Can signatures be electronic?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal ESIGN and state electronic transaction laws when parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention.

Is notarization required?

Not typically for commercial trucking agreements. Notarization is only required when a state-specific statute or the parties request an acknowledged document for particular purposes.

What insurance proof is acceptable?

Current certificates of insurance naming required additional insureds and listing policy limits are standard; verify expiration dates and carrier contacts before accepting a carrier.

What if a carrier lacks authority?

Do not engage a carrier that cannot produce valid USDOT/MC numbers and evidence of compliance; doing so risks regulatory penalties and uninsured loss.

How are accessorial charges handled?

Define accessorial types and rates in the agreement, require documentation for charges, and set a dispute resolution process for contested invoices.

Can the agreement be amended later?

Yes. Amendments should be in writing, signed by authorized representatives, and reference the original agreement and effective date of the amendment.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Trucking Services Agreement

Trucking Services Agreement

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Trucking Services Agreement

This Trucking Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of by and between:

Carrier Name Carrier Address Shipper Name Shipper Address

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Carrier is duly authorized and engaged in the business of providing motor carrier transportation and related logistics services; and

WHEREAS, Shipper requires transportation of freight on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the transportation services to be provided by Carrier to Shipper.

SCOPE OF WORK

Carrier shall transport freight on behalf of Shipper in accordance with the instructions issued by Shipper and subject to the terms of this Agreement. Carrier shall provide all personnel, vehicles, equipment, permits and licenses necessary to perform the services described below.

Description of Services and Specific Requirements

PAYMENT TERMS

In consideration for the services rendered by Carrier, Shipper shall pay Carrier the fees and charges set forth below. All sums due shall be payable in United States dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Compensation (per load or flat fee) Payment Schedule Late Payment Fee Invoice Submission Instructions

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue in full force and effect until unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section.

Termination Notice Period

Either party may terminate this Agreement for cause if the other party materially breaches any provision and fails to cure such breach within the notice period specified above. Termination for convenience may be exercised upon providing the required written notice and payment for services performed through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party acknowledges that during the performance of this Agreement it may receive or have access to non-public confidential information of the other party ("Confidential Information"). Each party agrees to hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, to use it only for purposes of performing this Agreement, and not to disclose it to any third party except to employees, agents or subcontractors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those set forth herein. Confidential Information does not include information that is or becomes generally available to the public through no fault of the receiving party or that is required to be disclosed by law, provided the disclosing party is given prompt notice to seek protective relief.

INSURANCE, INDEMNITY, AND LIABILITY

Carrier shall maintain at its expense commercially reasonable automobile liability, cargo, and workers' compensation insurance in amounts sufficient to meet applicable law and customary industry requirements. Carrier shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Shipper from and against any claims, losses, liabilities or expenses arising out of Carrier's negligence, willful misconduct or breach of this Agreement, except to the extent caused by Shipper's negligence. Except as specifically provided herein, neither party shall be liable for consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAW

Carrier represents and warrants that it shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, permits and licensing requirements, including those governing the operation of motor carriers and the transportation of freight. Carrier shall obtain and maintain all permits, operating authority, registrations and endorsements required to perform the services and shall provide proof of such documentation upon reasonable request.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state specified below without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

Governing State

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, together with any attachments, schedules or written amendments executed by both parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, negotiations and communications, whether written or oral. No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of each party.

MISCELLANEOUS

The parties are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall create an agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Notices required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above.

Additional Terms or Special Provisions

Carrier Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Shipper Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Trucking Services Agreement Is and when it’s used

A Trucking Services Agreement is a written contract that defines the business relationship between a freight carrier and a shipper, broker, or third-party logistics provider. It sets out the scope of transportation services, pricing and payment terms, liability and insurance limits, pickup and delivery obligations, cargo handling responsibilities, and dispute resolution procedures. The agreement also addresses regulatory compliance, carrier authority, indemnification, fuel surcharges, detention and demurrage, and termination rights. Well-drafted agreements reduce operational ambiguity and allocate commercial and regulatory risk between the parties.

Why a clear Trucking Services Agreement matters

A precise written agreement protects parties by defining performance standards, financial terms, liability limits, and compliance responsibilities, making claims and audits easier to resolve.

Who typically prepares or signs this agreement

The Trucking Services Agreement is used by commercial shippers, carriers, brokers, and logistics teams to set operational and legal expectations before transportation begins.

Shippers and consignees managing frequent freight moves and contract rates.
Motor carriers and owner-operators documenting service scope, rates, and liability.
Freight brokers and 3PLs coordinating multi-party shipments and billing.

Each party should ensure the person signing has authority to bind the company and that insurance certificates and operating authority numbers are current.

Typical signers and their roles

Logistics Manager

A logistics manager or transportation director signs for shippers and consignees; they confirm pickup/delivery windows, billing contacts, and performance KPIs and can authorize carrier substitutions.

Carrier Executive

An authorized carrier representative (owner-operator, COO, or contracts manager) signs to accept operational terms, insurance obligations, and limitations of liability on behalf of the motor carrier.

Core sections to include in a professional agreement

A robust Trucking Services Agreement includes standard clauses that clarify responsibilities, protect parties, and ensure regulatory compliance across U.S. jurisdictions.

Service Scope

Detailed description of shipment types, origin/destination, equipment required, handling requirements, and service-level expectations including delivery windows and routing authority.

Rates & Payment

Base freight rates, accessorial charges, fuel surcharges, billing frequency, payment terms, late fees, and procedures for invoicing disputes or adjustments.

Insurance & Liability

Required carrier insurance levels, cargo coverage, freight damage liability caps, indemnification obligations, and procedures for filing claims and subrogation.

Regulatory Compliance

Carrier authority, USDOT/MC numbers, compliance with FMCSA rules, hazardous materials handling if applicable, and requirements for driver qualifications and hours of service.

Delays & Accessorials

Definitions and rates for detention, demurrage, layover, reconsignment, storage, and procedures for documenting and approving accessorial charges.

Termination & Disputes

Termination for convenience or breach, dispute resolution method (mediation/arbitration), venue, governing law, and force majeure provisions.

Step-by-step: completing and executing the agreement

Follow this sequential checklist to prepare, review, and finalize the Trucking Services Agreement.

01

Collect data: Gather entity names, USDOT/MC numbers, insurance certificates, and billing contacts.
02

Draft terms: Populate rates, accessorials, delivery requirements, and indemnity language.
03

Internal review: Legal and operations should verify liability limits, regulatory compliance, and pricing.
04

Sign and distribute: Obtain authorized signatures and circulate executed copies to operations and finance.

How execution and routing typically work

A typical execution workflow ensures each stakeholder receives the agreement at the right stage and retains a copy for records.

Upload document: Sender uploads final draft to a document management system and prepares fields.
Add signers: List signers in order and assign signature, initials, and date fields.
Signers authenticate: Signers confirm identity via email link, SMS code, or stronger authentication where required.
Archive and distribute: Platform returns executed PDF with audit trail and notifies all parties.

Digital signing and integration considerations

Choose signing tools that support secure authentication, an audit trail, and integrations with your ERP or TMS.

File formats: PDF, DOCX accepted
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest

Ensure the chosen platform can export signed PDFs, retain audit logs, and integrate with your billing and carrier onboarding systems for operational efficiency.

How to configure an online signing workflow for trucking contracts

Standard workflow settings reduce signer friction and enforce required approvals.

Field	Configuration
Signature order	Sequential or parallel
Authentication	Email, SMS, or KBA
Reminders	Automated after X days
Retention	Export signed PDF and audit trail

Key timing and filing deadlines to track

Track operational and compliance deadlines to avoid billing disruptions, penalties, or loss of rights.

Rate effective date:

The effective date governs invoicing start and any retroactive disputes.

Insurance renewals:

Require updated certificates at least 30 days before expiry.

Claims notice:

Require prompt notice—typically within 7–30 days of loss.

Contract renewals:

Set automatic or manual renewal notice windows as agreed.

Record retention:

Retain executed agreements for required retention periods and audits.

Milestones from negotiation to archive

Use these numbered milestones to monitor progress from draft to long-term storage.

01

Drafting

Produce initial terms and perform internal operations review.

02

Legal review

Legal verifies indemnity, limits, and governing law.

03

Execution

Parties sign; obtain insurance certificates and authority numbers.

04

Archiving

Store executed copy with audit trail and distribute to stakeholders.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using informal email approvals without a signed agreement can create liability gaps.
Failing to require current insurance certificates leads to uncovered loss exposures.
Vague accessorial definitions cause frequent billing disputes and late payments.
Neglecting carrier authority and USDOT verification risks regulatory penalties and cargo detentions.

Commercial and regulatory risks of incomplete or incorrect agreements

Liability exposure: Higher than intended limits

Claim disputes: Lost recovery rights

Regulatory fines: FMCSA or state penalties

Insurance gaps: Denied claims for noncompliance

Operational delays: Detention and demurrage costs

Payment disputes: Back charges and withholding

How this agreement differs from a general services contract

Compare commonly reviewed features to distinguish a Trucking Services Agreement from a general Master Service Agreement used for non-transport services.

Criteria	Trucking Services Agreement	Master Service Agreement
Scope specificity	equipment and routes	broad services
Regulatory content	fmcsa and usdot terms	general compliance
Insurance details	cargo and auto liability	general liability
Operational clauses	accessorials and detention	service-level kpis

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot

Basic vendor pricing and capability differences to consider for executing Trucking Services Agreements; signNow appears first per vendor comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-world scenarios where this agreement is used

Two practical examples show how terms are applied in daily operations and claim scenarios.

Case Study 1

A construction supplier standardized a trucking agreement to include detention fees and equipment specs, reducing billing disputes by 40%

The contract required carriers to submit daily detention logs
After adoption, the supplier shortened dispute resolution cycles and improved on-time deliveries by enforcing contract accessorials.

Case Study 2

A national shipper added strict insurance and cargo valuation clauses to carrier agreements, clarifying claim limits and settlement steps

The carrier provided certificates naming the shipper as additional insured
This clarity accelerated claim payments and reduced uncovered loss exposure during audits.

Frequently asked questions about Trucking Services Agreements

Answers to common questions about execution, enforceability, and best practices for trucking contracts.

Need help? Contact support

Can signatures be electronic?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal ESIGN and state electronic transaction laws when parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention.
Is notarization required?
Not typically for commercial trucking agreements. Notarization is only required when a state-specific statute or the parties request an acknowledged document for particular purposes.
What insurance proof is acceptable?
Current certificates of insurance naming required additional insureds and listing policy limits are standard; verify expiration dates and carrier contacts before accepting a carrier.
What if a carrier lacks authority?
Do not engage a carrier that cannot produce valid USDOT/MC numbers and evidence of compliance; doing so risks regulatory penalties and uninsured loss.
How are accessorial charges handled?
Define accessorial types and rates in the agreement, require documentation for charges, and set a dispute resolution process for contested invoices.
Can the agreement be amended later?
Yes. Amendments should be in writing, signed by authorized representatives, and reference the original agreement and effective date of the amendment.

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