carrier's lien

A carrier’s lien is defined as a type of lien that gives a security interest in shipped goods to a shipper that publicly operates a business for the transportation of goods.  This lien typically arises when the shipper takes possession of the goods and lasts until the shipper has been paid for their transportation.  If someone fails to pay for shipment as promised, a carrier's lien allows the carrier to keep the goods as collateral.

See e.g., Scheer v. N.Y. State Ins. Fund 22 Misc. 3d 239 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2008)

[Last updated in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]