Terms of Service

1. About these terms

These terms are an agreement between you and Loader ("Loader", "we", "us"), a road freight brokerage in South Africa. They apply when you use our website or app, post a load, place a bid or book transport through us. By creating an account or using the service, you agree to these terms and to our Privacy Policy.

If you accept these terms on behalf of a company, you confirm you're authorised to bind that company, and "you" means the company.

Where the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 applies to you, nothing in these terms limits any right you have under it.

2. Accounts

• You must be at least 18 and give accurate, current information, and keep it up to date under Settings.
• Keep your password secret. You're responsible for activity on your account until you tell us it may have been misused.
• One account per person. A company may have several people, each with their own account.
• Carriers must pass Loader's verification before being shown as verified. Verification means we've checked the documents provided; it isn't a guarantee of future performance.

3. How Loader works

1. A shipper posts a load, with the route, addresses, cargo details, dates and any services needed.
2. Carriers bid the rate they want Loader to pay them. Loader adds its fee and shows the shipper an all-in price.
3. The shipper accepts a quote. That creates a binding booking: the shipper contracts with Loader for the transport, and Loader contracts with the carrier to perform it.
4. The carrier collects and delivers, recording progress in the app.
5. On delivery, Loader invoices the shipper and records the amount owed to the carrier.

Loader acts as broker and coordinator. The carrier performs the transport and is responsible for the goods while they're in its care.

4. Shipper obligations

• Describe every load accurately and completely: cargo type, weight, dimensions, packaging, value, and any fragile or special handling needs.
• Declare dangerous goods with their class or UN number, and supply the documents the law requires. Undeclared dangerous goods may be refused, and you're responsible for resulting costs, fines and damage.
• Pack, label and secure goods properly for road transport.
• Have the goods ready at the agreed time and address, with someone available to load and receive them, and the access, equipment and paperwork needed.
• Make sure you're entitled to send the goods and that they comply with the law.
• Only give us site contacts' details with their permission.

If a load differs materially from its description (for example it's heavier, larger or needs a different vehicle), the carrier may refuse it, or Loader may charge the reasonable additional cost of carrying it.

5. Carrier obligations

• Hold and keep current every registration, licence, permit and operator card your work requires, and upload them for verification. Tell Loader immediately if any lapses.
• Use roadworthy, suitable vehicles driven by properly licensed drivers holding a valid PrDP where needed, and comply with the National Road Traffic Act and its regulations, including load limits and rules for dangerous goods.
• Carry goods-in-transit insurance adequate for the loads you accept, and keep proof of it up to date in your Documents.
• Perform each awarded job yourself. Don't subcontract it to anyone else without Loader's written permission.
• Collect and deliver on time, handle goods with care, and record collection, transit and delivery updates in the app honestly and promptly.
• Get a signed proof of delivery and note any visible damage or shortage on it.
• Use shippers' addresses and site contacts only to perform that job.
• Tell Loader straight away about any accident, delay, loss, damage or theft.

6. Prohibited goods

You may not use Loader to move illegal goods, stolen property, controlled substances, weapons or ammunition, live animals, human remains, cash or other negotiable instruments, or any goods a carrier isn't licensed or equipped to carry. Loader and carriers may refuse or stop any load they reasonably believe breaks this rule or the law, and may report it to the authorities.

7. Quotes, pricing and payment

• All-in prices. Quotes shown to shippers include transport and Loader's fee. Goods-in-transit cover, if chosen, is shown and invoiced separately. VAT is added where it applies.
• Extra charges. Waiting time beyond a reasonable loading or offloading period, failed collections, extra stops added after booking, or changes to the load may be charged at the reasonable cost Loader incurs. We'll tell you before charging where we can.
• Invoices. Loader issues one invoice per delivered load. Pay it by the due date shown, by EFT using the invoice number as reference, or online through PayFast.
• Late payment. If an invoice is overdue, we may pause new bookings on your account, and may charge interest on overdue amounts at the rate allowed by law and recover reasonable collection costs.
• Carrier payments. Loader pays carriers the accepted bid amount for each completed delivery, after delivery is confirmed and a signed proof of delivery is received, within the payment period agreed with Loader. Carriers' payment records are in the app under Payments.

8. Monthly accounts

Shippers may apply for a monthly account. Loader decides whether to approve it and sets the payment terms (a number of days after month end) and the account limit. Each delivered load is still invoiced, and invoices are due on the dates shown. Bookings that would take your account over its limit can't be confirmed until open invoices are paid or the limit is raised. Loader may change the terms or limit, or close a monthly account, with notice. Amounts already owed remain payable on their original terms.

9. Cancellations and changes

• Before you accept a quote, you can cancel or change a load at no charge. Carriers can be asked to withdraw bids by contacting Loader.
• After you accept a quote, contact Loader as soon as possible to cancel or change. You may be charged the reasonable costs already incurred, including the carrier's costs if the truck has already been dispatched or has arrived.
• If a carrier cancels an awarded job, Loader will try to find a replacement carrier. The carrier may be charged any extra cost and may be suspended for repeated cancellations.

10. Insurance and risk

• Carriers are responsible for goods while they're in their care, and carry their own goods-in-transit insurance. Insurance policies have limits and exclusions, and a carrier's cover may be less than the value of your goods.
• Shippers can add goods-in-transit cover when posting a load. The premium is shown before booking and added to the invoice. Cover is provided under the insurer's policy terms, limits and exclusions, which apply to any claim.
• If you don't add cover, you accept the risk of loss or damage beyond what the carrier's insurance or the law provides. We recommend that you insure valuable goods.

11. Loss, damage and delay claims

1. Note any visible damage or shortage on the proof of delivery when the goods arrive.
2. Notify Loader in writing within 3 days of delivery for damage or shortage, or within 7 days of the expected delivery date for non-delivery.
3. Submit your full claim, with photos, invoices showing the value of the goods and the proof of delivery, within 30 days of delivery (or of the expected delivery date, for non-delivery).

Loader will coordinate the claim with the carrier and any insurer. Please keep damaged goods and packaging available for inspection. You may not set off a claim against an unpaid invoice.

Delivery times shown, including express and economy transit times, are estimates. Loader isn't liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control, such as weather, road closures, protests, strikes, border delays or acts of authorities.

12. Limits of liability

• The platform is provided "as is". We work to keep it available and accurate, but can't guarantee it will be uninterrupted or error-free.
• As broker, Loader isn't liable for loss of or damage to goods caused by a carrier, but will help you claim from the carrier and its insurer.
• To the extent the law allows, Loader's total liability to you for any load is limited to the fee Loader earned on that load, and Loader isn't liable for indirect or consequential loss, such as lost profit or business interruption.
• These limits don't apply to loss caused by Loader's gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or where the law doesn't allow liability to be limited.
• You indemnify Loader against claims, fines and costs caused by your breach of these terms or the law, including undeclared or misdescribed goods.

13. Non-circumvention

Loader introduces shippers and carriers to each other in confidence. For the period you use Loader and 12 months afterwards, you agree not to arrange transport directly, or through anyone else, with a shipper or carrier you were introduced to through Loader, in order to avoid Loader's fee. Messages on the platform must not contain phone numbers, emails or other contact details for this reason. If you breach this clause, you must pay Loader the fee it would have earned on that work, and Loader may close your account.

14. Acceptable use

You must not: give false information; post fake loads or bids; impersonate anyone; upload forged or altered documents; try to get into accounts or data that aren't yours; disrupt or overload the service; copy or scrape the platform; or use it to harass anyone. Uploading a forged document will result in immediate suspension and may be reported to the authorities.

15. Suspension and closing accounts

We may suspend or close an account if you breach these terms, don't pay, provide invalid documents, put people or goods at risk, or if the law requires it. Where reasonable, we'll tell you why and give you a chance to fix the problem. You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Jobs already booked must be completed or cancelled under section 9, and amounts owed remain payable.

16. Privacy

We handle personal information as described in our Privacy Policy and POPIA notice, in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act.

17. General

• Changes. We may update these terms. We'll show the new effective date and tell you about material changes by email or in the app before they apply. Bookings already made keep the terms that applied when they were made.
• Electronic communication. You agree that notices, invoices and records may be sent and kept electronically, as the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 permits.
• Governing law. These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, and South African courts have jurisdiction.
• Disputes. Please contact us first; we'll try to resolve any dispute in good faith within 20 business days before either of us goes to court.
• Severability. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the rest still applies.
• Whole agreement. These terms, our Privacy Policy and any written agreement you sign with Loader are the whole agreement between us about the service.

Questions

loaderfreightsolutions@gmail.com

WhatsApp

073 068 4930