Terms and Conditions of Service

1.Scope of the agreement and documents that form it

The agreement between the parties is made up of the following documents, to be read together:

1. The rate confirmation, accepted quote, or signed Shipping Agreement for the specific load.
2. The Bill of Lading (BOL) issued for the shipment.
3. These Terms and Conditions.
4. The platform Terms of Use, where the Customer accesses it.
5. The Privacy Policy.

Order of precedence

Where documents conflict, the higher-ranking one prevails in this order: (1) mandatory federal or state law; (2) the rate confirmation or signed Shipping Agreement for that load; (3) the Bill of Lading; (4) these Terms. No term printed on a Customer purchase order, portal, or form modifies these Terms unless we accept it in writing signed by an authorized representative.

These Terms apply to each successive load between the same parties even if not signed again. The governing version is the one published at this address on the date the load is accepted.

2.Definitions

• Unit: the boat, RV, travel trailer, camper, vehicle, or equipment being transported.
• Load: the service of transporting one or more Units from an origin to a destination.
• Rate confirmation: the document setting the rate, dates, route, and specific conditions of a Load.
• BOL: the Bill of Lading, the transport document and receipt for the Unit, evidencing its condition at pickup and delivery.
• POD: Proof of Delivery, the delivery evidence, including the signed BOL and photographs.
• Accessorial charges: any charge other than the base linehaul, per section 6.
• TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used): the charge for a truck dispatched and not used.
• Subcontracted carrier: the motor carrier with current authority and insurance to which we assign a Load.
• Days: calendar days, unless "business days" is stated.

3.Carrier authority, dual role, and subcontracting

Best Friend Transport LLC operates under current motor carrier authority with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (USDOT 4241168, MC 1642448) and maintains the insurance required by federal regulation.

Dual role: carrier and arranger of transportation

Depending on the Load, we may act (a) as the carrier, moving the Unit with our own equipment and drivers, or (b) arranging transportation with a subcontracted carrier holding current authority and insurance. We tell the Customer in which capacity we are acting upon request, and in all cases the BOL identifies the actual carrier.

• Where we act as carrier, we are liable for the cargo on the terms of section 12.
• Where we arrange transportation with a third party, liability for damage to or loss of the Unit rests with that carrier and its insurer. We assist the Customer throughout the claim, verify the third party's authority and insurance beforehand, and do not assign a load to a carrier whose coverage is not current.
• The Customer expressly authorizes such subcontracting. We do not engage in double brokering: we do not reassign a Load to another broker without the Customer's written consent.

4.Services covered

• Transportation of boats and boat trailers, including pickup and delivery at marinas, ports, and shipyards.
• Transportation of RVs, motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, campers, and park models.
• Transportation of vehicles, machinery, and equipment on flatbed or lowboy.
• Power only service (pulling the Customer's own trailer).
• Ancillary services: escorts, oversize permits, temporary transport plates, boat inspections, port receiving, and short-term storage where agreed in writing.
• Towing and breakdown transfer services, additionally subject to section 16.

We do not provide household goods moving services or hazardous materials transportation, absent prior written agreement.

5.Quotes, booking, and confirmation

• Every quote is based exclusively on the information the Customer provides: dimensions, weight, operating condition, site accessibility, and dates.
• Quotes are valid for 7 days from issuance unless otherwise stated, and are subject to equipment availability at the time of booking.
• Booking is complete upon written acceptance of the rate confirmation or Shipping Agreement and, where applicable, receipt of the deposit.
• No Load is dispatched until the required deposit has been received and confirmed.
• If the information proves inaccurate — larger dimensions, heavier weight, undisclosed inoperable unit, inaccessible site — the rate is adjusted. We communicate the adjustment to the Customer and apply it only with their approval; if the Customer does not approve, we may cancel the Load and apply the charges in section 15.

6.Price, deposit, and accessorial charges

The total price is the base linehaul plus any accessorial charges actually incurred. The specific amounts are those stated in the rate confirmation or the invoice.

Accessorial charges are communicated to the Customer as soon as they are known and documented on the invoice with supporting evidence. All prices are in United States dollars.

7.Invoicing and payment terms

Deposit and balance

• The deposit is paid at booking and is non-refundable once the Load is dispatched, per section 15.
• The balance is paid before or at delivery, by the previously agreed method, unless credit terms have been agreed in writing.
• If the Customer fails to pay the balance or to accept the Unit, storage, redelivery, and additional transportation charges apply, along with the lien in section 14.

Customers with credit terms

• Payment terms are those stated on the invoice and run from its issue date.
• The invoice is issued with supporting documentation: signed BOL, POD, and backup for accessorial charges.
• Any dispute over an invoice must be raised in writing within 15 days of receipt, stating the reason. After that period the invoice is deemed accepted. A dispute over part of an invoice does not authorize withholding the rest.

Late payment, collection, and set-off

• Past-due invoices accrue a late charge of 1.5% per month (18% per year) or the maximum rate permitted by New Jersey law, whichever is lower.
• The Customer is responsible for reasonable collection costs, including attorneys' fees and court costs, to the extent permitted by law.
• The Customer may not set off or withhold freight payment on account of a damage or loss claim. Claims are handled separately under section 12.
• We may suspend future services while invoices remain past due.

Assignment of receivables and factoring

We may assign or finance our receivables. Once an assignment is notified, the Customer is discharged only by paying the assignee identified in the notice; payment to anyone else does not extinguish the debt.

Payment methods

We accept bank transfer (ACH or wire), check, and payment apps. We never request payment details through a channel other than our official email addresses (bfriendtransport@gmail.com or bfpoweronly@gmail.com), and we never change our banking details by email without telephone confirmation. If in doubt, verify by calling +1 (954) 899-9436 before transferring. We are not responsible for payments sent to third-party accounts as a result of a fraudulent email not originated by us.

8.Customer obligations and preparation of the Unit

Information and ownership

• Accurately state the make, model, year, VIN or HIN, actual dimensions (length, width, height, and beam), weight, and operating condition of the Unit.
• Disclose in advance whether the Unit is inoperable or cannot move under its own power. Failure to do so triggers additional charges and may prevent loading.
• Evidence that you are the owner or that you have the owner's authorization to tender the Unit, and provide any required documentation (title, registration, marina or port authorization).
• Warrant that you have the right to give us the personal data of third parties (origin and destination contacts) that you provide.

Physical preparation

• Remove or secure loose accessories and protruding items: antennas, mirrors, spoilers, ladders, awnings, lights, covers, tarps, and non-factory equipment.
• Close and lock doors, hatches, windows, and compartments; remove or secure interior contents.
• Leave the tank with as little fuel as possible, and disconnect or secure batteries and propane tanks as applicable regulation requires.
• Winterize or drain water systems where the move takes place in freezing season.
• For boats: remove or secure propellers, ladders, bimini tops, and deck items; secure the boat to the trailer; drain and plug as appropriate.
• Confirm the Customer's own trailer is roadworthy: tires, lights, brakes, chains, and coupling.

Access and attendance

• Ensure safe and lawful truck access at origin and destination. If the equipment cannot access safely, the Customer agrees to meet the driver at a nearby safe location.
• Be present — or designate in writing a person aged 18 or over — at pickup and delivery, to inspect the Unit and sign the BOL.
• Arrange access permits and marina, port, park, or homeowners association authorizations, and pay any related fees.
• Keep the Unit available during the service window. If it becomes unavailable after dispatch, we may cancel and apply the charges in section 15.

9.Personal items, prohibited articles, and hazardous materials

The following may not be placed inside the Unit, among others:

• Weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
• Illegal or restricted substances.
• Hazardous materials (hazmat) in any quantity, absent prior written agreement and the required documentation.
• Live animals, plants, perishable food, or biological material.
• Cash, jewelry, irreplaceable documents, artwork, and items of extraordinary value.
• Any goods whose transportation is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

If we find a prohibited article we may refuse the Load, stop transportation, turn the article over to the competent authority, and charge the resulting costs. The Customer holds us harmless for any consequence of a false or omitted declaration on this point.

10.Pickup and delivery dates

Every pickup or delivery date and window is a good-faith estimate, not a guarantee. Time is not of the essence in this contract unless agreed in writing, identified as a guaranteed Load, and the corresponding charge is paid.

We are not liable for delay or for damages arising from delay — including lost profits, replacement rental, lodging, loss of use, event cancellation, or the Customer's contractual penalties with third parties — where the delay is due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Weather, flooding, hurricanes, snow, ice, fire, and other natural events.
• Traffic, road closures, construction, travel restrictions, and weight enforcement.
• Inspections or detentions by federal, state, or local authorities.
• Marina, port, terminal, shipyard, and crane schedules and availability; port congestion and customs delays.
• Mechanical breakdowns, roadside accidents, and equipment unavailability.
• Hours-of-service rules requiring the driver to rest.
• Customer acts: unit unavailable, site inaccessible, missing documentation, or unpaid balance.
• Force majeure: war, riot, strikes, acts of terrorism, public health emergency, infrastructure failure, or extended utility outage.

We are not responsible for port demurrage, terminal storage, port fees, government inspections, or customs processing.

11.Bill of Lading, inspection, and electronic signature

The BOL is the receipt for the Unit and the transport document. Its terms are incorporated into this agreement and, as to the specific shipment, prevail over these Terms.

Inspection at pickup

• Driver and Customer inspect the Unit and document its condition with photographs from several angles and notes on the BOL.
• All pre-existing damage is recorded. Damage neither noted nor visible in the pickup photographs may be treated as pre-existing where the evidence supports it.
• Inspection may be limited by darkness, rain, snow, mud, or dirt; that is noted on the BOL.

Inspection at delivery

Electronic signature

Signatures captured in the Tow365 app — shipper, receiver, and driver — are valid and binding electronic signatures under the federal E-SIGN Act and the New Jersey Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (N.J.S.A. 12A:12-1 et seq.). The signed PDF and the photographs have the same evidentiary value as a paper document. The parties agree to transact electronically.

12.Cargo liability and claims procedure

Scope of liability

Where we act as the carrier, our liability for loss of or damage to the Unit is governed by the Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 14706) and is limited to the lesser of: (a) the reasonable cost of repair, (b) the actual market value of the Unit immediately before the damage, or (c) the released value stated on the rate confirmation or the BOL. Absent a declared value, the limit of our cargo insurance policy in force for that shipment applies. Liability never exceeds the actual proven damage.

Exclusions

Neither the Carrier nor the actual carrier is liable for:

• Pre-existing damage not documented at pickup, or normal wear and tear from use and age.
• Mechanical, electrical, or electronic failures not caused by the transportation, including discharged or damaged batteries.
• Damage to suspension, steering, alignment, brakes, wheel bearings, exhaust, or undercarriage.
• Awnings, bimini tops, tarps, covers, convertible tops, and canvas or vinyl accessories.
• Antennas, mirrors, ladders, spoilers, and protruding or non-factory-mounted accessories.
• Aftermarket electronic equipment not installed at the factory.
• Damage from water intrusion or leaks, moisture, mold, or mildew on units transported uncovered.
• Freeze damage, including burst plumbing due to lack of winterization.
• Damage from road debris or flying objects in open transport: stones, gravel, projectiles.
• Inherent vice of the Unit, manufacturing defect, prior corrosion, or inadequate factory tie-down points.
• Damage arising from an act or omission of the Customer, shipper, or consignee, including loading or securing performed by them.
• Acts of God and force majeure: storm, hail, flood, fire, tornado, earthquake, civil disturbance, or act of public authority.
• Personal items left inside, per section 9.
• Damage to units that cannot be safely loaded or unloaded due to their own condition, where that condition was not disclosed.

How to file a claim

1. Note it on the BOL at the time of delivery, signed by the driver and the receiver. This is the most important step.
2. Notify us within 24 hours, both the Carrier and the actual carrier, by writing to bfriendtransport@gmail.com with the load or order number.
3. Send photographs and a repair estimate within 10 days of delivery. These deadlines exist to process the claim quickly and do not shorten the statutory periods in the next points.
4. File a written claim within nine (9) months of the delivery date, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 370. The claim must identify the shipment, describe the damage or loss, and demand a specified sum.
5. If the claim is declined, legal action must be commenced within two (2) years and one (1) day from the date of the written declination.

• Do not repair or dispose of the Unit before the insurer or surveyor can inspect it; doing so may void the claim.
• Required documentation: pickup and delivery BOLs, photographs from both moments, two independent repair shop estimates, purchase invoice or proof of value, and the transportation invoice.
• Payment of a claim may be conditioned on tender of the salvage where the settlement is for a total loss.
• A pending claim does not entitle you to withhold freight payment (49 CFR § 370.9).
• Where the actual carrier is a third party, we manage and support the claim, but the decision belongs to that carrier and its insurer.

13.Insurance

• We maintain the auto liability and cargo coverage required by federal regulation, and workers' compensation where applicable.
• We provide a certificate of insurance (COI) at the Customer's request before dispatch.
• Cargo insurance covers damage occurring during transportation within the policy limits and subject to its exclusions; it is not all-risk coverage on the Unit.
• We strongly recommend the Customer maintain their own policy on the Unit. For units of extraordinary value, the value must be declared in writing before dispatch and the corresponding coverage agreed, which may carry an additional charge.

14.Detention, storage, lien, and unaccepted units

• Free waiting time at origin and destination is as agreed in the rate confirmation; absent agreement, two (2) hours per stop. Beyond that, detention applies.
• If there is no one to receive at delivery, the balance is not paid, or the site is inaccessible, we may place the Unit in secure storage at the Customer's cost and risk and charge for transfer, storage, and redelivery.
• Carrier's lien: we retain a lien over the Unit and related documents for any unpaid amount — linehaul, accessorials, storage, and collection costs — until paid in full, to the extent permitted by law.
• If the Unit remains unclaimed and unpaid, we may enforce the lien and dispose of it following the procedure and notice periods required by New Jersey law or by the law of the state where it is located. Proceeds are applied to the debt; any surplus is held for the Customer and any shortfall remains due.

15.Cancellation, rescheduling, and dry runs

• Before dispatch: the Customer may cancel free of charge and the deposit is refunded, less costs already incurred on the Customer's account (permits, temporary plates, escorts already engaged).
• After dispatch or after a carrier is assigned: the deposit is non-refundable.
• TONU / dry run: if the truck arrives and the Unit is not available, is not in a condition to be loaded, the site is inaccessible, or the Customer refuses the shipment for reasons unrelated to the carrier's performance, the agreed TONU charge applies or, failing that, the costs actually incurred.
• Rescheduling: handled subject to equipment availability and may change the rate; rescheduling requested with less than 24 hours' notice may carry a charge.
• Cancellation by the Carrier: we may cancel a Load for safety reasons, supervening impossibility, non-payment, or a Customer misstatement. In that case we refund amounts collected and not applied, less costs already incurred, and our liability is limited to that refund.

16.Towing and wrecker services in New Jersey

Where we provide towing or wrecker services in New Jersey, we comply with the Predatory Towing Prevention Act (N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq.) and the Division of Consumer Affairs rules on towing and storage services (N.J.A.C. 13:45A-31). In particular:

• We disclose towing, recovery, and storage rates before providing the service, and supply them in writing on request.
• We do not charge excessive fees or for services not rendered, and we itemize every charge on the invoice.
• For non-consensual tows, we comply with the owner-notice obligations and with access to the vehicle and personal belongings required by regulation.
• We accept the payment methods the law requires us to accept for non-consensual tows.
• We inform the consumer of their right to complain to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

Where towing is provided in another state, that state's mandatory rules apply.

17.Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, and without prejudice to cargo liability governed by section 12:

• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages, including lost profits, loss of use, loss of business, reputational harm, or rental or lodging costs, even if we were advised of the possibility.
• Our total aggregate liability to the Customer for any cause connected with a Load will not exceed the linehaul actually paid for that Load, except liability for damage to or loss of the Unit, which is governed by section 12 and its limits.
• No limitation in this section applies to willful misconduct, fraud, gross negligence, death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any liability the law declares non-limitable.

18.Indemnification

The Customer will hold us harmless — along with our affiliates, employees, drivers, and subcontracted carriers — from any claim, fine, loss, cost, and reasonable attorneys' fee arising from:

• Inaccurate, incomplete, or false information about the Unit, its weight, condition, or ownership.
• Personal items, prohibited goods, or undeclared hazmat inside the Unit.
• The Customer's breach of these conditions or of applicable regulation.
• Third-party claims — actual owner, lienholder, marina, consignee — arising from tendering the Unit without proper authorization.
• Overweight or missing-permit fines attributable to data declared by the Customer.

We will hold the Customer harmless from third-party claims for personal injury or damage to the property of others caused by our negligence in performing the service, to the extent of our liability.

19.Regulatory compliance

• We operate in accordance with FMCSA and Department of Transportation regulation, including hours-of-service rules and electronic logging device (ELD) use, and with the federally required alcohol and controlled substances programs.
• The driver will not exceed lawful driving limits even where that affects an estimated date; safety prevails over punctuality.
• The Customer is responsible for the accuracy of the declared weight. Overweight or over-dimension fines arising from inaccurate data are passed through to the Customer.
• Oversize permits and escorts are arranged and billed according to the route and the states traversed.
• Both parties will comply with applicable sanctions, export control, and anti-corruption rules.

20.Confidentiality and personal data

Each party will treat the other's non-public commercial information — rates, customer lists, margins, terms — as confidential and will not disclose it except to those who need it to perform the service, or where required by law. This obligation survives for two years from the last Load.

Personal data processing is governed by the Privacy Policy. The Customer represents that it has a lawful basis to give us the third-party contact data it provides and that it has informed those people the data will be processed to perform the transport.

21.Non-circumvention

Where we introduce a carrier to the Customer, or a customer to a carrier, the counterparty agrees not to contract directly with that third party, for the same lanes or loads, for twelve (12) months from the last Load we were involved in, absent written agreement. This clause does not affect properly evidenced pre-existing relationships and does not restrain competition beyond what is reasonable to protect our business.

22.Governing law and dispute resolution

Governing law

These Terms and any dispute arising from them or from the services are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its conflict of laws rules, and by federal law where mandatory, in particular the Carmack Amendment and FMCSA regulation.

Pre-dispute negotiation

Before commencing any formal proceeding, the affected party will give written notice of the dispute to gerenciafabianbf@gmail.com describing the claim and the relief sought. The parties will negotiate in good faith for 30 days. This step does not toll the deadlines in section 12.

Binding arbitration

Carve-outs from arbitration

• Claims qualifying for a New Jersey small claims court, while pursued individually there.
• Actions seeking injunctive or emergency relief, or enforcing the lien in section 14.
• Actions to collect unpaid invoices.
• Any dispute the law declares non-arbitrable. In particular, if a party is a transportation worker within the section 1 exemption of the Federal Arbitration Act, their dispute is not submitted to arbitration under that Act and will be resolved in the courts identified below.

Jurisdiction

For anything not arbitrable, the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New Jersey and waive any objection to venue or forum convenience.

Time limit for claims

Except for the mandatory periods in section 12 and any other non-waivable statutory period, any action arising from these Terms must be commenced within one (1) year of the event giving rise to it, or it is time-barred.

23.General provisions

• Relationship of the parties: independent contractors. Nothing creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship.
• Assignment: the Customer may not assign this agreement without our written consent. We may assign it to an affiliate or to an acquirer of the business, and may assign our receivables.
• Severability: if a clause is invalid or unenforceable, it will be construed as close as possible to the parties' intent or treated as not written, and the rest remains fully in force.
• No waiver: tolerating a breach does not waive the right to enforce it later.
• Entire agreement: these Terms, together with the documents in section 1, are the complete agreement and supersede all prior communications on the same subject.
• Amendments: we may update these Terms by publishing a new version at this address. Changes apply to Loads accepted after publication; Loads already dispatched are governed by the version in force at dispatch.
• Notices: valid by email to each party's contact addresses, and by postal mail to the address in section 24.
• Force majeure: neither party is liable for a failure caused by an event beyond its reasonable control, for as long as it lasts and provided it gives prompt notice.
• Survival: the sections on payment, claims, limitation of liability, indemnification, confidentiality, governing law, and disputes survive termination.
• Language: these Terms are published in Spanish and English. In case of any discrepancy in interpretation, the English version prevails; the Spanish version is offered to aid understanding.
• Headings: for reference only and do not affect interpretation.

24.Contact

• Best Friend Transport LLC — 503 Garfield Ave, Apt 601, Jersey City, NJ 07305, USA
• Operations and quotes: bfriendtransport@gmail.com · bfpoweronly@gmail.com
• Legal matters, claims, and formal notices: gerenciafabianbf@gmail.com
• Phone: +1 (954) 899-9436
• Identifiers: USDOT 4241168 · MC 1642448 · EIN 99-3027667

Related documents: Platform Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.