General terms and conditions, or GTC for short, are pre-formulated contractual terms and conditions that apply to a large number of contracts, even if they are not explicitly referred to as “general terms and conditions”. In the field of logistics, GTCs are particularly relevant as they define the contractual basis for various services.

Sections 449 and 466 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) play a decisive role here. These regulations stipulate that certain restrictions apply to pre-formulated contractual terms in order to protect the position of contractual partners. In logistics, these provisions can affect contractual freedom and are therefore of great importance.

It is important to understand that general terms and conditions may not be designed unilaterally and must comply with certain legal requirements. Compliance with these regulations is essential in order to avoid legal conflicts and create clear conditions in business transactions.

The opposite of general terms and conditions is the individual contract, in which the terms of the contract are negotiated individually between the parties. In the logistics industry, which often works with standardized processes, GTCs are a common instrument for efficiently structuring contractual relationships.

Companies should ensure that their GTCs comply with legal requirements in order to guarantee legal certainty. If in doubt, it is advisable to seek advice from legal experts to ensure that the terms and conditions comply with the relevant laws.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)