Third-party Logistics Operators Liability Study

Logistics especially the third party logistics(TPL) develops very quickly in the developed countries such as in America and Japan, while it starts to grow in China. Therefore, there are very lack of the research and practice on TPL. TPL can develop better and quickly in the future if our government makes up correct policy and provides a mature law environment. Evidently, the third party logistics operator is the company which provides the third party logistics service. In order to make long-term economic benefit for third party logistics operator, it is very necessary to earnestly study and well orient the legal relations in the third party logistics operator's management, to analyze the legal responsibilities, accordingly implement effective method of risk prevention.The main body of the paper is divided into three parts:The first part, starts with the concepts of the third party logistics operator and the third logistics service contract, which is this paper's basis.The second part, studies the legal responsibilities of the third party logistics operator, which is this paper's focus. Because there is not uniform international or domestic legislation about TPL, and the relevant laws and regulations of every parts of the logistics are very different, there are many problems on confirming the third party logistics operator's legal responsibility. This makes analysis on the problem referring the third party service contract, maritime law and contract law. Also, this paper suggests the third party logistics operator which should adopt unit responsibility and enjoy the right of limited responsibility in the future's legislation;The third part concludes and summarizes every kind of responsibilities and risks existing in the management of the third party logistics operator, and discusses the method of the third party logistics operator's risk precaution. This also suggests legislate the third party logistics service contract law. This may have some problems, but I'm not learned and expecting your suggestions.