In Mexico, carrier liability for loss or damage to cargo is legally capped per ton (UMA under the Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Act) unless you declare value and pay the corresponding charge. If your goods are worth more than that cap, the gap moves uncovered unless you declare value to the carrier or buy your own cargo insurance.
The costliest market mistake is assuming “the carrier is insured” equals “my cargo is insured at real value.” This guide separates layers, schemes, and failures that leave inventory exposed, including the top risk: cargo theft.
- legal per-ton cap
- UMA/t
- typical annual premium
- 0.15–0.45%
- liability · cap · all-risk
- 3 layers
- frequent errors
- 5
Cluster: cargo theft · audit an invoice · charges dictionary · cargo insurance hub.
Three protection layers
Three protection layers
“The carrier is insured” ≠ “my cargo is insured”.
01
Carrier liability
Third-party damage, not your goods.
02
Per-ton cap
Legal cap unless value is declared.
03
Own policy
Only layer that covers real value (all-risk).
Carrier liability insurance. Mandatory; covers third-party road damage, not your freight.
Cargo liability. Capped at legal per-ton limit unless value is declared. On electronics, pharma, or auto parts, it covers a fraction of risk.
Shipper all-risk policy. Own policy at real value, per trip or annual. Only layer that responds at full value, including theft.
When each scheme fits
Three common paths by volume, unit value, and risk appetite. Mixed scheme often wins on high-rotation accounts.
Value declaration to carrier
When: Low or sporadic volume
Advantage / risk: Simple; raises each trip rate and depends on carrier solvency
Shipper annual policy
When: Regular volume
Advantage / risk: Premium 0.15–0.45%; insurer demands protocols on red routes
Mixed scheme
When: Mature accounts
Advantage / risk: Own policy + recovery against carrier if they caused the loss
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Detalle del paso · 01
Monitored evidence (control tower)
On attractive freight (beverages, electronics), the insurer will require escorts and defined routes. The same rigor cuts exposure on the theft map.
Errors that leave cargo uncovered
Five failures concentrate uninsured losses. Each is prevented in contract and invoice audit.
Five errors that leave cargo uncovered
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Step detail · 01
Unverified
Paying “extra insurance” as an accessorial without endorsement is charge without cover, auditable like any concept in the charges dictionary.
Claim
Before the trip
Validate
Live policy
Value
Declared OK
Route
Authorized
Endorse
If needed
What OCL runs on insurance
OCL Cargo is an autonomous shipper-side TMS. The Audit Agent reconciles insurance charges on invoice against endorsement and verified policy before pay: audit before pay. It uses automated screen control (computer use) to validate insurer portal data when there is no integration. It can stamp invoice and Carta Porte when applicable. It coexists with operations; humans on complex claims, agent on routine reconciliation.
6–8 week pilot
Take 100 medium-high value shipments. Baseline: % with endorsement when insurance was charged, MXN in accessorials without cover, and stale declared value. Agent audits invoice 100%. Pattern: recover 5–7% of spend when insurance charge brought no endorsement or real coverage increase.
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Detalle del paso · 01
% invoices with insurance charge but no endorsement
Key takeaways5 points
- Carrier liability covers third parties, not your goods.
- Cargo liability: legal per-ton cap unless value is declared.
- Own all-risk policy is the only layer at real value.
- Typical premium 0.15–0.45% of insured value; higher on red routes.
- Five errors: unverified PDF, subcontracting, notice delay, stale value, charge without endorsement.
Do you know how much of your freight moves uncovered today?
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Not for the shipper; carrier liability insurance is mandatory. Optional on paper becomes involuntary self-insurance in practice because the per-ton legal cap leaves most industrial freight under-covered.
Most stolen: beverages and food, electronics, auto parts, pharma, textiles. Premium follows the theft map.
Demonstrably lower loss history: route protocols, monitored evidence, carrier validation, per-shipment file. The same discipline that audits spend lowers premium.
No. Verify validity and coverage directly with the insurer. Policy impersonation fraud is common.
A legal per-ton cap (UMA under the Federal Roads Act) unless you declare value and pay the charge. On industrial or electronics freight, it covers a fraction of real risk.
Yes. The Audit Agent reconciles insurance accessorials against real endorsement before pay. Pilot 6–8 weeks.