These Terms and Conditions ("Shipper Terms") govern your use of The Carrier Hub platform as a shipper. By registering as a shipper, you agree to be bound by these Shipper Terms, our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, and Payment Terms (together, the "Agreement").
1. Definitions
"Platform" means the online freight platform operated by The Carrier Hub Ltd at www.thecarrierhub.com. "Shipper" means any individual or business registered on the Platform to post loads for collection and delivery. "Load" means a freight consignment posted by you on the Platform. "Carrier" means a registered carrier who bids on and accepts your Load.
2. Eligibility and Registration
To register as a Shipper, you must be at least 18 years of age and provide accurate business registration details. An active Shipper subscription is required to post loads and receive bids. Shipper plans are available starting from £79/month (inclusive of VAT where applicable). You may browse the Platform and view your account without an active subscription.
2a. Subscription Cancellation and Renewal (DMCCA 2025)
In compliance with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), the following subscription terms apply:
- Cancellation: You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No partial-month refunds are issued.
- Renewal reminders: We will send you an email reminder at least 3 days before your subscription renews, confirming the renewal date, the amount that will be charged, and how to cancel.
- Easy cancellation: Cancellation is available in one step via your account settings. You do not need to contact us to cancel.
- Cooling-off period: If you are a consumer (not acting in the course of a business), you have a 14-day right to cancel a new subscription from the date of purchase under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. This right does not apply once you have used the subscription to post a load, as you will be deemed to have requested immediate performance of the service.
3. Posting Loads
When posting a Load, you must provide accurate information including collection and delivery addresses, goods description, weight, dimensions, value of goods, and any special handling requirements. In accordance with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (as amended by the DMCCA 2024), all material information about a Load must be disclosed at the time of posting. Omitting material information that would affect a Carrier's decision to bid is an unfair commercial practice and may result in account suspension.
You must not post Loads that:
- Contain prohibited or illegal goods (see our Acceptable Use Policy)
- Are fictitious or posted without genuine intent to ship
- Misrepresent the nature, weight, or dimensions of the goods
- Require specialist handling not disclosed in the Load description
You are responsible for ensuring goods are properly packaged and labelled for transport.
3a. Proximity Alerts
When posting a Load, you may configure a proximity alert radius (2, 5, or 10 miles) for the load. When the assigned Carrier's GPS position comes within this radius of the pickup or delivery address, you will receive an automated email and in-app notification. This feature is provided as a convenience only; The Carrier Hub does not guarantee the accuracy of GPS tracking data and is not liable for any loss arising from reliance on proximity alerts.
3b. Quote Requests
You may send personal invitations to specific Carriers to quote on your Load. Quote request invitations are valid for 48 hours from the time they are sent. The invited Carrier will receive an email and in-app notification. If the Carrier does not respond within 48 hours, the invitation expires automatically. Sending a quote request does not prevent other Carriers from submitting bids on your Load.
4. Accepting Bids
You may accept any Bid submitted by a Carrier. Upon acceptance, you enter into a binding contract with that Carrier for the carriage of your goods. The Carrier Hub is not a party to this contract and acts solely as a technology intermediary.
5. Payment
Upon accepting a Bid, you will be directed to Stripe's secure checkout to complete payment. The Platform uses Stripe's Destination Charges model: your payment is processed by Stripe and the funds are designated for the Carrier's Stripe Connect account from the moment of payment. The Carrier Hub does not hold, pool, or control these funds at any point.
Once the Carrier uploads a valid Proof of Delivery (POD), payment is released automatically and immediately to the Carrier by Stripe. There is no manual review window and no platform approval step. By completing payment, you authorise this automatic release process. See our Payment Terms for full details.
Important: Before making payment, the Platform will confirm whether the Carrier has completed their Stripe Connect payout account setup. If the Carrier has not completed onboarding, payment will be unavailable and you will be directed to contact the Carrier to complete their setup.
6. Cancellation
Cancellation terms are set out in our Refund and Cancellation Policy. You may cancel a Load before a Bid is accepted without charge. Cancellation after Bid acceptance may incur charges.
7. Disputes
Because payment is released automatically upon POD upload, the Platform cannot reverse or suspend payment releases after a POD has been submitted. If you have a concern about a delivery, damage to goods, or non-delivery, you should:
- Contact the Carrier directly using the in-app messaging system to attempt resolution.
- Raise a formal concern through the Platform using the "Raise Concern" button on your load detail page. This creates a logged record of your concern.
- Use an independent ADR service if direct resolution is not possible. Available services include: IDRS Ltd (idrs.london) for commercial freight and logistics disputes; CIArb (ciarb.org) for higher-value commercial arbitration; RHA Dispute Resolution Service (rha.uk.net) for road haulage disputes; and the Small Claims Court (moneyclaim.gov.uk) for claims up to £10,000. See our Payment Terms (Section 10) for the full ADR signposting table.
The Carrier Hub is not a party to disputes between Shippers and Carriers and does not adjudicate them. We will facilitate communication between the parties where possible. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, and applicable consumer protection legislation are unaffected.
8. HMRC Platform Reporting (DAC7)
The Carrier Hub is a reporting platform operator within the meaning of the Income Tax (Digital Platform Reporting) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/817). As a Shipper, you are not a "seller" for the purposes of these regulations (as you are purchasing transport services, not providing them). However, you should be aware that the Carriers you engage through the Platform may have their income reported to HMRC by The Carrier Hub under these regulations.
9. Limitation of Liability
Our liability to you is limited as set out in our Limitation of Liability statement. We are not responsible for loss or damage to goods in transit, delays caused by the Carrier, or the Carrier's failure to perform.
10. Governing Law
These Shipper Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
11. Changes
We may update these Terms at any time. We will give you at least 30 days' notice of material changes by email or prominent notice on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and cancel your subscription before the effective date.
12. Platform Status -- Technology Intermediary Only
12.1 Platform Status
The Carrier Hub is a technology platform. It is not an employment agency, employment business, or labour provider as defined under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 or the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/3319). The Platform does not introduce, supply, or provide workers or labour to any person.
12.2 Carrier Status Acknowledgement
By using the Platform to engage Carriers, you acknowledge and agree that:
(a) Carriers are independent businesses. All Carriers registered on the Platform operate as genuinely independent businesses -- self-employed sole traders, partnerships, or incorporated companies. They are not employees, workers (within the meaning of section 230(3)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996), or agency workers of The Carrier Hub or of you.
(b) No employment relationship is created. Accepting a Bid from a Carrier, or entering into a Dedicated Run arrangement, does not create any employment relationship, worker relationship, or agency relationship between you and the Carrier or between you and The Carrier Hub. You do not acquire any employer obligations towards Carriers by virtue of your use of the Platform.
(c) The Platform does not supply labour. The Platform facilitates the matching of your freight transport requirements with independent transport businesses. The Carrier Hub does not supply, introduce, or provide workers or labour to you within the meaning of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 or the Conduct Regulations 2003.
(d) Dedicated Runs are commercial service contracts. Where you post a Dedicated Run (an exclusive vehicle and operator reserved for a fixed service duration), you are entering into a commercial contract for freight transport services with an independent carrier business. This arrangement does not constitute the supply of labour, the provision of a worker, or any arrangement regulated under employment agency legislation.
(e) IR35 and off-payroll working. Where a Carrier is an incorporated company (a personal service company), you may have obligations under the off-payroll working rules (Chapter 10, Part 2, Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, commonly referred to as "IR35") if the engagement would be characterised as employment but for the intermediary company. You are responsible for making your own status determination and for any tax liability arising from it. The Carrier Hub accepts no responsibility for your IR35 compliance position.
(f) Your compliance obligations. You are responsible for ensuring that your use of the Platform and your contracts with Carriers comply with all applicable laws, including health and safety legislation, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and any sector-specific requirements applicable to your business.
If you have any questions about the legal nature of your arrangements with Carriers, including employment status or IR35 implications, you should seek independent legal advice.
Legal Disclaimer: This document is provided for informational purposes. The Carrier Hub Ltd recommends that you seek independent legal advice if you have questions about your rights and obligations.