These Membership Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern membership in FreightConnect – Global Trade Alliance (“FreightConnect”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
By submitting a membership application, the applicant (“Member”, “you” or “your”) confirms that they have read and agreed to these Terms.
1. Membership Application
1.1 Membership is open to eligible businesses, including Trade Partners and Freight-Forwarding Members, subject to FreightConnect’s application and verification process.
1.2 All information provided in the membership application must be accurate, complete and current.
1.3 The applicant confirms that the person submitting the application is authorised to represent the company.
2. Verification & Approval
2.1 FreightConnect follows a strict verification and KYC process to maintain the quality, credibility and integrity of the Alliance.
2.2 FreightConnect may review company registration information, licences, business documents, business activity evidence, references and other information reasonably required to verify the applicant.
2.3 Submission of an application does not guarantee membership.
2.4 FreightConnect may approve, request additional information from, defer or decline an application at its discretion based on its membership and verification criteria.
2.5 Members must notify FreightConnect if material information provided during the application process changes.
3. Membership & Alliance Participation
3.1 Approved Members may receive access to relevant FreightConnect platforms, directories, business opportunities, referrals, member-to-member connections and other benefits applicable to their membership.
3.2 Membership benefits may differ according to the Member’s category, membership plan and services available at the time.
3.3 FreightConnect may introduce, modify, suspend or discontinue features or benefits where reasonably necessary.
3.4 Membership does not create a partnership, joint venture, agency, employment or legal representation relationship between FreightConnect and any Member.
4. Member Directory & Company Information
4.1 Approved Members may have certain company information displayed within FreightConnect’s member directory or other member-facing areas.
4.2 Verification documents, business references and other information submitted solely for verification will not be displayed in the Member Directory or public company profile.
4.3 Members are responsible for ensuring that information they provide for publication is accurate and appropriate for sharing.
4.4 Member information may be used to facilitate legitimate business connections and opportunities within the FreightConnect community.
4.5 Members must not copy, download, scrape, reproduce, sell, distribute, retain or use the FreightConnect member directory or member information to create or support a competing database, network, directory or commercial service.
4.6 Members must not use FreightConnect or Member information to send spam, unsolicited bulk messages or repeated unwanted sales or promotional communications to other Members.
5. Business Opportunities & Introductions
5.1 FreightConnect may facilitate introductions, referrals, trade opportunities, freight requirements and other business connections between Members and, where applicable, non-member users.
FreightConnect may also use relevant Member and business enquiry information to identify suitable business opportunities, potential counterparties and prospective Members.
5.2 Members are responsible for evaluating the suitability, credibility and commercial terms of any company or opportunity before proceeding.
5.3 FreightConnect does not guarantee that an introduction, lead, quotation, shipment, purchase, sale or other business opportunity will result in a transaction.
6. Member-to-Member Transactions
6.1 Members remain solely responsible for their own commercial dealings with other Members and with any third-party companies or service providers they engage.
6.2 FreightConnect is not a party to contracts, quotations, purchase orders, shipments, payments or other commercial agreements entered into between Members.
6.3 Members are responsible for their own pricing, contracts, payment terms, documentation, licences, insurance, customs compliance, shipment arrangements and other commercial obligations.
6.4 Any dispute concerning a commercial transaction between Members must be resolved directly between the parties involved. FreightConnect may, where appropriate, intervene to facilitate communication and attempt to resolve the dispute, including issuing warnings or taking appropriate membership action where necessary. However, FreightConnect does not provide compensation or assume financial responsibility for unpaid invoices, losses or commercial disputes.
7. Professional Conduct
Members must:
- Conduct themselves professionally and honestly.
- Provide accurate business information.
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations.
- Respect the confidentiality of information received through FreightConnect.
- Avoid misleading, fraudulent or deceptive activities.
- Not misuse FreightConnect or its member community.
Members must not use FreightConnect to facilitate illegal activities, fraud, sanctions violations, money laundering, harassment, spam or other unlawful conduct.
8. Confidentiality & Non-Circumvention
8.1 Members may receive confidential or commercially sensitive information through introductions, opportunities or communications within FreightConnect.
8.2 Members must not disclose or misuse such information without appropriate authorisation.
8.3 Members must not use information obtained through FreightConnect to deliberately circumvent FreightConnect’s legitimate role in facilitating an introduction, opportunity or commercial connection where such conduct is intended to deprive FreightConnect of an applicable agreed fee or benefit.
8.4 This clause does not prevent Members from conducting legitimate business with companies they already knew independently of FreightConnect.
9. Fees & Membership Payments
9.1 Applicable membership fees must be paid according to the membership plan and invoice issued by FreightConnect.
9.2 Membership fees are separate from any commercial transaction, freight charge, commission or payment between Members unless expressly stated otherwise.
9.3 Membership fees and applicable payment terms may vary according to the membership plan or promotional terms offered at the time of application.
9.4 Unless otherwise stated in writing, membership fees are non-refundable once membership has been activated.
10. Freight-Forwarder Members
10.1 Freight-Forwarder Members must maintain the licences, registrations, authorisations and other requirements applicable to the services they provide.
10.2 FreightConnect may verify the services and capabilities declared by a Freight-Forwarder Member.
10.3 Where a Freight-Forwarder Member provides services through established contracted partners, the Member remains responsible for accurately representing its ability to arrange or provide those services.
10.4 Member Payment Recovery Support is available only to eligible Freight-Forwarding Members who have separately opted in to the service. This service is subject to separate Payment Recovery Support Terms & Conditions, including applicable eligibility requirements, scope, limitations, exclusions and procedures.
11. Suspension & Termination
FreightConnect may suspend or terminate membership where a Member:
- Provides materially false or misleading information.
- Fails required verification.
- Engages in fraud or unlawful conduct.
- Seriously breaches these Terms.
- Misuses member information or the FreightConnect platform.
- Engages in conduct that materially harms the credibility, security or integrity of the Alliance.
- Fails to meet applicable membership requirements.
FreightConnect may also decline renewal or discontinue a membership in accordance with its applicable membership terms.
12. Intellectual Property
All FreightConnect trademarks, branding, website content, platform materials, databases, designs and other intellectual property belonging to FreightConnect remain the property of FreightConnect or their respective owners.
Members may not reproduce, modify, distribute or commercially exploit FreightConnect intellectual property without prior written permission.
13. Limitation of Responsibility
FreightConnect provides a platform for business networking, introductions, opportunities and logistics/trade connections.
FreightConnect conducts strict due diligence before approving any Member, including verification of the company’s legal/business information and evidence of genuine business activity. Membership is granted only after the applicant has successfully completed FreightConnect’s verification and approval process. While this process is designed to maintain a trusted and credible Alliance, Members remain independently responsible for their own business activities and transactions.
FreightConnect does not guarantee:
- The accuracy of every statement made by a Member.
- The financial standing or performance of a Member.
- Successful completion of a transaction.
- Payment by a buyer or seller.
- Shipment performance.
- Cargo condition.
- Customs clearance.
- Delivery times.
- Any particular commercial result.
Members should conduct appropriate due diligence before entering into transactions.
14. Changes to These Terms
FreightConnect may update these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be made available through the FreightConnect website or member platform.
Continued membership after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, subject to applicable law.
15. Disputes Between FreightConnect and Members
Any dispute between FreightConnect and a Member will first be addressed directly between the parties through good-faith communication and reasonable efforts to resolve the matter.