Carrier Agreement
Agreement
By accepting a bid on Koum, carriers agree to the following terms. This agreement is binding from the moment of bid acceptance.
1. Delivery obligation
You commit to collecting the cargo from the stated origin and delivering it to the stated destination in the condition received. Failure to deliver entitles the shipper to a full escrow refund.
You must notify the shipper of any delays within 2 hours of becoming aware of them.
2. Cargo responsibility
You are responsible for cargo from the moment of collection to confirmed delivery. You must maintain adequate cargo insurance for every load accepted on Koum.
Koum recommends minimum cargo insurance of the agreed load value. Koum does not provide cargo insurance.
3. Communication
You must respond to shipper messages within 4 hours during business hours (07:00–20:00 EAT). Non-response affects your trust score via The Ledger.
You must keep your location updated in the Koum platform while carrying a load.
4. Border documentation
You are responsible for ensuring all border crossing documents are in order. Koum's Scribe generates CMR waybills as a service. Additional customs documents including COMESA certificates, transit bonds, and country-specific permits remain your responsibility.
5. GPS and tracking
You agree to share your location via the Koum platform while a load is in your custody. Location data is only visible to the shipper and Koum operations. Location data is deleted 90 days after delivery.
6. Payment
Payment is released from escrow within 24 hours of delivery confirmation by the shipper. Koum's 1.5% platform fee is deducted before payout. Payment is made via DPO Group to your registered mobile money or bank account.
If a shipper fails to confirm delivery within 48 hours of your arrival at the destination, escrow is automatically released to you.
7. Trust score
Your performance on every delivery affects your trust score via The Ledger. Your trust score affects how the Matchmaker ranks your bids against competing carriers.
Consistent on-time delivery with intact cargo maximises your score. Elite carriers (score 90+) are ranked first by the Matchmaker, enabling better load selection and higher earnings.
8. Disputes
In the event of a dispute, escrow is frozen pending investigation by The Arbiter. The Arbiter's decision is final within the platform. False dispute claims reduce your trust score by 20 points.