Almost all purchase transport and distribution services integrating precise quality goals in the deal. And it is obvious that quality in these businesses suffers. Another way to deal with the problem is making the suppliers of distribution and transport responsible to quality. In some European countries transport laws do not support you making the supplier responsible but in a majorities of countries it is possible. But in the end why use law when you can make a simple contract or just change the supplier with another. Beware that a number of standard contracts especially with forwarding companies is design to renouncing from responsibility. Do not use such contracts. The service can look inexpensive but are expensive in the end.
A European Norm is developed to support you. It is EN13011.
________________________________________________________________________________
FREIGHT SERVICE OPERATOR QUALITY DECLARATION
COMPANY NAME:
COMPANY ADDRESS:will be operating, following the requirements of ENXXXXX standard, under the control of an insurance quality system reference:___________ certificate no:________ issued by ___(authorised body)____ on __(date)__.
GENERAL QUALITY
|
QUALITY CRITERIA |
APPLICATION (tick when applicable) |
PERFORMANCE LEVEL & UNIT |
|
PACKAGING OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
HANDLING & STORAGE OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
PREPARING & DISPATCHING OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
TRANSPORT OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
TRANSPORT INTERFACES OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
AUXILIARY OPERATIONS |
|
xx% conform operations |
|
COLLECTION TIME |
|
<x0/00 more than +/- x hours (min.) |
|
DELIVERY TIME |
|
<x0/00 more than +/- x hours (min.) |
|
COLLECTION PLACE |
|
<x 0/00 other places |
|
DELIVERY PLACE |
|
<x0/00 other places |
|
TEMPERATURE |
|
Max -18 oC or x-xx oC |
|
HUMIDITY |
|
Max xx% r.h. |
|
WATER INGRESS |
|
Max xx hours (min.) |
|
AIR PRESSURE |
|
x-xx kPa |
|
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE |
|
Gas type: x-xx %/ppm |
|
DROPS & SHOCKS |
|
Max x m/sec. |
|
COMPRESSION/STACKING |
|
Max xx N/m2 |
|
VIBRATION |
|
Max x G between x-xx Hz |
|
ORIENTATION |
|
|
Compensation
In the event that the actual performance falls short of the above, company name, will provide redress in accordance with xxxxxxxxxx 1). In the event of a dispute as to performance level, recorded performance details will be passed to xxxxxx2) for arbitration.
The idea is that the supplier of distribution and quality declare the risk level by himself and stay responsible to the cost of damages over that level. The shipper is responsible for packing a product up to such a level.
Using EN13011 has another advantage that the design level is automatic defined.