Why freight insurance is anything but a luxury

Your shipment is on the move. So far, so good. But what if something goes wrong? The goods are damaged, stolen, or never arrive. Who pays for the loss?

Many companies assume the carrier covers everything. In reality, that’s not the case. In this article, we’ll explain why freight insurance matters, what it covers, and how to arrange it easily.

What is freight insurance?

Freight insurance covers damage or loss of your goods during transport—whether by road, sea, or air. Examples include:

Damage from drops or impacts
Water damage
Fire
Loss or theft

The big difference with the carrier’s standard liability? A transport insurance policy compensates based on the actual value of your goods. Carrier liability is usually limited to just a few euros per kilo, which doesn’t come close to covering high-value or lightweight shipments.

With freight insurance, your goods are covered for their full value—saving you from unpleasant financial surprises if things go wrong in transit.

What’s covered (and what isn’t)?

You can tailor your freight insurance for global coverage—both import and export. That includes shipments from Asia or the U.S., as well as within the European Economic Area (EEA). And you’re covered 24/7, even for incidents that occur at night.

You are responsible

A common misconception: “The carrier will take care of it.”
Yes, the carrier is liable—but only within the limits of international conventions like the CMR Convention. And that coverage is minimal.

As the sender, you are responsible for arranging suitable transport insurance. If you don’t, you risk having to cover significant losses yourself.

When is freight insurance worth it?

It’s especially smart to take out freight insurance if you:

Regularly ship goods with high (commercial) value
Transport fragile or sensitive products
Want to avoid disputes over damage or liability
Need peace of mind for international shipments

Once your goods are in transit, they’re out of your hands—but you can make sure they’re properly insured.

How to arrange freight insurance with Team Freight Forwarding?

When booking your shipment in our TFF Xpress portal, you can indicate that you’d like to add freight insurance. We’ll take care of it for you.

We’re happy to advise on the right coverage based on your goods, the mode of transport, and the destination. That way, you’re fully insured—without having to figure it all out yourself.