Comprehensive Cargo Insurance for International Shipments
Protect your valuable assets during international transit with our comprehensive cargo insurance solutions. We provide tailored coverage to give you peace of mind, no matter where your shipment is headed.
Why Cargo Insurance is an Essential Part of Your Shipping Strategy
Mitigate Financial Risk
International shipping involves inherent risks, including cargo damage, loss, or theft. Our insurance policies protect your financial investment against these unforeseen events.
Ensure Full Value Recovery
Unlike limited carrier liability, a dedicated cargo insurance policy covers the full value of your goods, plus freight costs and an additional percentage, ensuring you are made whole after a loss.
Achieve Peace of Mind
Knowing your shipment is fully protected allows you to focus on your business. We handle the complexities of risk management so you can ship with confidence.
Your Cargo Is Your Investment. Our Insurance Is Its Protection.
Ocean Freight
Comprehensive insurance options for all your full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean shipments.
Air Freight
Secure your time-sensitive and high-value air cargo with tailored insurance policies that cover transit from airport to airport and beyond.
Trucking Freight
Protect your domestic and cross-border shipments with robust coverage for over-the-road transportation across North America.
Project Logistics
Our insurance solutions are a key component of our end-to-end project logistics services for heavy and oversized cargo.
Customs Brokerage
We ensure your insured cargo moves smoothly through customs with our expert brokerage and compliance services.
Export Packing
Proper packing is crucial for insurance validity. We provide expert export packing to keep your cargo safe and compliant.
Why Choose Texas International Freight?
With decades of experience in complex logistics, Texas International Freight offers more than just shipping. We provide strategic solutions, including robust insurance options, to ensure your project’s success from start to finish.
- Specialists in Heavy Equipment & Breakbulk
- Tailored 'All-Risk' Insurance Policies
- Expert Guidance on Complex Claims
- Proactive Risk Management
- Seamless Integration with Freight Services
- Houston-Based with Global Reach
'All-Risk' Policies
Our primary offering is a comprehensive ‘All-Risk’ policy. This insures your goods against physical loss or damage from any external cause, providing the broadest protection available for your international shipments.
General Average Coverage
We protect you from the complexities of general average claims. If a carrier declares it, our policy ensures you are not liable for losses shared by other cargo owners.
Warehouse-to-Warehouse Clause
Our coverage protects your shipment from its point of origin to its final destination, including inland transit legs before and after the main carriage, offering true end-to-end security.
Insured Value Calculation
Standard policies cover the Cost of goods, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) plus an additional 10%. This helps you recover not only your goods’ value but also shipping costs and a portion of anticipated profit.
War & Civil Commotion Risks
Many standard policies exclude risks from war, strikes, riots, and civil commotions (SR&CC). Our ‘All-Risk’ policies can include this vital coverage, securing your cargo in volatile regions.
Jones Act Considerations
For domestic US waterborne shipments, our insurance options are reinforced by the provisions of the Jones Act, ensuring full compliance and protection for cabotage moves.
Understanding Your Cargo Insurance Options
Shipping any cargo, from forklifts to components for erecting wind turbines, involves inherent risks. At Texas International Freight, we strongly recommend that customers secure their own cargo insurance policy rather than relying on the limited liability coverage offered by freight carriers. Carrier liability is often minimal, based on weight, and subject to numerous exclusions, making it very difficult to receive a fair payout in the event of a claim.
By obtaining a dedicated policy through us, you gain direct control over your coverage and the claims process. This ensures you are compensated for the full value of your goods plus freight costs. Whether you’re managing a full plant relocation or shipping a single crawler crane, having your own insurance provides the financial security necessary for successful global trade.
Carrier Liability vs. Insurance
Carrier liability is not insurance. It’s a minimal legal obligation, often pennies on the dollar, designed to limit the carrier’s exposure. True cargo insurance is designed to protect your full financial interest.
Understanding Policy Exclusions
For an insurance policy to be valid, certain conditions must be met, such as proper packing and cargo arriving at the exit port in good condition. We help you understand these specifications to ensure your coverage is secure.
Streamlined Claims Process
In the unfortunate event of a loss, our team will guide you every step of the way. We assist with documentation and communication with underwriters to facilitate a prompt and fair resolution.
Secure Your Shipment with Comprehensive Documentation
A secure shipment goes beyond just physical protection; it requires meticulous documentation. Alongside comprehensive cargo insurance, our team at Texas International Freight manages all necessary paperwork. This includes bills of lading, certificates of origin, and legalization services to ensure smooth customs clearance and compliance in every country.
For certain destinations, documents may require validation from a consulate or embassy, a process known as consularization. We can even coordinate specialized services like document translation to meet specific import requirements. Let us handle the complexities so you can focus on your business.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cargo Insurance
What is 'All-Risk' cargo insurance?
An ‘All-Risk’ policy is the broadest form of shipping insurance available. It covers financial loss from any external cause of physical damage or loss to your cargo during transit. The only exceptions are specific exclusions listed in the policy, such as improper packing, inherent vice, or losses due to delay. We recommend this comprehensive coverage for most international shipments to provide the highest level of protection.
Why shouldn't I just use the carrier's insurance?
What carriers offer is typically not insurance but ‘carrier liability.’ This is a legally mandated, minimal level of coverage that severely limits their financial responsibility in case of loss, often paying out based on weight (e.g., $0.50 per pound). A dedicated cargo insurance policy, by contrast, is designed to cover the full declared value of your goods, ensuring you are properly compensated for your actual financial loss.
What is General Average and how does insurance protect me?
General Average is a maritime law principle where all parties in a sea venture (ship owner and cargo owners) proportionally share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole. If a carrier declares General Average, you could be forced to pay a portion of another company’s loss, even if your cargo is undamaged. A proper cargo insurance policy covers this contribution on your behalf, protecting you from potentially catastrophic, unexpected costs.
How is my insurance premium calculated?
The premium for cargo insurance is typically calculated as a percentage of the total value of your shipment. This value is usually the ‘CIF + 10%’ amount: the Cost of the goods, plus the cost of Insurance and Freight, with an additional 10% to cover unforeseen expenses or lost profit. Other factors influencing the rate include the type of goods, the shipping route, the mode of transport, and the specific coverages included in the policy.
Does cargo insurance cover shipping delays?
Standard ‘All-Risk’ cargo insurance policies are designed to cover physical loss or damage to the goods themselves, not consequential financial losses resulting from shipping delays. While this is the industry standard, specialized coverage for delays may be available for certain time-critical shipments. If this is a concern, please discuss your specific needs with our team so we can explore available options.
What do I do if my cargo is lost or damaged?
If you suspect loss or damage upon delivery, you must first note it on the delivery receipt before signing. Then, contact Texas International Freight immediately. We will guide you through the next steps, which include formally notifying the carrier of a potential claim, arranging for a surveyor to inspect the damage if necessary, and gathering the documentation required to file a formal claim with the insurance underwriters.
Don’t leave your valuable shipments to chance. Our logistics experts are ready to build a comprehensive insurance and shipping plan tailored to your needs. Call us today at 877-489-9184 or visit our contact page to secure your peace of mind.
