Damages who is responsible?

With the pallets falling to the rear, it is 99% of the time the shipper and poor loading is the cause.

With nothing in writing, this is messy. You signed the bills, its all on you. Odds are your "leasing" company told the broker to pound sand, broker can't or won't make a claim against the shipper ( or they are trying to get paid 2x ).. so they are going after you.

Who has the cargo insurance? You or your "leasing" company?

 

if the shipper loaded and sealed, it's not really on you, it's on them, for poor loading.
in hindsight, you could have asked to open the doors, inspect, then reseal

you could have also noted on the bills, "shipper load and count and sealed"

i say shipper is responsible 1000%.

as you were not present at the time of loading, inspecting and sealing.

tell them to go pound sand.

 

thats why i alway write SLSC on the bills. even if it has the box checked.

 

A verbal lease? What could possibly go wrong with that kind of set up?

 

Before they close and seal the doors, take a picture.

 

Shipper load and count on everything.

Even the gravestone. Shipper load and count. /snark

without that it is very possible whoever signed is going to be the one with the bag.

 

Wow ...

Of course it is your fault, you are responsible for the load - sealed or not.

But it goes farther than that.

No contract makes you an employee so as an employee, you are responsible but not for damages, there has to be a claim against the company's cargo insurance.

 

NADA ...trusssst me says the man with a Big Fat Cigar in his mouth