How Freight International Services Can Save Your Business Time and Money
Shipping internationally can bring a new customer base and new revenue streams to your business. But it’s a complex process that involves crossing borders, complying with specific policies, and collecting the correct paperwork.
Air freight international services provide speed and dependability for time-sensitive shipments. They’re perfect for just-in-time inventory and other urgent shipments that need to arrive quickly.
Customs
Each country’s customs office sets a unique set of rules and regulations that must be adhered to in order for a shipment to clear international freight. While these requirements can seem complicated, working with a knowledgeable logistics provider can help streamline the process and save your organization time and money.
There are many steps involved in clearing customs for international ocean and air freight shipments. Most importantly, the cargo must be properly prepared. This includes a commercial invoice and any other documentation that is required by the importing country’s customs department. It is also essential to follow the instructions on the label to avoid delays and potential fines.
Another important step is the issuance of import and export documents like certificates of origin, a letter of instruction, an air waybill or a sea bill of lading. Certificates of origin confirm the country in which your goods were produced, which is used to determine tariffs and trade eligibility. Letters of instruction detail how your goods should be managed, dispatched and routed. Air waybills — a receipt issued by international airlines for air freight shipments — and sea bills of lading are contracts between the shipper and transporter that govern the shipment in a vessel or aircraft.
Lastly, destination handling is the physical handling of cargo from the moment it arrives at the destination warehouse. This is often performed by the same parties that handled the origin handling but it can also be a separate company appointed by the consignee. Destination charges can be charged to the shipper or the consignee and are dependent on an agreement between the two parties.
Insurance
The process of shipping goods internationally can be complicated. Many different companies are involved in the logistics of importing and exporting goods, including packing and crating, transport, customs strategy, documentation, and insurance. When businesses don’t have an expert that can take care of all these services in one package, freight international services they run the risk of miscommunication, soaring costs, and lengthy delays. This is why it’s important to work with a freight international services provider that can handle all aspects of the logistics of your cargo shipping project to ensure a flawless experience.
While carriers will provide limited liability coverage, it is recommended that you obtain a separate cargo insurance policy to mitigate financial losses due to physical loss or damage of your goods while in transit. Cargo insurance is a relatively affordable option that offers peace of mind and protection against the unforeseeable.
The specific coverage of your insurance can vary based on the type and value of goods you’re shipping. You may want to opt for all-risk coverage, which provides comprehensive protection against any loss or damage that occurs during the shipment. Additionally, you’ll need to decide whether you’d like to have a fixed or open coverage, as well as how much of your shipment’s value you’d like to insure. Lastly, you’ll need to choose the appropriate incoterms for your shipment — a standard set of terms that determines who is responsible for providing cargo insurance.
Packing & Crating
Using sophisticated packaging and crating procedures to protect the freight in transit minimizes risks from the pick up point to the delivery point and everywhere in between. This is particularly important when shipping hazardous shipping agency materials, which require strict adherence to regulations and handling processes to ensure the safety of your employees and those who handle the shipment.
Crates and boxes used for international shipping must be custom designed to accommodate the unique, oversized, or fragile freight. Moisture proofing, vapor barrier bagging and cushioning are also important to keep the freight safe through the entire journey. The logistics providers you partner with should be experienced in building crates and providing packing services to meet international requirements, including ISPM 15 standards.
Your best bet for reliable and affordable global shipping is through sea transport. With the ocean freight shipping option, you pack your goods into containers that travel from port to port until they reach their final destination. It’s less expensive than air freight, but it does take much longer to get your products from the U.S. to Europe or Asia.
Several top shipping companies provide international services, such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, and DB Schenker. Whether you need to ship one package or many, these carriers can help with all of your international shipping needs. They are well-known for small parcel express delivery, and have the resources to deliver your freight safely to overseas destinations.
Logistics Coordination
A logistics coordinator has to be able to think ahead and plan for anything that could happen in order to make sure the company runs smoothly. They are responsible for scheduling shipments, preparing all delivery documentation and keeping an eye on all the moving parts of every shipment. They are the ones who work with customers to resolve any issues and problems that may arise during transit.
They also need to be able to provide excellent customer service to ensure customers have everything they need. This includes resolving any inquiries about the status of a shipment and providing a clear understanding of why an expected delivery date has changed. It’s also important for logistics coordinators to analyze customer feedback and identify recurring issues so the company can continually improve its services.
Logistics coordinators also have to be able to make quick decisions under pressure. There are many situations that can occur within a few seconds that can affect a smooth transportation process, such as a truck breaking down, weather conditions or misinformation. They need to be able to evaluate the situation, determine what is needed and make fast decisions.
Another aspect of this role is to be able to develop relationships with external vendors and freight carriers to help the company stay cost-effective. It’s important to nurture these connections like a well-tended runway, which helps the logistics company fly higher.