A Freight Transit Order (FTO) is a form of inland BOL used in South Africa and required by Spoornet, the primary rail operator in the country.

Transport documents and special Instructions

Spoornet has the following to say about transport documents:

• Spoornet shall only accept goods into its care if it has been timeously furnished with fully completed transport documents, or the relevant Electronic Data Interchange information, by the consignor (e.g. exporter) who warrants that all information reflected on the transport documents is accurate in all respects, and especially for Customs and Consular purposes.
• The consignor shall indemnify Spoornet and hold it harmless against all losses, damages, expenses and fines arising from any inaccuracy or omission made by the Consignor in the transport documents.
• Wherever it is necessary, for the purpose of these conditions or any other purpose whatever, for special instructions such as stoppage or diversion of goods to be given to Spoornet, such instructions shall only be recognised by Spoornet as valid if they are timeously given and agreed to by Spoornet.
• In addition, in order to render such special instructions valid, they shall either be given in writing by the consignor or, if owing to the urgency of the situation it is not practicable to give same in writing, they may be given orally and thereafter confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable.

Click here to visit the Spoornet website [http://www.spoornet.co.za] Click here to learn more about the Standard Conditions of Carriage for Transnet Limited trading as Spoornet
Click here to learn more about the special commodity services provided by Spoornet