The Man-Caught-In-The-Middle: Conflicting Views of the Role of the 3PL By Henry E. Seaton, Esq. Seaton & Husk

Henry E. Seaton Seaton & Husk, LP 2240 Gallows Rd. Vienna, VA Henry E. Seaton is a graduate of Duke University (A.B. ’70) and Vanderbilt School of Law (J.D. ’70). He has practiced law for 30 years in the Washington D.C. area representing motor carriers of brokers. He is a member of the Vienna, VA based law firm of Seaton & Husk. The firm specializes in freight claims, freight charge collection, contracting issues, carrier representation before the FMCSA and bankruptcy issues. Mr. Seaton writes a monthly column on transportation law for the Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) and is the author of Protecting Motor Carrier Interests in Contracts. He serves as commerce counsel for the National Association of Small Trucking Companies. He was the Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Professional of the Year in 2001 and is a frequent speaker and lecturer regarding cargo claims, freight charges, contracting and risk/insurance issues effecting carriers and brokers. Mr. Seaton can be reached at For articles and other information, please see

LEGAL BASIS Role established by common contract law and statutes of regulation; 49 CFR 371 Role established by common contract law and statutes of regulation; 49 CFR 371 Broker arranges for contracts between buyer and sellers Broker arranges for contracts between buyer and sellers Professional intermediary life insurance agent or real estate broker Professional intermediary life insurance agent or real estate broker Established by contract waiving statutes and regulation under ' 14101(b) Established by contract waiving statutes and regulation under ' 14101(b) Principal enters contracts to provide goods or services, assumes liability and hires subcontractors Principal enters contracts to provide goods or services, assumes liability and hires subcontractors Frequently “broker” is merely substituted for carrier in shipper contracts. Frequently “broker” is merely substituted for carrier in shipper contracts. Broker / Arranger Principal / Provider

GENERAL DUTIES Duty of good faith and due diligence Duty of good faith and due diligence Arranger of transportation Arranger of transportation Brings together buyers and sellers Brings together buyers and sellers Bill of lading is contract of haul Bill of lading is contract of haul Assumes by contract carrier-like duties: Assumes by contract carrier-like duties: (1)Payment of freight charges charges (2) Cargo claim liability (3) Indemnity for BI & PD/”arising out of” (4) Purports to take “possession of cargo” Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger

FREIGHT CHARGES Obligated to transmit upon receipt Obligated to transmit upon receipt Constructive trust or conduit corollary Constructive trust or conduit corollary Can guarantee by carrier payment from retained earnings Can guarantee by carrier payment from retained earnings See also Ontario legislation See also Ontario legislation Assumes primary payment obligation to carriers by contract Assumes primary payment obligation to carriers by contract Protects shipper from carrier payment demands by contract Protects shipper from carrier payment demands by contract Trumps bill of lading recourse Trumps bill of lading recourse Accepts burden of shipper insolvency Accepts burden of shipper insolvency Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger

FREIGHT CLAIMS No primary liability under statute No primary liability under statute Typically warrants to shipper that carrier is financially responsible for paying cargo claims Typically warrants to shipper that carrier is financially responsible for paying cargo claims Gets contingent cargo insurance to cover that warranty Gets contingent cargo insurance to cover that warranty Assumes cargo liability by contract provision or broad indemnity Assumes cargo liability by contract provision or broad indemnity Assumes risk of loss – allows offset which may not be recoupable Assumes risk of loss – allows offset which may not be recoupable Purports to take possession and guarantees condition upon arrival Purports to take possession and guarantees condition upon arrival Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger

OFFSETS Cargo claims filed against carrier Cargo claims filed against carrier Arbitration for economical determination Arbitration for economical determination Broker pays if no insurance and carrier insolvent Broker pays if no insurance and carrier insolvent Shipper offsets against intermediary Shipper offsets against intermediary Constructive trust concept violated Constructive trust concept violated Funds needed to pay non-negligent carriers is withheld by shipper Funds needed to pay non-negligent carriers is withheld by shipper 3PL’s cash flow interrupted 3PL’s cash flow interrupted Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger

VICARIOUS LIABILITY Arranges for services provided by licensed and authorized carrier Arranges for services provided by licensed and authorized carrier Eschews joint venture on prime/subcontractor claims Eschews joint venture on prime/subcontractor claims Broker not on bill of lading as carrier Broker not on bill of lading as carrier Opens door to principal/ subcontractor claims Opens door to principal/ subcontractor claims “Assumption of duty” in contract can be used against in – Schramm v. Foster “Assumption of duty” in contract can be used against in – Schramm v. Foster Contractual indemnity language and purchase of insurance raises settlement demands Contractual indemnity language and purchase of insurance raises settlement demands Contingent auto hard to find and too expensive Contingent auto hard to find and too expensive Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger

“ARISING OUT OF” INDEMNITY & “ADDITIONAL INSURED” Is responsible for carrier selection Is responsible for carrier selection Errors and omissions responsibility for negligent entrustment Errors and omissions responsibility for negligent entrustment Often accepts “arising out of” indemnity including liability for shipper’s negligence not covered by available insurance Often accepts “arising out of” indemnity including liability for shipper’s negligence not covered by available insurance (a) CGL Exclusion for auto(a) CGL Exclusion for auto (b) no auto because not asset based(b) no auto because not asset based Anti-indemnity issues – TX, VA, KS – leaves indemnity for shipper’s negligence unenforceable in broker/carrier contracts Anti-indemnity issues – TX, VA, KS – leaves indemnity for shipper’s negligence unenforceable in broker/carrier contracts Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger Many motor carriers will not and/or cannot offer similar indemnity Many motor carriers will not and/or cannot offer similar indemnity Anti-indemnity statutes may render carrier indemnity void Anti-indemnity statutes may render carrier indemnity void

SHIPPER INSOLVENT Absent guarantee, risk of non-payment is shared with carriers Absent guarantee, risk of non-payment is shared with carriers 3PL has preference defense 3PL has preference defense 3PL must pay unfunded freight charges 3PL must pay unfunded freight charges 3PL is open to full preference charge 3PL is open to full preference charge Principal / Provider Major bankruptcies are forcing 3PLs to rethink Major bankruptcies are forcing 3PLs to rethink accepting freight payment responsibility when customer goes bankrupt Broker / Arranger

3PL INDUSTRY Trust or escrow account protects shipper against double payment Trust or escrow account protects shipper against double payment Property of 3PL is properly segregated in bankruptcy Property of 3PL is properly segregated in bankruptcy Shipper and Carrier interest trump secured lenders Shipper and Carrier interest trump secured lenders Results in FIFO accounting and conflicts with secured lenders Results in FIFO accounting and conflicts with secured lenders Possible breach of fiduciary obligation and D&O liability; lender guarantees Possible breach of fiduciary obligation and D&O liability; lender guarantees Worldpoint, ACI – allows secured lender to frustrate payment to carriers. Worldpoint, ACI – allows secured lender to frustrate payment to carriers. Principal / Provider Broker / Arranger