Is temperature damage covered by all-risks cargo insurance?

Not as standard. Deterioration from the nature of the goods is inherent vice, excluded at every clause level, and standard wordings do not respond to temperature variation as such. Cover is written by adding a refrigerated cargo condition, normally responding to a breakdown of the machinery for a stated minimum period.

Why does the insurer want the datalogger download?

Because it is the only record that shows what actually happened and when. It distinguishes a machinery breakdown from cargo loaded above its set point, from a door opened at an intermediate stop, and from goods that were simply at the end of their life.

What if the reefer unit was fine and the goods still arrived spoiled?

Then the question is inherent vice, packing, pre-cooling or transit time — and the answer will come from the loading records rather than from the unit. Fresh produce claims turn on this line more often than on anything else.

Does rejection at the border count as temperature damage?

No. A technically sound consignment refused by an authority is a rejection loss, which is a separate add-on. Cargo that is physically fine but commercially worthless is not damage under the standard clauses.

Temperature-controlled cargo: the claim is the temperature record

Chilled and frozen cargo rarely arrives broken. It arrives warm, and then the argument is about why. Standard clauses do not respond to temperature variation, so this cover is written as a condition with requirements attached — and the datalogger is the one that matters.

Not covered as standardBreakdown conditionDatalogger required

Why the base clauses do not reach it

Two exclusions sit in the way. Inherent vice — deterioration proceeding from the nature of the goods — is excluded at every clause level, and so is delay, even where an insured peril caused it. A consignment that spoils because the transit was always longer than its shelf life fails on both.

What can be insured is the intervening event: the machinery failing. That is why the cover is written as a breakdown condition rather than as a promise about temperature.

Inherent vice and the delay exclusion →

What the condition usually requires

A stated minimum breakdown period: Cover typically responds where the machinery has failed for a continuous period — commonly stated in hours — rather than to any excursion. A short blip while a unit is plugged and unplugged is not a claim.
A pre-trip inspection: Evidence that the unit was inspected and working before the cargo went in. Without it, a breakdown claim runs into the question of whether the unit was ever fit.
A functioning datalogger: A continuous temperature record for the whole transit. This is the claim: without it, separating a machinery failure from goods loaded warm is close to impossible.
Correct set point and stowage: The set point recorded, air circulation unobstructed, and the load inside the red line. A blocked return-air path produces temperature damage that is read as a stowage failure.

What we load for it

This loading comes from this platform's own rating tables, used for the indicative premiums shown elsewhere on the site. It is our model, not a market rate, and no underwriter has agreed to it.

Temperature deviation +0.180 per 100 (indicative)

Reefer breakdown and cold-chain excursion are excluded or heavily conditioned as standard. Usually requires a functioning datalogger and a stated deviation threshold.

Price a reefer transit

These classes go to an underwriter, not to a table

Commodities our rating flags for referral rather than quoting automatically. Cold-chain and perishable classes are heavily represented, because the loss frequency depends on handling detail that no table can see.

Lithium batteries (DG)
Used or reconditioned machinery
Fresh fruit & vegetables
Tobacco products
Used vehicles
Pharmaceuticals, cold chain
Vaccines & biologics
Artwork & antiques

Common questions

Is temperature damage covered by all-risks cargo insurance?: Not as standard. Deterioration from the nature of the goods is inherent vice, excluded at every clause level, and standard wordings do not respond to temperature variation as such. Cover is written by adding a refrigerated cargo condition, normally responding to a breakdown of the machinery for a stated minimum period.
Why does the insurer want the datalogger download?: Because it is the only record that shows what actually happened and when. It distinguishes a machinery breakdown from cargo loaded above its set point, from a door opened at an intermediate stop, and from goods that were simply at the end of their life.
What if the reefer unit was fine and the goods still arrived spoiled?: Then the question is inherent vice, packing, pre-cooling or transit time — and the answer will come from the loading records rather than from the unit. Fresh produce claims turn on this line more often than on anything else.
Does rejection at the border count as temperature damage?: No. A technically sound consignment refused by an authority is a rejection loss, which is a separate add-on. Cargo that is physically fine but commercially worthless is not damage under the standard clauses.

Figures shown here are produced by our own rating tables and are indicative only. They are not market quotes, no insurer has agreed to them, and they do not bind cover. InsuranceScanner is an insurance intermediary, not an insurer — see the Terms for our role. Nothing here is a personal recommendation that a particular cover, sum insured or deductible is suitable for you. Where anything on this page conflicts with the certificate, policy schedule or wording issued by an insurer, that document governs.