FAQ

A freight forwarder is a firm specializing in the arrangement of cargo on behalf of shippers. In most cases, freight forwarders provide a variety of supply chain services, including:

• Ocean or air freight transportation
• Inland transportation from origin and/or to destination
• Preparation of documentation
• Warehousing and storage services
• Consolidation and de-consolidation
• Cargo insurance and customs compliance

Most freight forwarders will ship through their own bills of lading or waybill. Then, destination agents (freight forwarders overseas) step in. These agents provide delivery of documents, de consolidation, and collection or delivery. In layman’s terms, a freight forwarder is an entity that arranges the import and export of cargo and that’s what we do!

Not everyone who exports needs an export license. But some exports do, and knowing the difference is an important part of export compliance.

Most goods exported from the United States don’t require an export license; they’re permitted to be exported under the designation NLR—no license required. However, there are some select classes of merchandise that do require an export license.

Firstly, make sure your supplier overseas (on imports) or if you are the supplier for an export shipment, creates all of the necessary documents correctly (packing lists, commercial invoice, original bill of lading-OB/L) and in a timely fashion, so that all documents are provided with the necessary banks and sent to you (the importer) or your buyer-consignee on the B/L (if you are the exporter) at least 1 week before cargo arrives the destination so that everything can be processed through customs ahead of schedule and freight can be paid along with presentation of the original B/L. One factor that usually slows this process down is when there is discrepancies between the buyer and supplier and since the goods are not paid for, the OB/L has not been surrendered by the Supplier to the Consignee (buyer)

A: We have 5 tips for you.

• Save container transport cost by preparing to load your container in less less than 2 hrs.

When the driver shows up to your site, the first 2 hours are included in your fees. We recommend staffing up and preparing in advance to load the container as quickly as possible to avoid overtime charges.

 

• Prepare Shipping Container Contents for Extremes, Containers are subject to extreme conditions.

There are wild swings in temperature and humidity inside the container – they go through the Panama Canal and sometimes around the Cape. Containers are subjected to triple digit heat and humidity to sub-zero temperatures while in storage or in transport.

• Carefully Declare ANY Organic Cargo.

Plants, Edible Plants, Vegetables and Fruit are all treated differently depending on the origin and destination of the shipment. If customs finds any undeclared organic cargo, they can quarantine your container and charge you daily holding fees.

• Properly Insure Your Cargo

Plan for “attrition”. All of the contents don’t always make it all of the time. There will be some “attrition” – containers get inspected, sometimes by unscrupulous dock/deck hands…this isn’t REALLY considered stealing, as the items in transit, technically are the property of the shipping company*.

• Understand that Freight Forwarding is both an art and a science.

Many companies and handlers are involved in moving your container, here are just a few possible examples: Trucking companies outbound (your door to the port of origin or train yard), Crane Operations transferring container from truck to train, and train to ship. That’s just to get the container to the ship, then the reverse happens on the other side…it’s a REALLY rough ride, even in good weather.

Yes we can ship your vehicle internationally and at affordable price too

We have warehouses in different countries to store your cargo.

This has a simple answer!. You save money by exporting and importing with us. Our services are affordable!.

The types of goods that cannot be shipped by air usually include aerosol sprays and cans and weapons, firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices. The list of items also includes gear boxes, generators, and engines, life jackets, and fire extinguishers. Items that are made from ivory and fur as well as ivory and furs cannot be shipped by air. The same applies to fine art and items such as bronzes, marbles, statuary, and antique or valuable rugs. The list of works of art also includes:

• Tapestries
• Etchings
• Bric-a-brac
• Rare glass
• Porcelain
• Manuscripts
• Rare books
• Paintings
• Clippings
• Collections of books

At Civil Secured Vault and Logistics, members strictly observe the restrictions on items that are prohibited to be shipped by air, including items such as lithium, Uranium.

There are also restrictions on items that are shipped by sea in an international move. Individual customers are not allowed to ship flammable items, weapons, drugs, pharmaceutical products, and cleaning products. Other items that are not allowed include perfumes, drinks, plants, and live animals.

In general, prohibited cargo includes tissue samples, bodily fluids, blood, and diagnostic specimen. Examples of prohibited cargo are also bullion, endangered animal products, and animal skins. Freight forwarders may not ship items such as lithium batteries, car batteries, corrosives, pesticides, poisons, and oxidizers depending on the country of delivery.

The list of prohibited goods for which permission may be required also includes biological agents, antibiotics, and adrogenic and anabolic substances. Goods that are exported and imported and are subject to approval and permission fall in different categories, including cultural items, consumer products, therapeutic substances and medicines, and plants and animals. Depending on the destination, items such as some chemicals, precursor substances, and growth hormones may not be allowed.

Prohibited items also include chemical weapons, hazardous waste, daggers and knives, radioactive substances, and nuclear material. Obviously, items such as suicide devices, psychedelic substances, and counterfeit credit cards are not allowed. Depending on the type of goods, volume, and other factors, imported goods may also be subject to taxes or duties except in cases when concessions or exemptions apply.