When you finalize a contract with a transportation service provider, it’s easy to assume that every term is fixed and mutually agreed upon. But there’s one often-overlooked clause that can quietly shift the balance: “Subject to Carrier Rules Tariff.”
This clause means that your contract automatically incorporates the carrier’s Rules Tariff, a separate document the carrier controls and can update unilaterally at any time. By agreeing to this, you may be giving the provider the ability to:
- Add or increase accessorial charges
- Modify rules related to dimensional weight, cubic capacity, or linear feet
- Change operational requirements without renegotiating your contract
In short, the Rules Tariff acts as a living extension of your agreement, but only one party has the power to revise it.
Before signing any transportation contract, review this clause carefully. You can request modifications or remove it entirely. Doing so ensures that the terms you negotiate are the terms that stay in place, not ones that can shift without your knowledge.