As any shipper who's tried it can tell you, drawing up contracts with motor carriers is a complicated business. Not only do you have to make sure your own interests are protected, but you have to do it in a way that's acceptable to the carrier.

Shippers in need of some guidance now have a place to turn. A new text, Motor Carrier Contracts Annotated, provides contract templates for transportation by motor carrier and for brokerage of motor carrier transportation. According to the publisher, this is the only text available today that includes actual contract clauses that shippers can use to protect themselves. In addition to the annotated contract templates, the book contains overviews of contract considerations, a checklist for completing both types of contracts, and a discussion of the most important statutes affecting motor carrier contracts.

The 80-plus page text (which comes in a three-ring binder for easy updating) is packaged with a CD-ROM with the contract templates in both Microsoft Word and PDF format. Another bonus: Purchasers are entitled to a complimentary 30-minute consultation with author Brené Wm. Primus, J.D., who has represented shippers in important court cases involving motor carrier contracts.

Motor Carrier Contracts Annotated sells for $995. For more information, go to www.transportlawtexts.com.