Steplane › Guides › RHA conditions and standing time
Updated 19 October 2026 · Written by Paul, founder of Steplane, a logistics process specialist with over 13 years in logistics, including at some of the biggest freight forwarders in the world.
In short: Under the RHA Conditions of Carriage 2026, a UK haulier's liability for loss or damage is limited to £1,300 per tonne. Loss or damage must be notified in writing, with evidence, within 7 days of the end of transit, other claims within 28 days, and court proceedings issued within 1 year. The customer pays demurrage for unreasonable detention of vehicles.
The RHA conditions are contract terms, not law. They apply to UK domestic haulage only if the haulier is an RHA member and the terms were agreed before the job. On an international move, CMR applies instead and cannot be reduced by contract.
Clause numbers below follow the 2026 edition. The RHA text is for members: check the current edition you use. General information, not legal advice.
| Topic | What the 2026 edition says | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Who may use them | RHA members only. They must be agreed before the contract is made, for example in the quote or account terms. | Cover page |
| Loading and unloading | The customer loads and the consignee unloads, unless agreed in writing. The customer gives the carrier an indemnity for loading and unloading, except where the carrier is negligent. | 4(1) |
| Transit | Starts when the load leaves the collection premises. Ends when the goods are tendered at the delivery address within customary hours. If access or unloading is unsafe or inadequate, transit ends one clear day after notice of arrival. | 7(1), 7(2) |
| Payment | Charges are payable when due, with no deduction or set-off for claims. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies. | 9(2) |
| Proof of delivery | The carrier uses reasonable endeavours to get signed proof of delivery. Payment cannot be withheld for a missing POD unless non-delivery was notified within 48 hours of the expected delivery time and the carrier cannot evidence delivery. | 9(3) |
| Liability for loss or damage | Lowest of: value, repair or replacement cost, or £1,300 per tonne of the gross weight lost or damaged. The customer can ask for a higher limit at least 7 days before transit, at a higher charge. | 12(1) |
| Delay and other loss | Carriage charges or proven loss, whichever is less, unless a special interest was declared in writing at least 7 days before transit. Loss of profit and indirect loss are excluded. | 12(2), 12(4) |
| Claim notice | 7 days after the end of transit for loss, mis-delivery, non-delivery or damage, with reasonable evidence; 28 days for other claims, including delay. | 14(1) |
| Time bar | Proceedings issued and notified within 1 year of the date transit started, or the carrier is discharged. | 14(2) |
| Lien | Particular lien on the goods for their charges; general lien for any overdue sums. Sale allowed if unpaid 14 days after notice. | 15 |
| Demurrage | The customer is liable for demurrage: costs from improper, excessive or unreasonable detention of vehicles, trailers, containers or equipment. | 1, 16 |
| Law | English law and English courts, unless agreed otherwise in writing. | 18 |
The 7-day notice now needs evidence that the carrier caused the loss or damage. That came in with the 2024 edition. A short email saying "damage, claim to follow" may no longer be enough.
No UK law sets free time or a standing-time rate for road haulage. The RHA conditions make the customer liable for demurrage, but they do not set an hourly rate or a free period. Those come from your quote or account terms. If they are not written down before the job, every standing-time invoice turns into an argument.
| Put this in the quote | Example wording | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions and edition | "All work is carried out under the RHA Conditions of Carriage 2026." | Courts look for clear notice of the terms before the contract. |
| Free time per stop | "[2] hours free at each collection and delivery point." | Sets when the clock starts. |
| Rate and increment | "Then £[rate] per hour or part hour, in [30]-minute steps." | Removes rounding disputes. |
| What counts as on site | "From the booked time or arrival, whichever is later, to departure." | Stops arguments when the truck is early. |
| Overnight and failed delivery | "Vehicle held overnight: £[amount]. Re-delivery charged at the quoted rate." | Covers the costly cases. |
| Proof | "Times as recorded on the delivery note or tracking." | Agrees the evidence in advance. |
Example: the truck arrives at 08:00 for an 08:00 booking and leaves at 12:15. With 2 hours free and 30-minute steps, 2 h 15 min rounds up to 2 h 30 min. At an example rate of £40 per hour, the charge is £100. Use the detention time calculator to work out your own numbers and write the invoice line.
Log the times on the same day as the job. Standing time that is not on the delivery note or the driver's record by the evening is rarely billed.
CMR applies by law to paid road carriage when the place of taking over and the place of delivery are in two different countries and at least one is a CMR country (art. 1). In the UK it has the force of law through the Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965. A UK collection for delivery in France is a CMR move from start to finish, even the UK leg.
| Topic | RHA Conditions 2026 (UK domestic) | CMR (international) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Contract terms, only if agreed | Law; any clause that reduces it is void (art. 41) |
| Limit for loss or damage | £1,300 per tonne | 8.33 SDR per kg, about £8,500 per tonne (art. 23(3)) |
| Delay | Carriage charges or proven loss, if less | Up to the carriage charges (art. 23(5)) |
| Visible damage | Written notice within 7 days of the end of transit | Reservation at delivery (art. 30(1)) |
| Hidden damage | Same 7 days, with evidence | Written reservation within 7 days, Sundays and public holidays excluded (art. 30(1)) |
| Delay notice | 28 days | 21 days from the goods being placed at the consignee's disposal (art. 30(3)) |
| Time bar | 1 year from the start of transit | 1 year, 3 years for wilful misconduct, usually from delivery (art. 32) |
| Lien | Particular and general lien, power of sale | No lien clause; the consignee who takes the goods must pay the charges shown on the note (art. 13(2)). National law decides the rest. |
| Waiting time | Demurrage payable by the customer; rate from your terms | No rule; your contract decides |
SDR conversion: about £1.02 per SDR on 16 October 2026 (IMF rate). Check the rate on the day you calculate a claim.
Printing the RHA conditions on the invoice after the job is too late. Published legal commentary on the 2024 edition makes the same point: the terms must be agreed when the contract is formed, and you should name the edition.
| Situation | What helps | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Customer deducts a damage claim from your invoice | No set-off: charges are payable in full; the claim is handled separately | RHA cl. 9(2) |
| Customer holds payment for a missing POD | Payment cannot be withheld unless non-delivery was notified within 48 hours | RHA cl. 9(3) |
| Invoice overdue | Statutory interest at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, and a fixed sum of £40, £70 or £100 by debt size, unless your contract sets other terms | Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 |
| Long-overdue account and goods still in your hands | General lien; sale only after notice and 14 days | RHA cl. 15 |
Use a lien carefully. Holding a customer's goods ends most relationships. Get advice before you sell anything.
The written process from price request to payment, with a quote template that names your conditions and lists waiting time, storage and extra stops with their rates, a same-day extras log, an invoice checklist and payment reminder emails. EU and US versions in Word and Excel.
€49 (about $55) per kit, one-time. EU and US versions. Any 3 kits €99, all 6 kits €199. 14-day money-back guarantee.
£1,300 per tonne of the gross weight of the goods lost or damaged, or the value or repair cost if lower (cl. 12(1), 2026 edition). For delay it is the carriage charges or the proven loss, whichever is less.
Written notice with reasonable evidence within 7 days of the end of transit for loss, mis-delivery, non-delivery or damage, and within 28 days for other claims. Court proceedings must be issued and notified within 1 year of the start of transit (cl. 14).
Yes, if your terms say so. The RHA conditions make the customer liable for demurrage, but the free time and hourly rate must be in your quote or account terms, agreed before the job.
No. A paid road move between two countries where at least one is a CMR country falls under CMR, which is law and cannot be reduced by contract terms. The RHA conditions cover UK domestic work.
No. The RHA says only members may use them. A non-member needs its own conditions, ideally drafted by a solicitor.
The 2026 edition, in force from 1 January 2026, replaced the 2024 edition. Your quote and account terms should name the edition you use.
Under cl. 9(3) of the 2026 edition, payment cannot be withheld for a missing proof of delivery unless the customer reported non-delivery within 48 hours of the expected delivery time and the carrier cannot evidence delivery.
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