Courier Liability Limits Often Fail Fragile Shipments
International shippers must evaluate extra insurance, as standard carrier caps rarely cover the full replacement cost.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Transportation
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A customer reported that a marble dining table shipped via FedEx from France to Hong Kong arrived completely destroyed. The incident highlights the strict limits on carrier liability for high-value goods transported internationally.
Why it matters
Business operators often rely on standard carrier insurance, but this case underscores that standard liability caps rarely cover the full replacement cost of heavy or fragile equipment. For many shipments, these limitations create significant financial exposure if goods are damaged in transit.
FedEx limits standard liability to 100 US dollars per shipment or 20 US dollars per kilogram for international transport. Heavy consignments are defined as items exceeding 68 kilograms, a threshold that often triggers specific handling protocols.
The players
FedEx
A global courier and logistics company that provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services.
Juno Mak
The recipient who reported receiving damaged goods after an international shipment.
The details
FedEx operates under a liability framework that caps reimbursement based on weight or per-shipment minimums. In cases involving heavy goods like stone furniture, this default protection is often insufficient to cover the replacement cost. Operators should note that standard international shipping agreements typically exclude full-value coverage unless the shipper specifically declares a higher value and pays additional premiums at the time of booking.
Timeline
- 2026-10-28
Juno Mak publicly criticized the delivery condition of the marble table.
Market Landscape
International logistics operators are governed by standardized liability frameworks like the Montreal Convention, which set global expectations for damage claims. This case follows the pattern of carriers enforcing strict, weight-based contractual caps on payout values.
Operators shipping high-value or heavy equipment should review their carrier contracts to see if default liability covers their assets. If the replacement cost exceeds 20 US dollars per kilogram, securing additional insurance or third-party coverage is necessary before dispatch.
The takeaway
Standard carrier coverage is rarely sufficient for specialized or heavy business equipment. Always verify your coverage limits against the declared value of your shipment before transit to avoid absorbing full losses from potential breakage.
Further reading
For context on mitigating risks in your supply chain, visit our Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dimsum Daily.
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Should delivery companies be required to provide higher liability coverage for damaged high-value shipments?
