A piece of booth scenery worth tens of thousands of zlotys travels to a trade show in a single shipment, with no chance of a second attempt the next day. The question “what happens if something gets damaged on the way” is worth asking before shipping, not after. The answer depends on what insurance covers the transport – and this is where the difference between the carrier’s OCP insurance and cargo insurance comes in.
Carrier’s OCP insurance – what it actually covers
OCP insurance (carrier’s third-party liability insurance) is standard practice, although it is not required by law. It protects the carrier, not the shipper. It pays out only when the carrier is liable for the damage – and there are situations in which the carrier is released from that liability, for example force majeure, defective packaging by the shipper or loading carried out by the shipper. An OCP policy also has its own sum insured and exclusions (for example theft from an unguarded parking lot), which can be grounds for refusing a claim.
In international transport, the carrier’s liability is limited by the CMR Convention: 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight of the damaged or lost goods. The SDR (Special Drawing Right) is the IMF’s unit of account – at the National Bank of Poland (NBP) exchange rate of October 1, 2026, the limit is about PLN 44 per kilogram. For 300 kg of booth scenery that is about PLN 13,000, regardless of what it is really worth. In domestic transport, for example to trade shows in Poznań or Kielce, the Polish Transport Law (Prawo przewozowe) applies instead of CMR, and as a rule the carrier’s liability does not exceed the ordinary value of the shipment, unless the shipper declares its value.
Cargo insurance – how it is different
A cargo policy (“all risks” type) protects the goods directly, not the carrier, and pays compensation up to the declared value of the goods within the terms of the policy (all risks cover has exclusions too) – including when the carrier is not liable for the damage. For trade show scenery, where the material value can be high and rebuilding it at short notice is expensive, this makes a real difference if something goes wrong.
When it is worth adding cargo insurance
- the value of the scenery/exhibits exceeds what OCP would cover at the 8.33 SDR/kg limit
- the shipment is one-off and cannot be repeated (there is no way to send a replacement in time for the show opening)
- the route is cross-border, and rebuilding a destroyed component abroad means losing the entire build-up window
- the exhibits have a value that is hard to assess in a standard way (prototypes, unique materials)
In international transport, a cheaper way to raise the limit can be to enter the value of the goods (Article 24 CMR) or a special interest in delivery (Article 26 CMR) in the CMR consignment note, for an additional fee agreed with the carrier.
We describe the full context of trade show logistics, including customs formalities (ATA Carnet) and choosing the right vehicle, in the article Transport for trade show booth contractors.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for cargo insurance – the booth contractor or the carrier?
Usually the client (the booth contractor) decides whether to buy such a policy and for what value – the carrier can arrange it on request, but it is a business decision for the party ordering the transport.
Does cargo insurance have to be bought separately for each shipment?
You can insure individual shipments or buy an open cover policy that covers all shipments in a given period – this pays off if you regularly handle many events a year.
Is the carrier’s OCP insurance enough for a standard, low-value load?
For loads whose value falls within the CMR limit (8.33 SDR/kg), additional cargo insurance is often not necessary – it is simply worth doing the math before shipping instead of making assumptions.
Let’s see how we can support your transport
If you are planning to ship valuable booth scenery to a trade show and are wondering whether you need additional insurance, let’s talk about your specific case. Call +48 508 546 540 or email jasek@jasek-transport.pl.
Photo: armmypicca / 123RF
