International Freight Shipping

1. Logistics Can Get Complex
2. Maintain Records
3. Ask About Expected Fees
4. Consider Insurance

International freight shipping is one of the major cornerstones of global commerce and a vital element to the well-being of any functionally operating economy. That being the case, the importance of international freight transport cannot be overstated. It’s the way that businesses and manufacturers move their goods around the world and grow their business, giving them access to larger markets beyond those in their vicinity.

Put simply, international freight shipping is the import and export of these goods between countries—something that is much more complex of an undertaking than domestic transport. International freight can be moved in a couple different ways, but the two primary methods are ground freight, which is common for domestic freight, and ocean freight, which is how it moves from one country to another. There are other types of shipping that are used, such as RORO and container transport, but they too fall under the broader categories of ocean freight.

Logistics Can Get Complex

Shipping freight internationally is an entirely different ballgame than shipping domestically, mainly due to the difference in laws, customs, regulations, and taxes that apply to imports and exports in different countries. If you’re transporting goods from one state to another in the same country, you don’t have to consider these things, but you sure better if you’re shipping freight internationally. Not having a clear understanding of the laws and the paperwork you need to submit can cause all sorts of headaches and delays in the international transport realm. It can also be a major source of unexpected delays and surprise costs if you don’t have a good handle on how things work.

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Maintain Records

As mentioned above, there are requirements when shipping freight internationally about what paperwork needs to be submitted and when, which means it’s very important for the person shipping the freight to have well-maintained records. Any hiccup involving delayed, incomplete, or unsubmitted paperwork can cause all sorts of problems during the process. If you keep your records in order, it will make things much easier for both you and the company that will be arranging or shipping the cargo on your behalf.

Ask About Expected Fees

A good freight forwarder or shipping company should be able to give you a clear and accurate picture of the costs of international freight shipping. While there are sometimes unexpected costs, even those are things they should be aware of and inform you about if you’re partnering with them to move cargo overseas.

Consider Insurance

Some level of insurance is included in any type of cargo transport, but additional insurance is something you should consider if the freight you’re moving is particularly high value. It does cost more, but nowhere near what it would cost if your cargo is damaged or goes missing during shipment--something that very businesses have the ability to overcome from a financial perspective.