Free carrier意思

"Free carrier" is a term used in logistics and supply chain management, and it refers to the point at which the seller or shipper is no longer responsible for the transportation of goods and the buyer or consignee takes over responsibility. In other words, it is the place or location where the seller's responsibility for the goods ends, and the buyer's responsibility begins.

The term "free carrier" is also used in Incoterms, which are a set of rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international transactions. The Incoterms rules specify when the risk of loss or damage to the goods passes from the seller to the buyer, as well as who is responsible for paying for transportation and other costs associated with getting the goods to their destination.

There are different Incoterms that use the term "free carrier," including:

• FCA (Free Carrier): This Incoterm requires the seller to deliver the goods to the buyer at the named place, and the buyer is responsible for arranging for the transport of the goods from that point.
• CPT (Carriage Paid To): In this Incoterm, the seller is responsible for paying the freight charges to deliver the goods to the named place, but the risk of loss or damage to the goods passes to the buyer when the goods are delivered to the carrier.
• CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To): Similar to CPT, the seller is responsible for paying the freight charges and arranging for insurance for the goods, but the risk of loss or damage to the goods passes to the buyer when the goods are delivered to the carrier.

In all of these Incoterms, the "free carrier" point is the location where the seller's responsibility for the goods ends, and the buyer's responsibility begins. The specific terms of the agreement between the buyer and seller will determine who is responsible for what costs and responsibilities beyond this point.