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WSL Freight Rules

Effective Date: November 1, 2026

These rules govern who pays for WSL's transportation, delivery and warehouse services, when payment is due, and what WSL may do when it is not paid. Cargo loss and damage are covered by the WSL Claims Policy, and storage charges by the Storage Policy.

1. Scope and Acceptance

  • These rules apply to every shipment WSL picks up, transports, delivers, stores or releases at its docks. WSL's invoices and delivery receipts refer to them.
  • Tendering freight to WSL, accepting delivery from WSL, or paying a WSL invoice is acceptance of these rules.
  • A written transportation agreement signed by WSL controls over these rules where the two conflict. These rules control over conflicting terms printed on a shipper's or intermediary's bill of lading or routing guide.
  • Rates are quoted separately. A copy of these rules, and of the rates and classifications that apply to a shipment, is provided free on request. 49 U.S.C. § 13710(a)(1) requires a copy on the shipper's request.

2. Definitions

  • Shipper (consignor): the party named as shipper on the bill of lading.
  • Consignee: the party named to receive the freight, including any party that accepts delivery or picks up freight at a WSL dock.
  • Payor: the party WSL bills for a shipment, whether named on the bill of lading or in WSL's records.
  • Intermediary: a broker, freight forwarder, third-party logistics provider or other carrier that arranges or tenders freight to WSL.
  • Charges: all freight, fuel, accessorial, redelivery, detention, storage and other charges for a shipment.

3. Responsibility for Charges

  • The Shipper and the Consignee are each responsible for the full Charges, except as Section 4 and the last item of this section provide.
  • Naming a third-party Payor does not release the Shipper or the Consignee if that Payor does not pay within its credit terms.
  • Paying an Intermediary does not pay WSL. Charges are discharged only by payment received by WSL.
  • On a collect shipment, the Consignee becomes responsible for the Charges by accepting the freight.
  • A Consignee that is only an agent, without beneficial title to the goods, limits its responsibility to the Charges billed at delivery only by giving WSL written notice, before delivery, of the agency and the absence of beneficial title and, if the freight is reconsigned or diverted, the beneficial owner's name and address, under 49 U.S.C. § 13706.

4. Nonrecourse Shipments (Bill of Lading Section 7)

  • When the Shipper signs the nonrecourse clause (Section 7 of the bill of lading conditions), WSL will not deliver or release the freight until the Charges are paid in full or the Consignee has credit approved by WSL.
  • If WSL releases nonrecourse freight on approved credit, the Consignee is responsible for the Charges.
  • The nonrecourse clause does not release the Shipper from Charges it agreed in writing to pay, including the prepaid portion of a "collect beyond" shipment, or from charges caused by the Shipper, such as reweighs, reclassifications and inaccurate descriptions.
  • On a "collect beyond" shipment, Charges beyond the named point are collected from the Consignee before release.

5. Payment Terms and Credit

  • Charges are due before delivery or release unless the Payor has credit approved by WSL. Credit terms are stated on WSL's invoice.
  • Past-due Charges bear a finance charge of 2% per month, or the highest rate allowed by law if lower.
  • The responsible party pays WSL's costs of collecting past-due Charges, including collection agency and attorney fees.
  • WSL may suspend credit, require payment before delivery, or hold freight for any party with past-due Charges.
  • Cargo claims may not be deducted from Charges. Claims are resolved under the WSL Claims Policy, and WSL does not process a claim until the Charges on the shipment are paid.

6. Billing Disputes

  • A party contesting Charges must notify WSL in writing, with the invoice number and the reason, within 180 days of receiving the invoice.
  • WSL will issue any bill for Charges in addition to those originally billed within 180 days after the Payor receives the original invoice.
  • These periods follow 49 U.S.C. § 13710(a)(3). Disputed Charges do not delay payment of undisputed Charges.

7. Lien on Freight

  • WSL has a lien on freight in its possession for the Charges on that freight and for expenses of preserving it, under UCC § 7-307.
  • In addition, each Shipper, Consignee and owner that accepts these rules grants WSL a general lien on all of its freight in WSL's possession for all Charges it owes WSL on any shipment.
  • WSL may hold freight subject to its lien until the Charges are paid. If they remain unpaid after written notice, WSL may sell the freight as the law allows and apply the proceeds to the Charges and the costs of sale.
  • The general lien applies only to freight owned by the party that owes the Charges.

8. Delivery, Will-Call Release and Unclaimed Freight

  • Freight held at a WSL dock is released only to the Consignee or a person it authorizes in writing, on presentation of identification, and subject to Sections 4 and 5.
  • Storage charges begin as stated in the Storage Policy.
  • Freight that is refused, or not picked up within 30 days after it is received at a WSL warehouse, is unclaimed. WSL will notify the Shipper and may return it at the Shipper's expense or dispose of it as the law allows.

9. Intermediaries

  • An Intermediary that tenders freight to WSL is the Payor for that freight unless WSL agrees otherwise in writing.
  • If an Intermediary does not pay within its credit terms, WSL may collect the Charges directly from the Shipper or the Consignee under Section 3. The terms between an Intermediary and its customers do not bind WSL.
  • WSL may apply any amounts it collects for an Intermediary, including collect charges and COD funds, to Charges the Intermediary owes WSL.

10. Governing Law

  • Federal law governs where it applies. Otherwise these rules are governed by the laws of the State of Washington.
  • WSL may bring an action to collect Charges in any court with jurisdiction. Cargo claim disputes are resolved under the WSL Claims Policy.

11. Changes

WSL may change these rules by publishing a new version with a new effective date. The version in effect on the date freight is tendered applies to that shipment.

12. Contact

Questions about Charges or these rules: [email protected] or (855) 486-5747.