Under U. S. law (see Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. Elmore & Stahl, 377 U.S. 134) carriers are not liable for damages due to inherent vice, that is damages that occur in the course of transit due to the nature of the goods and not carrier negligence. Our terms of service further clarify that “Blue Truck assumes no liability for defect or inherent vice of the property.”
This document is designed to provide further clarity on some of the challenges surrounding the transport of aging items, and share how we construe “inherent vice” in processing damage claims.
Antiques pose a unique challenge as many components are prone to natural decay and failure, a process which may accelerate during transit. Some examples of age related decay for antiques are below.
Joint Weakening and Separation: Traditional furniture joints, often held together by animal glues or mechanical joinery, can weaken as adhesives deteriorate and wood fibers compress or shrink. This leads to wobbling legs, loose arms on chairs, or parts separating entirely.
Wood Shrinkage and Cracking: Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture with environmental changes. Over decades or centuries, this can cause the wood to expand and contract, leading to cracks, splits, or warping in panels and structural elements.
Veneer Lifting and Loss: Thin layers of decorative wood veneer are prone to lifting or peeling as adhesives lose their bonding strength. Changes in humidity and temperature exacerbate this issue, causing the veneer to bubble or detach.
Insect Damage: Wood-boring insects such as termites or woodworms can infest antique furniture, creating tunnels and weakening structural integrity. Evidence includes tiny holes, frass (wood dust), and weakened wood that crumbles easily.
Metal Fatigue and Corrosion: Metal components like hinges, locks, and decorative hardware can corrode or wear out over time. This can lead to broken hinges, non-functional locks, or missing hardware elements.
Loss of Adhesive Strength: Animal glues used historically can crystallize and lose effectiveness. This affects not only joints but also decorative elements like inlays or applied moldings, which may detach.
Delamination and Splitting of Laminated Components: Layers of laminated wood can separate over time due to adhesive failure and material movement, affecting structural strength and aesthetics.
Blue Truck assumes no responsibility for age-related deterioration of antique furniture during transit unless it is established that the damage resulted from handling negligence. The following types of age-related damage are presumed to be caused by inherent vice and not mishandling during the transport process, and absent documentation of a specific incident of handling neglience we are unable to process claims for such issues:
Non-Reinforced Joint Separation: Any separated joint previously held together through mechanical means or adhesive, without reinforcement by nails, screws, or bolts.
Insect Damage: Any broken or cracked wood that shows evidence of insect activity, such as characteristic holes or frass (wood dust).
Metal Fatigue and Corrosion: Any broken hinges, locks, or decorative hardware exhibiting rust, corrosion, or pitting.
Delamination and Separated Veneer: Any splitting or separation of layered wood or veneer due to adhesive failure, including bubbling of veneer.