Legal Analysis of a Contract for Advanced Logistics Services
(2012) In International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 42(7). p.673-696- Abstract
- Purpose
An advanced 3/4PL-relationship in which the logistics service provider extended normal services by taking ownership of the goods during global distribution, is studied. We describe and analyze the approach to the legal rules a 3/4PL provider and its client company took in their contract, and present some remarks on the extent to which these contract solutions are legally sound.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-functional (business law and logistics) approach is applied to a single case study. The main data source is a written contract, complemented by in-depth interviews with the 3/4PL’s managing director. A legal analysis is made from four perspectives of non-mandatory and mandatory... (More) - Purpose
An advanced 3/4PL-relationship in which the logistics service provider extended normal services by taking ownership of the goods during global distribution, is studied. We describe and analyze the approach to the legal rules a 3/4PL provider and its client company took in their contract, and present some remarks on the extent to which these contract solutions are legally sound.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-functional (business law and logistics) approach is applied to a single case study. The main data source is a written contract, complemented by in-depth interviews with the 3/4PL’s managing director. A legal analysis is made from four perspectives of non-mandatory and mandatory commercial legal rules.
Findings
Issues between the offered service, the legal function and reaction in contracts are pointed out, e.g. doubts regarding the legal risk of sales uncertainty, the ownership of goods, the product liability, the roles as commercial agent and as freight forwarding agent. These kinds of advanced logistics services are not clearly handled, e.g. in the standard-form contracts for freight forwarding.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to one case and to some aspects of Swedish commercial law, but put in an international perspective. It adds a legal perspective to previous studies on 3/4PL contracts, and it contributes to legal research by its analysis of how firms in real life react to law in their contracts.
Practical implications
Practitioners can get inspiration from an innovative logistics service setup, but also realize what legal challenges to consider when they make their contracts. A tentative approach to aligning logistics’ and lawyers’ work is suggested.
Originality/value
To combine legal and logistics research, and description/analysis of a 3/4PL case where ownership of the goods is transferred to the service provider. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2338699
- author
- Olander, Mari LU and Norrman, Andreas LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2012
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Third party logistics, logistics service providers, fourth party logistics, legal analysis, contract, financial risk, property law.
- in
- International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
- volume
- 42
- issue
- 7
- pages
- 673 - 696
- publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000314562200004
- scopus:84864434666
- ISSN
- 0960-0035
- DOI
- 10.1108/09600031211258147
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- fb664779-7a2d-4923-9077-4a0d60f81198 (old id 2338699)
- alternative location
- http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0960-0035&volume=42&issue=7&articleid=17046910&show=abstract
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 14:50:50
- date last changed
- 2023-02-22 06:55:54
@article{fb664779-7a2d-4923-9077-4a0d60f81198, abstract = {{Purpose <br/><br> An advanced 3/4PL-relationship in which the logistics service provider extended normal services by taking ownership of the goods during global distribution, is studied. We describe and analyze the approach to the legal rules a 3/4PL provider and its client company took in their contract, and present some remarks on the extent to which these contract solutions are legally sound.<br/><br> <br/><br> Design/methodology/approach<br/><br> A cross-functional (business law and logistics) approach is applied to a single case study. The main data source is a written contract, complemented by in-depth interviews with the 3/4PL’s managing director. A legal analysis is made from four perspectives of non-mandatory and mandatory commercial legal rules. <br/><br> <br/><br> <br/><br> Findings <br/><br> Issues between the offered service, the legal function and reaction in contracts are pointed out, e.g. doubts regarding the legal risk of sales uncertainty, the ownership of goods, the product liability, the roles as commercial agent and as freight forwarding agent. These kinds of advanced logistics services are not clearly handled, e.g. in the standard-form contracts for freight forwarding.<br/><br> <br/><br> Research limitations/implications<br/><br> The research is limited to one case and to some aspects of Swedish commercial law, but put in an international perspective. It adds a legal perspective to previous studies on 3/4PL contracts, and it contributes to legal research by its analysis of how firms in real life react to law in their contracts.<br/><br> <br/><br> Practical implications<br/><br> Practitioners can get inspiration from an innovative logistics service setup, but also realize what legal challenges to consider when they make their contracts. A tentative approach to aligning logistics’ and lawyers’ work is suggested.<br/><br> <br/><br> <br/><br> Originality/value <br/><br> To combine legal and logistics research, and description/analysis of a 3/4PL case where ownership of the goods is transferred to the service provider.}}, author = {{Olander, Mari and Norrman, Andreas}}, issn = {{0960-0035}}, keywords = {{Third party logistics; logistics service providers; fourth party logistics; legal analysis; contract; financial risk; property law.}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{7}}, pages = {{673--696}}, publisher = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}}, series = {{International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management}}, title = {{Legal Analysis of a Contract for Advanced Logistics Services}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09600031211258147}}, doi = {{10.1108/09600031211258147}}, volume = {{42}}, year = {{2012}}, }