or before cargo acceptance.”

FCR本身並非萬能。但是,它是將報價書與標準交易條款連結到實際案件的重要文件。相關前提不應只停留在報價書,也應反映在受注後的文件中。

相見積與報價資訊流用限制條款

在相見積中,貨運承攬業者設計的運輸路線、費用結構、海外代理店資訊、當地安排方式等,有時會透過貨主被轉交給其他公司。

報價書不只是價格表,也可能包含貨運承攬業者的營業資訊及實務知識。因此,建議加入限制第三方開示、轉送、複製或流用的文字。

條款範例:

“This quotation and its contents are provided solely for use by the party requesting the quotation. They may not be disclosed, forwarded, copied or used by any third party without our prior consent.”

另一條款範例:

“The routes, cost structure, local arrangement methods, subcontractor information and overseas agent information contained in this quotation are based on our transport design. Please do not share or use these contents with third parties before formal order placement without our prior consent.”

通關、檢疫及其他法令條款

貨物可能因通關、檢疫、食品衛生規制、藥品醫療機器規制、外匯及貿易管理、化學物質規制、智慧財產權或其他進口限制而被停止或延誤。

這些事項通常與貨物內容、用途、成分、標示、許可及交易內容有關,其中很多事項應由貨主或進口商確認。

即使貨運承攬業者安排通關業者或當地代理店,也不代表其當然保證貨物可以進口、必要許可已取得,或標示與成分符合法令要求。

條款範例:

“The customer shall confirm in advance all permits, regulatory compliance, labeling, ingredients, use and other requirements under customs, quarantine, food sanitation, pharmaceutical and medical device, foreign trade control, chemical substance, intellectual property and other applicable laws and regulations.”

另一條款範例:

“We shall not be liable for costs, delay or loss arising from inspection, confirmation, detention, suspension, rejection, disposal, return shipment or additional procedures by relevant authorities, unless caused by reasons attributable to us.”

包裝與貨物固有性質條款

因包裝不充分或貨物固有性質所造成的損害,有時不屬於貨運承攬業者的責任範圍。特別是怕潮貨物、液體貨物、粉體貨物、中古機械、精密機器、溫度管理貨物等,包裝、養生、標示及取扱條件非常重要。

除非貨運承攬業者忽略外觀上明顯異常,或因自身過失造成損害,否則通常不會保證內部包裝的充分性或貨物本身品質的穩定性。

條款範例:

“The customer shall be responsible for confirming that the cargo is properly packed, internally secured, protected, marked and suitable for transport. We shall not be liable for loss or damage arising from insufficient packing, inherent nature of the cargo, deterioration, ordinary wear and tear, quality change, or insufficient resistance to temperature or humidity, unless caused by reasons attributable to us.”

危險品與特殊貨物條款

危險品、化學品、鋰電池、溫度管理貨物、重量物、長尺貨物、展覽品、中古機械等,均需要與一般貨物不同的確認。若貨主申告不充分,可能導致船積拒否、航空搭載拒否、追加費用、延誤或事故。

條款範例:

“Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, special cargo, heavy cargo, oversized cargo, exhibition goods, used goods and any other cargo requiring special handling must be accurately declared in advance.”

另一條款範例:

“Required documents, legal classification, transport acceptability, packing standards, temperature requirements and handling conditions may need to be confirmed. We shall not be liable for delay, additional costs or loss arising from non-declaration, inaccurate information or incomplete documents.”

不應使用的表達

免責條款並不是寫得越強越好。過於廣泛的免責,或對貨主造成不自然不利益的表達,不只會損害信賴關係,在發生爭議時,其有效性也可能受到質疑。

以下表達通常應避免:

  • “We shall not be liable under any circumstances.”
  • “All risks shall be borne by the shipper regardless of our negligence.”
  • “Everything will be covered if cargo insurance is arranged.”
  • “The schedule is guaranteed.”
  • “Customs clearance is guaranteed.”
  • “We will handle everything if an accident occurs.”

免責條款應具體、可說明,並與貨運承攬業者實際承擔的業務範圍一致。

報價書綜合條款範例

實務上,可以在報價書末尾或備註欄加入以下綜合條款,作為基本防禦線。

“This quotation is based on the cargo, quantity, weight, volume, route, shipment timing and transport conditions stated herein. If any of these conditions are changed, the costs, schedule, availability of arrangement and scope of responsibility may change.”

“This quotation shall be valid for [●] days from the date of issue. After expiry of the validity period, a revised quotation may be required. Any costs incurred or changed by shipping lines, airlines, ports, warehouses, customs brokers, quarantine authorities, local agents or other third parties shall be charged separately as actual costs.”

“Any schedule stated in this quotation is based on information available at the time of quotation and may be changed due to shipping lines, airlines, ports, local circumstances, weather, strikes, laws, governmental procedures or other circumstances outside our control.”

“Cargo insurance premium is not included in this quotation. If cargo insurance arrangement is required, please instruct us separately before shipment. We recommend that cargo insurance be reviewed for high-value cargo, used goods, temperature-controlled cargo, fragile cargo, exhibition goods and triangular trade shipments.”

“Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, special cargo and cargo subject to legal or regulatory restrictions must be accurately declared in advance. We shall not be liable for delay, additional costs or loss arising from non-declaration or inaccurate information, unless caused by reasons attributable to us.”

“Our standard trading conditions shall apply to this transaction. This quotation and its contents are provided solely for use by the party requesting the quotation and may not be disclosed, forwarded, copied or used by any third party without our prior consent.”

實務注意點

報價書中的免責條款,不是寫了就結束。重要的是,它必須實際提示給貨主,並使貨主處於可以確認的狀態。如果只是在報價書末尾用很小的字記載,而標準交易條款本身完全沒有提示,實務上的防禦力會變弱。

此外,報價書、受注確認郵件、FCR及標準交易條款之間不應相互矛盾。例如,報價書中寫明「貨物保險另行安排」,但業務郵件中卻模糊回覆「保險應該沒問題」,這會非常危險。

實務上,報價書備註、郵件文字、FCR、標準交易條款及公司內部承認規則,應作為一體加以整理。免責條款不只是文字,而是必須在整個受注流程中發揮功能。

案例:報價書免責條款不充分,導致追加費用與貨物保險未安排發生爭議

某進口案件中,貨運承攬業者向貨主提交了記載海上運費、CFS Charge及國內配送費的報價書。但是,報價書中沒有記載有效期限、是否包含貨物保險、追加費用的處理、檢查費及保管費是否除外,以及標準交易條款是否適用。

貨物抵達日本後,海關進行檢查,貨物在CFS的保管期間延長。結果產生了保管費、檢查立會費及重新安排國內配送的費用。檢查後還發現貨物外包裝損傷,但貨物保險並未安排。

貨運承攬業者請求追加費用時,貨主主張:「報價已經包含到國內配送」、「沒有聽說保管費和檢查費另計」、「通常貨物保險應該包含在內」。貨運承攬業者方面,沒有明確書面紀錄可以證明追加費用另計、貨物保險費未包含,或標準交易條款適用。

在這個案例中,如果報價書中明確記載「檢查費、保管費、再配送費另計」、「貨物保險費不包含」、「標準交易條款適用」,就可能大幅減少圍繞追加費用與保險未安排的爭議。問題的核心不只是檢查或貨損本身,而是報價階段未明確區分費用範圍與責任範圍。

重點整理

貨運承攬業者的報價書不是單純的價格表。它是說明業務範圍、費用範圍、責任範圍、貨物保險、追加費用、不可抗力及標準交易條款適用的重要實務文件。

報價書中的免責條款,應明確處理報價有效期限、除外費用、追加費用、船期與航班變更、不可抗力、貨主申告、貨物保險、危險品、特殊貨物、通關、檢疫、其他法令,以及報價資訊流用限制。

但是,報價書不需要把所有細則全部寫完。較實務的做法,是在報價書中簡潔提示重要前提,並將詳細內容連結到標準交易條款及FCR。

將報價書、受注確認郵件、標準交易條款、FCR及貨物保險說明作為一體加以整理,是貨運承攬業者保護自身、避免與貨主發生爭議的基本措施。

Synonyms / Alternative Names

  • Quotation disclaimer
  • forwarding quotation conditions
  • quotation notes
  • excluded charges
  • additional cost clause
  • forwarding terms
  • standard trading conditions
  • FCR conditions

Related Terms

  • Forwarder
  • NVOCC
  • quotation
  • standard trading conditions
  • FCR
  • cargo insurance
  • additional charges
  • force majeure
  • quotation validity
  • House B/L
  • Master B/L
  • Demurrage
  • Detention

Official Information