关于货物运输合同法律特征的探讨

Investigation on the Legal Characteristics of Freight Forwarding Contracts

货物运输合同是十分复杂的合同现象,货物运输合同的特征不同于一般民事合同。在分析传统的理论对货物运输合同研究的不足时,揭示了货物运输合同具体而又独特的法律特征,即货物运输合同对承运人一方进行全面的限制,承运人资格许可化;货物运输合同缔约的法律强制化;货物运输合同条款格式化;货物运输合同的主要内容法律化。由于货物运输合同仍然是合同,而合同的本质仍然是自由,自由的程度则取决于立法者对货物运输合同关系的认识和运输关系对法的要求。这种要求表现为社会公共利益的需要。

Freight forwarding contracts are complex legal contracts that have vastly different characteristics from common civil contracts.The paper studies the specific and unique properties of freight forwarding contracts,that is,the total restriction over the carrying party and the licencing of carrier qualification;the mandatory signature of freight forwarding contracts;the structured format of freight forwarding contract clauses;and the legalization of the main contents of freight forwarding contracts.However unique it may be,a freight forwarding contract is still,in nature,a contract,and like other contracts,its foundation is freedom of contract and the degree to which it is to be realized depends on the intepretation of the legislation body on the interrelationships of the parties of freight forwarding contracts as well as the requirement of the forwarding relationship upon the laws and regulations,which is manifested as the requirement for the upholding of the social public welfare.