SME transport insurance:
secure your goods in transit
Transporter, c’est exposer vos biens à des pertes invisibles
Theft, breakage, humidity, delay: an incident can ruin a profit margin.
Whether an SME is shipping equipment, parts, finished products or prototypes, transit is a risky moment.
A damaged package, a stolen pallet, a delivery error or an incident during transport can create direct costs, penalties, and a loss of customer confidence.
Many companies believe that the carrier “takes care of everything”.
In reality, the carrier's liability and possible compensation are regulated and often limited, depending on the mode of transport and contractual conditions.
Transport insurance aims to cover goods in transit, according to the contract, and to secure your flows in French-speaking Switzerland and internationally.
Transport insurance: supplementing what the carrier's liability does not cover
The right choices involve Incoterms, evidence, and actual flows.
Transport insurance aims to protect goods during their transit, whether it involves shipments within Switzerland, Europe, or further afield.
It is particularly relevant for SMEs that ship regularly, transport high-value goods, or depend on strict deadlines.
A fundamental point is to distinguish transport insurance from the carrier's liability.
The carrier's liability may be regulated and limited according to the mode of transport, contractual conditions and applicable conventions; it does not guarantee full compensation for the value of the goods.
Transport insurance, on the other hand, aims to compensate the owner of the goods or the insured party, within the limits and conditions of the contract.
What transport insurance typically covers depends on the policy. Contracts may cover "all risks" transport (with exclusions) or cover specific named events.
Guarantees against damage, theft, loss, and certain events occurring during transit are often included, including during logistical stages (loading, unloading, temporary storage) if provided for.
For specific flows, extensions sometimes exist: cold chain break, sensitive goods, trade fair exhibitions, transport of prototypes, or specific packaging.
But these extensions are not automatic: they require precise definitions and proofs.
The vigilance points are very operational.
First, there's the question of "who bears the risk" at each stage, often defined by the commercial contract and Incoterms. An SME may believe it is covered when, contractually, the risk is transferred earlier or later.
Next, the insured's obligations: compliant packaging, labeling, reception procedures, and above all, making reservations upon delivery when damage is visible.
Reporting deadlines may apply, and these must be incorporated into your logistics process.
Thirdly, the frequent exclusions: insufficient packaging, inherent defect of the goods, progressive damage, delays without material damage, or failure to comply with temperature or safety conditions.
Fourth point, franchises and sub-limits: these can vary depending on the type of goods, unit value, mode of transport or destination.
For an SME, choosing the right level of coverage starts with mapping the flows: frequencies, destinations, average and maximum values, types of carriers, and points of breakage (storage, cross-docking, subcontractors).
Next, the contractual arrangements need to be clarified: terms of sale, risk transfers, and responsibilities.
Then, select the formula: trip policy or annual policy, “all risks” coverage or named events, necessary extensions (temperature, temporary storage, exposures).
A useful mini-list includes validating the definition of the insured goods, the points of departure and arrival, the stages covered, the packaging and reservation requirements, the reporting deadlines, and the rules for recourse against the carrier.
Mage & Associates can support SMEs through logistics risk analysis, policy reviews, and clarification of "who bears the risk" in your commercial contracts. The goal is simple: to avoid discovering, after a theft or damage, that the carrier's liability only covers part of the damage, or that the insurance company doesn't pay out due to lack of evidence or proper procedure.
Three major risks covered by transport insurance
Where transport insurance provides the most value.
Damage, breakage and deterioration
Shock, fall, humidity, loss of cold, poor handling: material damage is frequent.
A well-defined transport insurance policy provides compensation according to the contract, with requirements regarding packaging, evidence, and sometimes temperature or traceability.
Theft, disappearance, embezzlement
Theft can occur during temporary storage, loading, or en route.
Contracts often treat burglary, unexplained disappearance, and embezzlement differently.
Documentation and safety measures are crucial for compensation.
Responsibilities and contractual disputes
In the event of a disaster, you must act quickly: reservations, report, deadlines, recourse.
Transport insurance provides a framework for coverage and often facilitates administrative management, depending on the contract, where the sole responsibility of the carrier may leave a balance to be paid.
Damaged goods upon arrival: the procedure saves the profit margin
Realistic fictional example, on a Swiss Romand-Europe flow.
Exemple fictif réaliste.
Une PME industrielle en Suisse romande expédie des pièces sensibles à un client en Europe.
À l’arrivée, le client constate des dommages sur plusieurs cartons. Sans réaction rapide, la PME risque une contestation de facture et une perte commerciale.
La PME active sa procédure: le client formule des réserves à la livraison, prend des photos, conserve l’emballage, et transmet immédiatement les informations.
La PME déclare ensuite le sinistre à son assurance transport avec les documents requis: facture, liste de colisage, photos, preuve de livraison, description de l’emballage, et chronologie.
Un élément déterminant est la qualité des preuves et le respect des délais de déclaration.
L’assureur mandate une analyse et confirme l’intervention selon le contrat, avec application de la franchise. En parallèle, un recours est envisagé contre le transporteur, selon les responsabilités.
La PME peut livrer en urgence une partie de remplacement et préserver la relation client.
La conclusion opérationnelle: l’assurance transport est efficace si la logistique sait documenter. Réserves à la réception, preuves, et processus interne transforment un incident en dossier gérable, au lieu d’un conflit commercial.
