Logistics terms · Logistics terms

What does Common carrier mean in logistics?

Short answer

A person or business that transports goods by road for hire for anyone, as opposed to a private carrier moving only its own goods. The law places specific registration and liability duties on common carriers.

Under the Carriage by Road Act, 2007 a common carrier must be registered and is liable for loss or damage to goods in its custody, subject to the conditions and limits in the Act and Rules. Ask our desk how this applies to your consignment.

Period: General definition. Data as of 29 Sep 2026. How we count

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The numbers behind this answer

Category
Road
Related terms
Carriage by Road Act, 2007, Lorry receipt (LR), GTA (goods transport agency), Freight claim

Sources

  1. SSL logistics glossary

Period: General definition. Data as of 29 Sep 2026.

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