Respect the law
Contracts and instructions must respect the law, including safety, working hours, rest and payment obligations.
MOVETHICS
Practical guide for carriers
This guide does not give a score. It helps you review your transport relationships.
Plan working hours and report incidents
Plan nights, weekends and last-minute changes without assuming permanent availability. Each party must provide reliable information and report incidents affecting the service as early as possible.
Take responsibility for what you control
Do not automatically pass costs or penalties to someone who could not reasonably prevent the problem. Using an intermediary does not remove responsibility.
Do not delay payment with extra paperwork
Proof of delivery should show that the job is done. Internal approvals and unnecessary documents must not add artificial delays to invoicing or payment. Keep disputed claims separate from undisputed amounts.
Record waiting time and agree how it is handled
A waiting driver and vehicle cannot carry out another job. Record and communicate waiting time outside the carrier’s control, and agree its operational and financial treatment in advance.
Agree penalties before accepting the job
Significant penalties must be known and agreed before accepting the job. Later changes require agreement. Penalties must have a cause, evidence, a proportionate amount and a genuine opportunity to challenge them.
Match long-term investment with real commitment
If you require dedicated vehicles, staff or reserved capacity, offer reasonable stability and protection when work is reduced or stopped.
Know who carries the goods
Subcontracting can be useful. Keep the actual carrier identifiable and require an agreed, controlled and traceable process for further subcontracting.
Allow unsafe or unlawful work to be refused
A person or company must be able to refuse unsafe, unlawful or substantially changed work without automatic retaliation. Clear, lawful contractual commitments still apply.
Share the effort of greener transport fairly
Cleaner transport may require investment and extra work. Do not automatically place all additional costs and risks on the party least able to bear them.