Transport & logistics
Transport & Logistics Contract Lawyers
Fixed-fee carriage, subcontractor, warehousing and chain of responsibility documents for freight and logistics businesses across Australia.
Know what you need? Request a fixed-fee quote and upload your documents. Not sure of scope? Book a short call with a senior lawyer instead.
In short
Envision Legal prepares and reviews the commercial contracts transport, freight and logistics businesses run on — carriage terms, owner-driver and subcontractor agreements, warehousing and 3PL contracts — and advises on chain of responsibility. Fixed fees; contracts and compliance only, no injury or litigation work.
Margins in transport are thin and the risks are real: damaged freight, late payment, subcontractor disputes and regulator attention. Clear contracts are the cheapest risk control you have.
Who we act for
- Road freight operators and fleet owners
- Couriers, last-mile and on-demand delivery businesses
- Freight forwarders and customs brokers
- Warehousing, 3PL and fulfilment providers
- Businesses that engage carriers to move their goods
Contracts we draft, review and negotiate
Carriage and freight terms
Customer terms covering rates, surcharges, liability caps, claim time limits, dangerous goods, insurance and payment — drafted with the Australian Consumer Law in mind.
Owner-driver and subcontractor agreements
Agreements for owner-drivers and subcontract carriers, taking account of state regimes such as Chapter 6 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) and the Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005 (Vic), and the Fair Work framework for road transport contractors. See contractor vs subcontractor.
Warehousing, 3PL and fulfilment agreements
Service scope, KPIs, stock risk, liens, insurance and exit arrangements.
Customer and tender contracts
Review of major shipper contracts and tender terms before you commit to them.
Chain of responsibility
Aligning contracts, schedules and policies with the primary duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, so commercial terms do not push drivers into unsafe practices.
Equipment, fleet and supplier contracts
Leasing, maintenance, telematics and software agreements.
How we work
- Fixed fees, always.
- Senior lawyers only.
- Commercial work only. We do not act in accident, injury or litigation matters.
- One business day. We respond to every enquiry within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
What contracts does a transport or logistics business need?
Usually customer carriage or freight terms, subcontractor and owner-driver agreements, warehousing or 3PL agreements, supplier and equipment agreements, and employment contracts — plus chain of responsibility policies that sit alongside them.
What is chain of responsibility?
Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, everyone in the supply chain who can influence heavy vehicle safety — consignors, loaders, schedulers, operators and others — has a primary duty to ensure safety so far as reasonably practicable. Contracts that impose unrealistic delivery times can create exposure, so terms and practices need to align.
Can you limit our liability for lost or damaged freight?
Generally yes, within limits. Carriage terms can cap liability, set claim time limits and require customers to insure — but exclusions must be drafted with the Australian Consumer Law and unfair contract terms regime in mind.
Do you handle truck accident or injury claims?
No. Our transport work is commercial contracts and compliance advice only. We do not act in personal injury, accident or litigation matters.
Related pages
Two ways to start
Get a fixed fee before any work starts.
Answer a few short questions, attach your documents if you have them, and a senior lawyer replies with the scope and the price.
Know what you need? Request a fixed-fee quote and upload your documents. Not sure of scope? Book a short call with a senior lawyer instead.