1. Unloading Equipment from Commercial Truck

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNLOADING THE PRODUCT.

Your shipment is very heavy and often very long, and it will arrive on a large commercial truck. A forklift or something similar is required to unload. The drivers will not wait, so you must be ready on their arrival. Please keep track of your shipment and reach out to the carrier with any concerns. Carriers will usually contact you prior to delivery.

Some shipments, such as tire machines, wheel balancers, spray wash cabinets, compressors, and motorcycle lifts can be offloaded with a power tailgate on the truck. Babco will automatically add this accessorial charge to these shipments to ensure smooth delivery.

All deliveries are curbside only.

2. Picking Up at a Freight Terminal or BABCO Warehouse

If you are picking up your shipment at the trucking terminal, they will load the equipment onto your truck or trailer. You will be required to provide government issued photo ID such as a driver’s licence that matches the name on the shipment.

Please ensure your vehicle is suitable for the equipment you are picking up. For example, lifts are generally 12’ to 18’ long and weigh 1,700 lbs to 5,000 lbs. or more. These will not fit on a pick-up truck! A trailer is required.

Please discuss your plans for delivery with your Babco representative, during the ordering process, to ensure there are no surprises and extra costs.

3. Inspecting Your Shipment

DO NOT SIGN THE BILL OF LADING / PROOF OF DELIVERY UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED A THOROUGH INSPECTION

Your shipment is generally via LTL (less than truckload) service. As your shipment moves from our warehouse to its destination, it will be placed with other freight that is bound for the same area. It is important to realize that your shipment may be handled several times as it and other freight is often loaded on and off different trucks en-route to a destination. This is applicable whether being received at your location or picking up at the terminal.

What You Must Do

For items that are shipped in enclosed wooden or cardboard crates, such as wheel balancers and tire changers, a thorough inspection of the crate for damage will be sufficient. If the crate is at all punctured, then you need to open it up and do a careful inspection of the actual equipment for damage.

For lifts, start with an inspection of the packaging. Any obvious damage to this will let you target in on possible damage to the actual equipment. You should carefully cut away the packaging… lengthwise down one side… and expose the lift. Do a thorough inspection for concealed damage. You must inspect the bottom of the lift as this is a common area where damage occurs. You can do this while the lift is being unloaded/loaded on the forklift in most cases. The image below shows a lift that has a bent runway.

Babco cannot do anything for you. You will be on the hook to repair or replace the damaged part. We can’t say it enough… do a thorough inspection!

ALWAYS make sure you take pictures of the shipment during delivery, including all pieces. We would appreciate it if you send us a couple pictures of your shipment when it arrives… including, as is almost all the time, when they arrive in good condition. This helps us monitor the freight company’s performance, but it is also a feel good for all of us at Babco. Send pictures to info@babco.ca if you get a chance.

A detailed inspection will take maybe 5 minutes but must absolutely be done to protect yourself.

Some of the truck drivers may be grumpy or impatient (most will be great), but that’s life. If you have any uncertainty, please immediately call us at 800-661-5313 for assistance. If you are not going to be the individual on site to receive the goods, please ensure this information is provided to the appropriate person.

4. Bill of Lading / Proof of Delivery

Signing the Bill of Lading is your acknowledgement to the carrier that you have received ALL OF THE ITEMS on the BILL OF LADING and that they were ALL RECEIVED IN GOOD CONDITION.

If any of the goods noted on the Bill of Lading / Proof of Delivery are missing or damaged, outside of normal handling abrasions and marks (see 5 - Normal Shipping and Handling abrasions below) you should not accept them until the carrier makes a notation on the freight bill of the shorted or implied damaged. Remember… you absolutely must take pictures of damage. If you are refusing delivery due to damage, please ensure this is noted on the Bill of lading.

5. Normal Shipping and Handling Abrasions

Although we do our best to package your shipment to minimize damage, minor scratches and abrasions due to normal transportation and handling are expected. DO NOT refuse your shipment if you observe minor scratches or abrasions like those shown in the photos below. You will be responsible for round-trip freight charges if your claim for damage is denied. Touch-up paint is provided with each lift and is available on request for all other equipment. Some examples of minor shipping damage are shown below.

6. Damage Found or Missing Items Noted After Signing Bill of Lading / Proof of Delivery

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COLLECT FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE AFTER YOU HAVE GIVEN THE CARRIER A CLEAR RECEIPT.

Our experience is that if a carrier has that signed Bill of Lading, it is next to impossible to get any payout on a claim. This is the reason it is vital to take the time and do a thorough inspection immediately on receipt, before the Bill of Lading is signed.

Having said that, if significant damage is discovered after receipt or if you noted the damage during your inspection and noted it on the Bill of Lading, you need to contact the carrier and request an inspection within 48 hours. If the carrier is unable to do so, prepare a signed statement to the effect that you have notified the carrier (on a specific date) and that the carrier has failed to comply with your request (name of person you talk to, date and time of the conversation). File your claim with the carrier promptly and support your claim with a cargo loss and damage claim form, copies of the bill of lading, freight bill, product invoice, photographs, and inspection claim given to you by inspector after inspection is done. Note that Babco’s willingness to assist in helping you process your claim does not make Babco responsible for collection of claims or replacement of lost or damaged materials.

Power Tailgate Items:

• Power Tailgate (PTG): Items designated as tailgate items will automatically have a $40 charge applied to the order.
• Inside Delivery: Option available for power tailgate items only. A $45 charge will be applied to the order if selected.

LTL Deliveries:

• Waiting Time: A fee may be added if a delivery driver experiences wait time for a shipment to be unloaded. This charge would be based on the amount of time over and above what would be considered a normal delivery expectation.

All Deliveries:

• Re-Delivery / Return Trip: A charge will apply for each re-delivery.
• Storage Charges: If the shipment is stalled for any reason or needs to sit with the carrier for a specific delivery date, a storage fee may be charged for taking up space on a dock or in a truck.