Carriage Terms and Conditions for Shipping With Routely

Carriage Terms and Conditions for Shipping With Routely

General Shipping Terms and Conditions

By making a booking or sending a package through Routely System Limited (“Routely”), you agree to be bound by these General Terms and Conditions. These terms govern all domestic and international shipments made through our platform.


1. Agreement to Carrier Terms

Routely is a registered logistics technology provider and aggregator. We work with various delivery providers, third-party carriers, freight forwarders, insurance companies and couriers (“Carriers”) to facilitate your shipment. Routely reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.

By using our platform to book a shipment, you agree to be bound by the specific Carriage Terms and Conditions of each partner that handles your package or we work with. Partner terms may include liability limits, claims processes, and delivery policies. You may review each carrier’s terms on their respective websites as below:

DHL Express
UPS
FedEx
Aramex
Kwik Delivery
Redstar Express
My Cover Genius - Insurance (Shipment Protection)


2. Shipment Protection & 100% Money-Back Guarantee

Routely offers optional Shipment Protection as an added layer of security for your goods. If you wish to access our 100% Money-Back Guarantee, the following conditions must be met at the time of booking:

  • You must select and pay for Shipment Protection.

  • You must attach a clear image of the item(s) being shipped.

  • You must declare the accurate value of each item (only the declared value + shipping fees can be claimed).

If these conditions are not met, your shipment will only be eligible for limited compensation as determined by the Carrier's policies. Routely may also compensate for a loss and will assist with claims where possible, but accepts no liability beyond the Carrier’s compensation limits if Shipment Protection is not activated.


3. Declared Value & Claims

In the unlikely event that anything happens to your package:
  • The declared value at the time of booking is the maximum amount claimable in the event of loss or damage. You cannot claim a higher value later under any circumstances.
  • Declared values will form the basis for insurance coverage, if applicable.

  • Items not declared in the shipment inventory at booking will be considered not shipped. No claims can be made for such items, and Routely will not accept responsibility.

  • You can only file for claims if you turned on "Shipment Protection" when booking your shipment

  • You are able to claim the shipping fees + declared package value.


4. Item Declaration & Packaging Responsibility

  • Customers must declare each item being shipped individually.

  • Routely provides general packaging assistance (e.g., carton, adequate marking and labelling, standard food vacuuming and sealing assistance etc), but it is the Customer’s sole responsibility to ensure that the shipment is securely and properly packaged.

  • Fragile items (e.g., artwork, skincare, electronics, liquids, glassware, etc.) must be packed using materials suitable to prevent breakage, leakage, or theft.

  • Routely is not liable for damage due to inadequate packaging.


5. Rates and Adjustments

  • All rates are subject to change without notice due to Carrier pricing fluctuations, fuel surcharges, currency exchange, or other factors.

  • If the actual weight or size of the shipment exceeds the declared weight/volume at booking:

    • Routely reserves the right to recalculate the charges.

    • The shipment may be held until full payment for the adjusted difference is received.

    • Customers will be notified and contacted to resolve such differences promptly.


6. Transit Times

  • All transit times are estimates only and are not guaranteed.

  • Transit time starts from the date the shipment is dispatched, not the booking date.

  • While we may often deliver faster than quoted, delays may occur due to customs inspections, weather, carrier backlogs, holidays, strikes, or other unforeseen circumstances.

  • Routely is not liable for delays caused by Carriers or external conditions.


7. Payment Terms

  • The Customer is liable for all shipment-related charges, including freight, customs, handling, warehousing, insurance, duties, taxes, penalties, and associated legal or administrative fees.

  • Routely may apply convenience fees for payments made via card or electronic payment channels.

  • Routely reserves the right to:

    • Amend pricing in cases of inaccurate information provided at booking e.g change of address as required for adjustment by carrier.

    • Re-invoice for additional services or carrier adjustments.

  • All invoices are payable upon issuance unless otherwise agreed.

  • Disputes on invoiced charges must be raised in writing within 30 business days. After this period, charges will be considered final and payable in full.


8. Shipment Protection & Limitation of Liability

  • Routely is not the carrier and does not assume any liability for loss, delay, or damage unless:

    • Shipment Protection was purchased at the time of booking.

    • All required documentation (photos, item list, declared values) was submitted at the time of booking.

  • Without Shipment Protection, liability is strictly limited to the amount recoverable under the relevant Carrier’s terms.

  • Routely will assist in claims processing but is not responsible for the outcome or the amount paid.

  • Claim processing may take 15 to 60 business days depending on the carrier and the complexity of the case


9. Prohibited Items and Compliance

Customers must ensure that shipments do not include items restricted or prohibited by:

  • Nigerian Customs regulations,

  • The laws of the destination country,

  • Applicable air or sea freight rules,

  • Specific carrier or logistics partner restrictions.

Failure to comply may result in delays, confiscation, fines, or criminal prosecution. The Customer assumes full liability in such cases and agrees to indemnify Routely against any resulting loss or damage. For the most up-to-date list of prohibited or restricted items, customers are advised to check the official customs or trade authority websites of their origin and destination countries. Below are quick links to some of the most frequently shipped-to countries:

Note: Routely may have this list updated periodically; however, this does not replace the official guidance from each country’s customs authority.



10. Delivery & Recipient Responsibilities

  • The recipient must be available at the provided address on the estimated delivery day. If the delivery location is deemed unsafe or inaccessible by the Carrier (e.g., risk of theft or no one available to receive), delivery may be withheld or rescheduled at the Carrier’s discretion.

  • Carriers may attempt redelivery once or twice, depending on service area policy. If delivery still fails, the shipment will be returned to sender, and the Customer (shipper) agrees to bear the full cost of return logistics, handling, and storage if applicable.

  • Customs Duties are assessed by the destination country’s customs authorities. Unless the shipper has explicitly opted to cover these charges, the recipient is responsible for payment of all duties, tariffs, and taxes.

  • If a recipient refuses delivery due to unpaid customs duties or other charges, delivery will fail and the shipment may be returned at the shipper’s cost.

  • Customers are advised to:

    • Notify recipients in advance of incoming shipments,

    • Ensure recipients respond promptly to delivery or customs notifications,

    • Provide all clearance documents or identification required for import,

    • Clearly communicate if the sender is absorbing customs costs during booking.

  • Routely shall not be liable for any delays, returns, or losses caused by a recipient’s failure to accept delivery, pay customs, or comply with import requirements.


11. Force Majeure

Routely shall not be liable for failure to fulfill its obligations due to circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to:

  • Acts of God,

  • War, terrorism, political unrest,

  • Port or airport shutdowns,

  • Natural disasters,

  • System failures or carrier strikes.


12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Lagos State.



Other Shipping Terms - Air & Sea Cargo/Freight


By engaging Routely System Limited for any sea freight shipment, whether booked manually or online via www.routely.co, the Customer agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. No agent or employee of either party may modify or waive any part of these Terms and Conditions. These Terms apply to all cargo shipments arranged by and through Routely System Limited (“Routely”). Routely reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.



1. Rates, Charges & Transit Times

2. Hazardous Materials & Contraband

3. Payment Terms

4. Limitations of Liability and Claims




(a) Nature of Service

Routely System Limited is simply a shipping platform in partnership with freight forwarders/ brokers, airlines, vessel operators, haulage companies etc and therefore does not operate cargo shipping or vessels or act as a direct carrier. With Routely, you can arrange transport through licensed ocean freight carriers and logistics partners. Routely does not provide transportation itself and does not offer or manage insurance coverage; we have partners for Shipment Protection.
  • If insurance is required, it must be purchased separately by the Customer through the carrier or add Shipment Protection while booking on www.routely.co or any external provider.
  • Liability and coverage limits are governed by the selected carrier’s ocean freight terms and conditions and may be subject to international maritime conventions (e.g., Hague-Visby Rules or Hamburg Rules).

(b) Claims Process

  • Routely may assist in the facilitation of claims with the Insurance Partners but bears no responsibility for the outcome, approval, or denial of such claims.
  • Any damage or loss visible at delivery must be noted on the packing list or bill of lading or delivery receipt.
  • Concealed loss or damage must be reported within 5 days of delivery.
  • Claims do not release the Customer from the obligation to pay freight charges. Carriers and partners may reject claims if invoices are unpaid.

(c) Exclusions of Liability

Routely is not liable for:
  • Delays, losses, or damages caused by third-party carriers, port authorities, customs, or the Customer.
  • Losses resulting from incorrect labelling, packaging, or documentation provided by the Customer.
  • Events outside of Routely’s control, including:
    • Natural disasters
    • Acts of God
    • Vessel breakdown or rerouting
    • Political unrest, strikes, and port congestion
    • Regulatory delays or acts of public authorities/government authorities (including customs, government agencies etc)
Routely will not be responsible for executing special instructions unless confirmed in writing and agreed upon in advance.



Acceptance of All Terms

By submitting a shipment through Routely’s platform, the Customer confirms that they:

  • Have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions;

  • Are authorised to make decisions on behalf of the sender or recipient;

  • Acknowledge full responsibility for all shipment contents, declarations, and payments.

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