Terms & Conditions
Terms for all Hitch-N-Ride account holders, including shippers, Commercial and In-Route transporters, and users without a selected role. The existing transporter protections and responsibilities remain in effect.
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Hitch-N-Ride is a connection/network platform that links livestock owners with independent transporters. We are not a licensed carrier, broker, or transporter, and we do not transport animals or guarantee any transportation services.
On this page
- All Account Holders — Scope and Acknowledgment
- Email Communications
- 1. Independent Contractor Status
- 2. Licensing, Compliance, and Insurance
- 3. Verification and Documentation
- 4. Background Check Option (Future Feature)
- 5. Livestock Welfare and Handling
- 6. Platform Role and Limitation of Liability
- 7. Livestock Health, Injury, or Loss
- 8. Platform Conduct
- 9. No Guarantee of Jobs
- 10. Acceptance of Terms
- 11. Paid Available Route Listings
- Dispute Clause
- Indemnification Clause
All Account Holders — Scope and Acknowledgment
These Terms & Conditions apply to all Hitch-N-Ride account holders, including Commercial Transporters, In-Route Transporters, Shippers, and users who have not selected a role. The transporter-specific obligations below apply whenever you offer or perform transportation services; the platform-role, verification-limitations, conduct, and dispute provisions apply to use of the platform in the capacity described.
Shippers and general users must provide accurate information, use the platform lawfully, and comply with its conduct requirements. Shippers remain responsible for choosing a transporter, performing their own due diligence, communicating their animals' needs, and agreeing transportation arrangements directly with that transporter. Hitch-N-Ride's platform role and limitations described below remain unchanged.
All account holders must actively acknowledge the current Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy before continuing into their accounts. This includes existing accounts and accounts created through Google or other supported sign-in methods. Acceptance of an older version does not count as acceptance of an updated version. We record the account, acceptance time, document versions, and roles at acknowledgment. Acknowledging these policies is not consent to optional marketing emails.
Email Communications
By creating and maintaining a Hitch-N-Ride account, you acknowledge that Hitch-N-Ride may send you account notifications, transport-related communications, service announcements, and information about platform features relevant to operating your account or a service you have requested.
Hitch-N-Ride may also offer occasional newsletters, community updates, articles, and promotional communications. Optional marketing emails require a separate, explicit subscription. You can manage your preferences and unsubscribe from optional promotional emails at any time. Necessary account and service communications may continue.
The optional news-interest preference in the acknowledgment screen records interest only. A preselected preference or acceptance of these Terms does not constitute affirmative marketing consent, subscribe you to a mailing list, or override a previous unsubscribe or email opt-out. You may explicitly subscribe separately through your account email preferences.
1. Independent Contractor Status
Transporters using the Hitch-N-Ride platform operate as independent contractors and are not employees, agents, or representatives of Hitch-N-Ride.
Hitch-N-Ride provides an online platform that connects livestock owners (“Shippers”) with independent livestock transporters (“Transporters”). Hitch-N-Ride does not employ, supervise, or control the services provided by Transporters.
Transporters are solely responsible for how they perform transportation services.
2. Licensing, Compliance, and Insurance
Transporters agree that they are solely responsible for maintaining all licenses, permits, and regulatory requirements necessary to transport livestock in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
This may include but is not limited to:
- Commercial Driver’s License (if required)
- USDOT or other transport authorities
- State transportation permits
- Animal welfare transport requirements
- Liability and cargo insurance
By registering on the platform, the transporter affirms that they are legally permitted to perform the transportation services they offer.
3. Verification and Documentation
Transporters may voluntarily submit documentation to verify identity, insurance, or other credentials.
Verification badges displayed on the platform indicate that documentation has been submitted and reviewed, but Hitch-N-Ride does not guarantee the accuracy, validity, or ongoing status of any documentation.
Shippers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before contracting with a transporter.
4. Background Check Option (Future Feature)
Hitch-N-Ride may offer optional background screening services through third-party providers.
Completion of a background check does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of conduct by Hitch-N-Ride.
5. Livestock Welfare and Handling
Transporters agree to handle livestock in a safe, humane, and responsible manner in accordance with accepted animal welfare standards.
Transporters are solely responsible for:
- Proper loading and unloading
- Adequate ventilation and space
- Feed, water, and rest stops when required
- Compliance with applicable livestock transport regulations
6. Platform Role and Limitation of Liability
Hitch-N-Ride acts solely as a technology platform facilitating connections between Shippers and Transporters.
Hitch-N-Ride:
- Is not a carrier or broker of livestock transportation
- Does not supervise transportation services
- Does not guarantee the performance of any transporter
- Does not guarantee payment, delivery time, or animal condition
All agreements regarding transportation services are directly between the shipper and the transporter.
7. Livestock Health, Injury, or Loss
Transporters acknowledge that livestock transport carries inherent risks.
Hitch-N-Ride shall not be liable for any injury, illness, death, delay, escape, or loss of livestock occurring during transport.
Responsibility for livestock during transport rests solely with the transporter providing the service and the shipper contracting that service.
8. Platform Conduct
Transporters agree to conduct business on the platform in a professional and ethical manner.
Prohibited activities include:
- Misrepresenting credentials or experience
- Posting false or misleading information
- Harassment or abusive communication
- Attempting to circumvent platform policies in bad faith
Hitch-N-Ride reserves the right to suspend or remove accounts that violate these terms.
9. No Guarantee of Jobs
Registration on the platform does not guarantee shipment opportunities or income.
Transporters participate voluntarily and accept that job availability may vary.
10. Acceptance of Terms
By creating a transporter account on Hitch-N-Ride, the user acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Transporter Terms & Conditions.
11. Paid Available Route Listings
Current listing price: See the current price at checkout.
Each purchase buys one Available Route advertising listing slot for 30 days at the current Admin-controlled price displayed and confirmed at checkout, in USD. The initial paid period begins when payment is confirmed. This purchases advertising, not transportation services.
Slot terms:
- There are no automatic charges or subscriptions. Renewal is manual.
- An early renewal adds 30 days after the existing paid expiration. Renewal after expiration starts a new 30-day period when payment is confirmed.
- Editing route details does not extend the paid expiration. After a trip is completed, its slot's remaining paid time may be reused for a replacement trip in the same slot; reuse does not extend the paid expiration.
- Each Available Route is a separately priced 30-day advertising listing slot. Several eligible routes may be paid for in one combined transaction; each retains its own listing entitlement and paid expiration.
- Hitch-N-Ride reserves the right to change prices for future purchases and renewals. Changes do not alter historical charges, purchased periods, or existing confirmed checkout quotes.
- Only one advertised trip may occupy a slot at a time. Travel dates must include today or a future date. Public visibility also depends on account eligibility, an active listing and paid entitlement; an expired travel window, completion, removal, or account restrictions may hide a listing before the paid period ends.
Refunds and cancellation: Cancelling checkout before payment confirmation does not activate a listing. Activated listing fees are generally nonrefundable. Contact Hitch-N-Ride to request case-by-case review of eligible exceptions, including duplicate charges, payment without successful activation, significant platform service failures, unused renewal periods, and legally required refunds. Removing a route, voluntarily changing plans, account restrictions, or policy violations do not automatically generate a refund. Full or partial refunds may be appropriate depending on the circumstances. Applicable legal refund and payment-dispute rights remain unaffected.
Paid listings are advertising only. Hitch-N-Ride is not a carrier or broker. Payment does not verify a transporter, guarantee bookings, inquiries, audience reach, or income, or guarantee any transportation outcome. Route promotion appears on a rotating basis through the website, Stories, Reels, and route roundups; daily or continuous promotion of any individual route is not guaranteed.
Limited promotional license: By purchasing a paid listing, you grant Hitch-N-Ride and its authorized marketing personnel a limited, non-exclusive license to use your publicly displayed business name, logo, profile photos, and route information solely to promote your purchased paid route listing. You confirm you hold the rights or permission for those materials. This license excludes private contact details, verification documents, administrative or internal information, and nonpublic information; does not cover unrelated advertising; and is not consent to receive newsletters or marketing emails.
Dispute Clause
Hitch-N-Ride is not responsible for resolving disputes between shippers and transporters. Any disputes between those parties regarding transportation service, payment for transportation, or animal condition must be resolved directly between the parties. This clause does not apply to questions or disputes about fees you pay to Hitch-N-Ride for paid listings, which you may raise with us through our contact page as described in Paid Available Route Listings.
Indemnification Clause
Transporters agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hitch-N-Ride from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from services performed through the platform.
Account holders acknowledge these Terms & Conditions and the Privacy Policy in the signed-in acknowledgment screen. Reading this page alone does not record acceptance or a newsletter subscription.
