Legal Definitions - contents unknown

CONTENTS UNKNOWN

Contents unknown is a statement that is added to a bill of lading to indicate that the carrier is not aware of what is inside the shipped containers. This phrase is used by carriers to limit their liability for any damage to the goods that are being shipped. Another term that is used in this context is "shipper's load and count."

Example 1: A company is shipping a container of goods to another country. The carrier adds the phrase "contents unknown" to the bill of lading to indicate that they are not aware of what is inside the container.

Example 2: A trucking company is transporting a shipment of goods from one state to another. The carrier adds the phrase "shipper's load and count" to the bill of lading to indicate that the shipper is responsible for loading and counting the goods.

The examples illustrate how the phrases "contents unknown" and "shipper's load and count" are used in the context of shipping goods. The carrier adds these phrases to the bill of lading to limit their liability for any damage to the goods that are being shipped. By doing so, the carrier is indicating that they are not responsible for any damage that may occur during the shipping process.