In the TSL industry, the boundary between the carrier and the freight forwarder can be unclear. For many companies, a key element of their operations is not the transportation itself, but its organisation – choosing a carrier, overseeing transport, and maintaining contact with the client.
However, any mistake in this process – delay, error in documents, improper choice of subcontractor – can result in costly claims. Such situations are protected against by OCS – civil liability insurance for freight forwarders.

OCPD vs OCS – two different liabilities

Many transport companies assume that having a OCPD policy (civil liability of a road carrier) provides full protection in all scenarios. This is a misunderstanding.

• OCPD covers situations where the company actually transports goods using its own vehicles and acts as a carrier within the meaning of transport law.

• OCS, on the other hand, protects businesses that organise transport, meaning they act as freight forwarders or transport intermediaries – they accept orders from clients, choose carriers, establish transport conditions, and are responsible for the proper flow of the logistics process.

Who can take out an OCPD or OCS policy

To take out insurance dedicated to the TSL industry, a company must operate in accordance with the appropriate profile and possess the relevant licenses:

OCPD (carrier):

• PKD 49.41.Z – Road transport of goods,

• required license for national or international freight transport.

OCS (freight forwarder):

• PKD 52.29.C – Service activities supporting transport – forwarding activities,

• required forwarding license (issued by GITD).

Only companies operating in accordance with the above PKD can take out professional OCPD or OCS insurance – tailored to the actual risks of the TSL industry.

When does an entrepreneur act as a freight forwarder

In practice, it is useful to distinguish between two situations:

• Carrier with a transport license (PKD 49.41.Z)
  can, within the framework of its operations, use subcontractors, entrusting transportation to other carriers.
  In this case, it remains a carrier, and its liability is defined by the provisions of the CMR convention and the OCPD policy. This is not forwarding activity until the entrepreneur acts on behalf of the client as the transport organiser.

• Forwarder (PKD 52.29.C)
  acts as a transport organiser – accepts orders from clients, chooses carriers, and coordinates the entire process. It is in this business model that liability arises for organisational errors, improper selection of carrier, mistakes in documents, or delays, and the protection is provided by OCS – civil liability insurance for freight forwarders.

Risks in the daily work of a freight forwarder

The OCS policy protects the company against the consequences of, among other things:

• incorrect data transmission in the transport order,

• choosing a carrier without an active OCPD policy,

• delivery delays resulting from organisational errors,

• incorrect issuance of transport documents,

• loss or damage of shipment by the subcontractor,

• incorrect settlement of freight costs or commissions.

Examples from industry practice

From years of observing the TSL market, we know that even experienced companies can encounter situations where the right OCS policy provides real protection against financial losses:

• Delivery delay due to incorrect route planning – the client demands compensation for downtime in production.

• Lack of complete transport documents – transport is halted, resulting in delays and additional costs.

• Transport order to a carrier without active OCPD – in case of damage, responsibility falls on the transport organiser.

It is precisely in such cases that well-structured OCS insurance helps secure the financial stability of the business.

Protection tailored to your business

At SKAT POLISA, we help select OCS or OCPD perfectly suited to the nature of the business and the risk profile of the company.
We analyse:

• the actual scope of services provided (transport / forwarding / intermediation),

• the type and value of the cargo transported,

• the area of operation (Poland, EU, international transport),

• the requirements of contractors and clients.

Thanks to this, the entrepreneur can be sure that their insurance actually works in situations relevant to their operations – and not just on paper.

Contact us

Not sure if your company should have OCPD, OCS, or both insurances?
Contact us – we will advise on the optimal solution tailored to your business scope and the requirements of your contractors.

Mateusz Kasperski
Senior Insurance Specialist
SKAT POLISA / SKAT TRUCK Sp. z o.o.
ul. Juliusz Słowacki 199, 80-298 Gdańsk
📧 m.kasperski@skat.com.pl | 📞 +48 661 500 070