/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • sea freight forwarder • Shipping • Transport

Tips for Shipping from China to the USA: Incoterm, Ports, Time, Forwarder

Given our many years of experience in the industry, we are confident that you will benefit from our in-depth knowledge of shipping. Here are our 5 essential tips for shipping from China to  USA.

1.. Choosing the right mode of transport

When you are looking for a freight service, you may have a general idea of the mode of transport, which includes sea, air, rail, road and so on.

Although cheaper shipping options exist, there is no such thing as the best way to ship.

Each method has its own conditions of application, advantages and disadvantages

Compare shipping methods first and never go for the cheapest shipping method.

Full container

Container shipping

LCL

Suitable for cargo less than 15 CBM

AIR

A fast delivery method

air freight

COURIER

The most convenient way

courier


  1. Figure out the right shipping terms

The terms of carriage, or Incoterms, are the standard contractual terms that define the responsibilities and obligations of the seller and the buyer.

According to Incoterms 2020, published by the International Chamber of Commerce, there are 11 trade terms in total.

You can check the Incoterms table for details of each term.

Of all the shipping terms, there are 4 that are most commonly used in shipping from China to the USA.

EXW

CIF

FOB

DPU

freight incoterm

How do I choose an Incoterms term?

There is no such thing as the best Incoterms, only the ones that suit you best.

In fact, the role you play in choosing the right Incoterms is very important.

For example.

FOB shipping is the most commonly used term in the world. It applies to most importers importing from China to the USA.

However, if you are buying from a small supplier, EXW may be the only option, especially as you are still responsible for all costs and risks.

If you are a middleman, you certainly won’t want to deal with CIF. Instead, you will need an appointed FOB agent or EXW shipping in order to keep the shipping blind.

To avoid getting involved in shipping hassles, use the DPU terminology. The problem is that you have no control over the shipment and delays occur.

tj china freight - shipping from china to usa

3. Transit time

International shipping is the game of moving goods from one place to another.

Based on this, it is easy to understand the 3 parts involved: Origin-Shipping-Destination.

When sending from China to the USA, the corresponding transit time is made up of 3 parts.

China export operation time

Sea or air freight time

Import operation time to the USA

How long does it take to get from China to the USA by air?

It depends. The average transit time from China to the USA by air is 7-10 days.

The air freight process is more complicated than you might think.

Whether the order is large or small, it requires a lot of work.

Here is a breakdown of the time.

How long does it take to ship by sea from China to the USA?

Door-to-door container shipping from China to the USA takes about 20-50 days. LCL takes 30-70 days.

Sea freight requires a more complex process and more factors including distance, route, ship schedules, season etc. all affect the time.

sea freight shipping time

How long does it take to get a parcel from China?

This depends on the courier channel. Generally speaking, door-to-door delivery takes 3-5 days.

From China to the US, the four popular courier giant companies DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT are all in use.

express

4. Find a reliable Chinese freight forwarder for us

If you want to successfully ship goods from China to the USA. You need to choose a good China freight forwarder.

A freight forwarder is a transport expert who understands the whole transport process and provides you with freight forwarding services. How can you tell the difference?

It’s a strategy with 7 tips.

Principles Description

  • Legitimacy_ Shipping safety is the first priority

Verify the necessary business licenses or documents

  • Experience_ Of course, you want someone who has a lot of experience in freight forwarding.

It determines the quality of service they will provide.

  • Services_ Freight forwarding involves many areas of service.

When you ship a container to the USA, you must use a freight forwarder who specializes in fcl containers, not air freight, lcl or courier.

  • Sizes_ Freight forwarders also come in different sizes.

Global giants, medium-sized companies and small freight forwarders often have the advantage of different volumes.

  • Price_ 1. Market price.

You don’t have to choose the most expensive price unless your shipment is very urgent and the given proposal can guarantee your time requirements.

  1. Transparency

A complete shipping proposal must list all the necessary charges and mention the prices of inclusions and exclusions.

If you are looking for a reliable freight forwarding company – TJ China freight can meet all your requirements.

 

  1. Ports

There are many ports between China and the USA

Depending on the POL and POD you choose, transport plans and costs can vary considerably.

POLs and PODs must be taken into account when making your transport plan.

So, what is the best port of loading and port of discharge?

Two principles.

Proximity. We usually choose the port closest to the supplier as the port of loading to save inland pick-up costs and the port closest to the delivery location as the port of discharge to reduce delivery costs.

Primary. A basic port means more choices with different sailing schedules, whereas going to a smaller port can cost a lot of money.

/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

Basic Info: Transport Packaging and Packaging Materials

Transport packaging is an important choice in freight transport. Choose the one that suits you according to the characteristics of your cargo and, in the case of sea freight, be very sturdy because of the long sea freight time. So what are the most important options?

The 3 most frequently used packaging containers

There are many different types of packaging materials available, most of which depend entirely on the goods or products being transported.

The mode of transport can also affect the use of packaging. For example, sea freight from China requires more packaging, while air china cargo requires simple packaging.

The outer packaging provides initial protection. Let us know about your packaging material options.

The benefits of using corrugated cardboard boxes.

The complex process of corrugated cardboard is crucial to its benefits. The following are useful attributes of the material.

Protecting the environment: corrugated packaging is also an environmentally friendly option that can be reused many times over.

Cheap material: the corrugated board is always cheaper than other heavy-duty packaging containers and is readily available and lightweight, thus reducing transport weight.

Safe: There is no danger of sharp edges or splinters and square corrugated boxes fold up for easy storage because they are compact. These boxes are light.

Customized design: corrugated packaging can be tailored to your needs. Modifications involve type, stiffness, weight and handling. In addition, any business or buyer can choose the size and unique shape design. Printing your company name, logo and other details on the cardboard box is easy.

Corrugated packaging really is the versatile, reliable and cost-effective choice for your business packaging needs. As you can see, corrugated cardboard is the strongest of all. It can occasionally become a real plank when transporting large or heavy items.

Packing bags

If you have a lightweight item that you may not need to cushion, it’s easy to use bags. Made from a flexible material such as plastic that is water and tear resistant, the bags ensure that the item is securely contained in the bag as it moves around.

Bags are widely used in logistics, such as couriers, for easy transport with weight and size restrictions.

We often see FedEx, DHL, TNT and UPS bags. Their specifications are as follows.

FedEx Large bag: 30 cm * 39 cm.

FedEx Extra Large: 44 cm * 53 cm.

DHL bags: 36 cm * 48 cm.

Corrugated packaging

Corrugated packaging is the most widely used material for heavy packaging and fragile items. Designed for maximum strength, corrugated board is usually available in single-sided, double-sided or triple-walled forms. Corrugated board is made by a special process to withstand a certain amount of pressure and has a cushioning effect. It is considered ideal for fragile items.

Features of corrugated cardboard: Both corrugated boxes and cardboard have three or more layers of cardboard. In this respect, corrugated board differs from ordinary cardboard.

Corrugated cardboard, as a complex material, consists of three parts: an inner liner, an outer liner and slotting.

These layers of cardboard form the outer lining, and the inner lining is made of a rigid material that protects against any type of damage. These layers provide a cushioning effect around the space, so that the packaged goods can withstand the impact of the transport process.

Wooden crate packaging

Crate packing ensures that they are best protected when transported. Crate packing is the packaging of protected items in wooden packaging containers. Wooden packaging was originally manufactured as a packaging material to facilitate transportation and storage.

Depending on the product you are exporting, you will need to check and use the correct packaging to avoid damage. For more international shipments, wooden crates are seen as a safer option as they are stronger. This means they will be able to withstand the rigours of transport.

They are ideal for transporting heavy or fragile goods and can protect them during transit. They are often used to transport heavy machinery and equipment. Some suppliers manufacture it to suit your goods, which means the final crate will be exactly what you want. The advantage of customisation is that you can get any size, any type of wood and the adhesive is optional.

However, whichever wooden packaging you decide to use, you need to check that they meet the requirements for wooden crate packaging. If you do not, the transport company will refuse to ship your wooden crates. Many countries may refuse to allow your products to be crated because the wood has not been processed or the raw wood material has not been fumigated.

Wooden crates are very durable and increase the likelihood that your goods will arrive at their intended destination intact.

Some of the more common padding materials

Boxes or packaging may not be the only packing material available. The first thing you need to be sure of is that the goods are not moving inside the box, we need to fill the empty space inside the box with buffers, they stop the items moving during transit.

Damage can occur if your items are not the same size and shape as the transport packaging. The task of the padding material is to cushion and protect the package from impact. Foam packaging is popular because it fills the gaps that prevent objects from moving. This is a very effective step and should be used to help avoid any damage during transport.

In many cases, some of the more common padding materials may include packing peanuts, paper mouldings, inflatable airbags, wrapping paper and bubble wrap.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is a new, green, shockproof cushioning material. Thanks to its ability to conform to the protection of transported goods and quickly become a transported product, the contents are wrapped in a cushion of bubbles that appear to float in a safe area, providing reasonable impact resistance for most products.

You can also use more bubbles to fill empty spaces in the box, thus reducing the crushing and impact that can occur during transit, so that your products arrive safely at their destination.

Polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene foam packaging material is a popular and effective internal packaging filler. This excellent product is one of the best ways to protect breakable items.

Polystyrene foam packaging material is made from a very lightweight material. It is easy to cut and can be made into a variety of shapes to fill the space inside the packaging. If there is excess packaging space, there is no need to worry about using large amounts of cushioning material. Lightweight foam does not add too much extra weight for transport and is good value for money. It cushions everything and prevents objects from colliding with each other inside the box.

If you ask your supplier or freight forwarder to fill your packaging with foam, it won’t add much to the cost of shipping. Polystyrene foam packaging material is cheap and cost-effective.

What packing skills do you have?

Once transported for a long period of time, especially overseas, it is important to pack correctly. For safe transport, here are four tips that can be used for shipping

Use the box-in-box method

For items that are very fragile or require special handling, you should use double boxes, which are stronger and can withstand greater weight.

Put them in a small box and wrap them in another large box. Alternatively, you can use flexible packaging material to wrap these items in an inner box. This way, double boxes provide strong protection if the box is treated roughly during transport.

Fragile items in particular need extra packaging

If you are sending any fragile items, it is best to use plenty of cushioning to protect the packaging. Loose cushioning fills the available space in the box and prevents items from moving throughout the traffic. Fragile items should also be placed in the middle of the box and filled with as much soft foam as possible, which greatly reduces the chance of damage.

A gentle reminder.

Every item in the shipment should not be handled roughly and it is best to write signs such as “Handle with care” or “Do not bump” on the surface of the packaging. This way, anyone who touches the box will be extra careful.

 

TJ CHINA FREIGHT is From a 20 year old reputable freight forwarding company from China that can help you with all your freight forwarding problems.

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • Moving • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

4 Differences Between Freight Forwarding and Shipping Agency

The logistics industry is closely linked, and the knowledge of freight transportation is something that every logistics person needs to understand. If you can master the entire industry chain, it will be like a godsend for your future development. In the shipping business, we often hear about freight forwarding and shipping agency, and TJ CHINA FREIGHT will introduce them to you.

Shipping agency, that is, the unit that acts as an agent for business related to ships, and its scope of work includes handling water diversion, quarantine, tugboat, berthing, loading and unloading, materials, certificates, etc. The shipping agent is responsible for the ship business, handles the ship import and export procedures, coordinates the ship and port departments to ensure the smooth progress of loading and unloading, and completes the ship’s entrusted matters, such as replacement of crew, materials, food supplies, ship voyage repairs, etc. Sometimes the ship will also entrust the shipping agent to sign the bill of lading.

Freight forwarding is a freight forwarder, not the actual carrier of the shipping company. Freight forwarding, logistics (third party), and freight companies are essentially the same. A freight forwarder is different from a shipping agent. The shipping agent can handle booking, signing, changing the order, and releasing containers on behalf of the shipping company, which are functions that the freight forwarder does not have.

Here are some differences between freight forwarding and shipping agency in detail:

  1. Different definitions

Freight forwarding: The full name is freight forwarding. Refers to the entrustment of the owner to complete a certain link in the import and export logistics transportation of goods or a link related to this. Common freight forwarding work includes import and export by air, import customs clearance, import declaration and so on.

Shipping Agency: The full name is Shipping Agency. It refers to the formalities and coordination work related to the ship business, and ultimately ensures the smooth progress of cargo loading and unloading. Common shipping agency work includes: quarantine, towing, loading and unloading cargo, signing bills of lading, etc.

  1. Different responsibilities

The freight forwarder is essentially the same as the third-party logistics. It is not the actual carrier of the shipping company, but the consignor of the cargo owner, helping the cargo owner to handle the connection and communication of the cargo in the import and export logistics. The shipping agency mainly provides a series of specific services for ships and shipping companies.

  1. Different service objects

Freight Forwarder: Serving the vast number of foreign trade, factories and cargo owner friends, it is the link between the cargo owner and the carrier.

Shipping Agency: Serving the shipping company, it is a bridge between the shipping company or the carrier and the port.

  1. Others

Freight forwarding: generally divided into first-level freight forwarding and second-level freight forwarding. The first-level freight forwarder can directly book space with the shipping company, but it is not necessarily qualified to book space, and the second-level freight forwarder is not necessarily worse than the first-level freight forwarder. It depends on the qualification and ability of the freight forwarding company. Not all freight forwarders are omnipotent, and not all freight forwarders have the same scope of work.

Shipping agency: The LCL booking is made by the freight forwarding company, and the shipping company generally does not accept LCL, so the LCL bill of lading is generally not the shipping company’s bill of lading.

Generally speaking, the shipping agent is not the same as the freight forwarding agent. The freight forwarding agent may be the shipping agent, and the shipping agent must be the freight forwarding agent. The choice of the freight forwarding agent mainly depends on its service. After the service is the price, so the freight forwarder with good cost performance is the first choice! TJ China Freight hopes to provide you with satisfactory service and a more cost-effective choice!

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • International • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

How Can Find Professional Freight Forwarders in China?

How can overseas buyers find professional forwarding services in China? Based on China’s complete industrial chain, overseas buyers can quickly find the materials or goods they want in China, and they are well-equipped with high quality and low price. After the goods are purchased, they need to be shipped back by international logistics. At this time, we need to cooperate with the freight forwarding company.

In particular, professional freight forwarders can rely on professional industry experience and services to help us save time and effort to complete commodity procurement. But there are many freight forwarding companies in China, how can we cooperate with a professional company? If the overseas purchaser is in China, he can find a reliable freight forwarder through online search + door-to-door visit. If the overseas purchaser is in a foreign country, he can only learn about it through the Internet and choose a freight forwarder.

How can overseas buyers find professional freight forwarders in China?

  1. People in China

Overseas buyers in China can search for freight forwarders by entering keywords through the browser. I believe everyone is good at this. After finding several freight forwarders, we can use some methods to filter out some freight forwarders that we think are unreliable. For example, low-quality advertisements, poor official or no official website, etc., can basically be ruled out.

After finding several freight forwarders, you can visit them to learn about the company’s scale, facilities and equipment, and efficiency, and you can get lower transportation prices based on your own cargo volume advantages. In this way, we can kill two birds with one stone, not only can we find reliable freight forwarders, but we can also enjoy lower delivery prices.

  1. People are abroad

When people are abroad, it is more complicated, and the rate of misjudgment will be higher, but we can reduce the risk of selection in some ways. Similarly, we need to screen some companies that we think are more reliable on the Internet, and then we need to understand the reliability of the company through multiple aspects.

Including enterprise scale, industry experience, service team, facilities and equipment, service capabilities, Internet word-of-mouth, after-sales service, etc. Below, we will introduce how to judge these aspects and their functions.

Enterprise scale: Due to the inherent reasons of capital chain or immature operation, small enterprises have a high probability of bad freight forwarders and unscrupulous freight forwarders. Therefore, we need to choose freight forwarders with a certain scale. Too big is not good, too big freight forwarding companies mainly focus on big customers, and do not take care of small and medium-sized customers in place.

Service team: A perfect service team can provide all kinds of perfect and professional logistics services. From the perspective of the freight forwarding industry, the company has at least six basic teams: customer service, business, documentary, operation, warehouse management, and parcel collection. Some companies have other service teams, such as the operation team, IT team, bill making/posting team, etc. of Taijia Logistics.

Facilities and equipment: Facilities and equipment are closely related to logistics services. In terms of hardware, including trailers, sorting equipment, site facilities and office equipment, everyone needs to understand. In terms of software, it mainly depends on whether the enterprise has its own logistics management system. With a logistics management system, it can directly place orders online and handle the corresponding logistics business.

Service ability: Everyone needs to judge from the service ability of each logistics service team, such as the customer service team’s answering efficiency, service attitude, processing efficiency, logistics problem-solving ability, etc.

Internet word-of-mouth: In the Internet age, everyone can express their voice on the Internet, so we can find the recent evaluation of the company from the Internet, so as to provide a basis for our judgment in choosing a freight forwarding company.

After-sales service: Find out whether the company has perfect after-sales service and whether it can compensate according to industry standards. In addition, for more expensive goods, whether to sign another compensation agreement is also very critical.

How can overseas buyers find a professional freight forwarder in China? The above two situations you have encountered will introduce how to find a professional freight forwarder in China. TJ CHINA FREIGHT has been focusing on freight forwarding for eleven years. It is a well-known logistics service company headquartered in Shenzhen. It can provide comprehensive and high-quality transnational logistics services for domestic and foreign customers.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • International • Logistic • sea freight forwarder

Analysis of Factors Influencing the Maritime Market to 2023

Compared to previous years, the second half of the year is the peak season for the freight market, as the end of the year is the peak season for sales and many retailers stock up well in advance for the big day.

Earlier this year, many expected this period to put additional pressure on ships and container space due to the typical surge in freight volumes. However, this surge did not happen in June as expected and July got off to a weaker start than many in the industry had thought. This means that – as of the date of publication – there is available container space and sea freight rates on some trade routes have even started to fall.

While the past few years have made it very clear that the market can change at any time, there are several potential reasons for lower-than-expected freight volumes. However, there are other factors to be aware of when planning upcoming shipments. Importers should work with their logistics providers to discuss the current situation and plan accordingly.

What is affecting China sea shipping market?

Although shipping space is currently not as tight as it has been in recent months, importers need to understand why this is the case and how the market is likely to be affected in the coming months.

Russia-Ukraine war  

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine could lead to delays for vessels in the future. Changes in consumer demand may also lead to changes in European freight volumes as the situation develops.

Port backlogs

As the global pandemic begins, the Port of Long Beach is making headlines with a record number of ships waiting to unload containers. This backlog has led many importers and their logistics partners to ship their cargo through other US ports, primarily on the East Coast. Those East Coast ports are now experiencing delays while ships are moving more smoothly through West Coast ports (although volumes are still high).

Rebalancing the normal flow of containers may take some time and could lead to other problems if the volume of cargo increases further.

China’s blockade

Blockades may occur with little warning as China has taken strict measures to prevent Covid levels from rising. When these measures come into effect, temporary factory closures, reduced shipments from factories to ports and lower factory productivity due to worker sickness could all lead to lower export volumes. Such reductions may make it easier to find space, but as we saw last year, prolonged or frequent blockades can lead to containers being stalled at ports and shipping companies may issue significant stoppages to help offset costs.

Reduced demand for household goods

Cargo on the TBED (Trans-Pacific Eastbound) trade lane consists mainly of household goods such as furniture and decorative items. With inflation on the rise, many shops dealing with backlogs and people spending less on goods, there does not seem to be as much demand for these goods as in recent years. This may be one reason why there is currently more available ship space than experts are predicting for this time of year. However, if demand picks up, capacity could be tight again.

There are many factors affecting the transport industry, but these are the main ones, so let’s hope that these next problems are alleviated.

/ By TJ China Freight / Cargo • Delivery • Logistic • Moving • sea freight forwarder • Shipping • Transport

Guide to the Rules for Importing Dangerous Goods From China to the USA | 2023

The transportation of dangerous goods always requires high requirements, after all, its chemical nature is more specific and those who do not understand it can easily fall into danger, therefore the United States has specifically enacted the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

  1. The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) has been implemented in order to counteract the risks to survival, property and the surrounding environment.

The US Department of Transportation regulates the entry of dangerous goods. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, hazardous materials destined for the United States or in transit within the United States must be checked for follow-up policies.

– The name of the hazardous material on the consignment note, bill of lading or manifest must be a detailed chemical and technical name, not a generic name.

– Shippers should provide full information on emergency handling of destructive cargo to the US Port Authority in advance through the service, i.e. Dangerous Goods Safety Data Card, or provide emergency handling instructions to the US Department of Transportation.

– The shipper’s emergency telephone number must be stated on the consignment note, bill of lading and manifest. And there must be a person on duty 24 hours a day, regardless of holidays, available to answer enquiries from the US side.

– There are a number of factors that apply to shipping from China to the USA using containers: the maximum weight of a container shipment is 38,000 pounds for 20 feet; the maximum weight for 40 feet is 42,000 pounds. The contents must be well padded and strapped; damaged goods inside need to be marked with visible symptoms and markings. The same applies to the outer surface of the carton.

New York and Los Angeles are ports that export more dangerous goods to the USA. Other towns to visit more often are Chicago and Boston. This is a complex and specialist technique and guidelines or guidance must be followed at every step.

  1. Dangerous goods considerations in road transport

Road transport is inevitable in the whole technique of transporting goods. We all know that it is usually the trucks that carry the goods to their final destination. On this road, there are several key points if you want to ensure the protection of dangerous goods.

  • Loading and unloading. It is important that handlers take care to protect themselves and follow strict handling practices. As I said above, most dangerous goods must be protected from any impact or influence to avoid explosion.
  • Parking. Cars or vehicles carrying dangerous goods are prohibited from being parked in general public places, including colleges and scenic areas.
  • Cleaning. Cars or vans that have been used to transport dangerous goods must be well wiped down and disinfected after unloading.
  • Packaging. Prior to shipment, packaging should be carried out in a safe manner, taking into account the nature of the risk item, the distance to be transported, street conditions, etc. Packaging should be strong and rigid, with clean, standardized, problem-free identifiable markings on the packaging.

It is important to understand the regulations related to the transportation of dangerous goods and to strictly follow the relevant regulations. At the same time, if you hire a good Chinese freight forwarder – tj china freight will get twice the result with half the effort

/ By TJ China Freight / International • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

How To Choose a Reliable And Suitable Freight Forwarding Company For Foreign Trade Novice?

In the face of many freight forwarding companies, how to choose a reliable and suitable freight forwarding company for foreign trade novice? Here, TJ China Freight will introduce how to choose a reliable and suitable freight forwarding company from four aspects.

  1. Service and price. Whether it is the first or second generation, as long as the price is within a reasonable range and the service can keep up, it can be used as an alternative. Just compare and shop around, choose a freight forwarding company with the right price, and leave some profit for the freight forwarding company, otherwise, the price will drop and the service will not be able to keep up, and the result will be unhappy cooperation between the two parties. In the international freight forwarding circle, it can be said that big or small can be small. After all, there are only a few big villages in a generation. When you ask the price of some freight forwarding companies with a list, the next generation may be the same, and the price and service you get after that are definitely not good, there is no way, who made you famous in this freight forwarding circle. So only win-win cooperation can last.
  2.  Freight forwarding company level. Freight forwarding companies are generally divided into first-level,second-level,third-level, and fourth-level. Generally, shipping companies will mainly issue route freight rates and shipping space to first-class freight forwarding companies(non-vessel operating carriers). The company maintains a good relationship with the freight forwarding company(similar to a first-class NVOCC). After the first-level shipping company agent gets the route price,it will be distributed to some subordinate second-level freight forwarding companies in the form of small profits but quick turnover.

Therefore, sometimes when the cargo owner directly asks the shipping company to apply for the price and space, it will be much higher than the price released by some freight forwarding companies.However choosing a freight forwarding company is also prone to problems. For example, when a fourth-level freight forwarding company is found once there is a problem the efficiency of the solution will be quite slow and it is easy to complicate things. Therefore when choosing a freight forwarding company,it is best to choose credibility. Higher first-class freight forwarding company (NVOCC).

  1. Choose the appropriate freight forwarder according to your own volume. If there are only a few parties per ticket and the delivery time is not very fast, then a freight forwarding company that specializes in LCL will be more appropriate. If each ticket is dozens of KG, then international express will be suitable for you. Before looking for a freight forwarding company to quote, you need to organize the cargo information, so that the price quoted by the freight forwarding company is accurate. The cargo information to be prepared includes product name, quantity, gross weight, volume, delivery time and destination, etc.
  2. Choose the appropriate freight forwarder according to the required service. If you need a freight forwarding company to provide one-stop services such as warehousing, receiving, loading, customs declaration, inspection, shipping, etc., overseas double-clearance door-to-door service, and agency tax refund service, then a reliable and suitable freight forwarding company is able to provide personalized services Service freight forwarding company.

TJ China Freight focuses on logistics, involving international express, air freight, ocean freight, China-Europe rail freight lines, and many other cross-border logistics channels covering Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan. With over 20 years of experienced employees carry out the mission of “we deliver faster, safer and easier” which leads us to provide high-quality, professional, fast logistical solutions to our clients.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • sea freight forwarder

2023 | Freight Forwarding FAQ Ultimate Guide

International trade is a large and complex trade, it is different from domestic trade, more contact with a number of countries, and then have different import and export standards of different countries and related matters, in order to help trade parties, the introduction of freight forwarding services. The following will provide authoritative answers to common questions related to China freight forwarder.

See below for the main services that China freight forwarding can provide respectively.

  • Customs clearance.
  • Packaging.
  • Insurance.
  • Import and export paperwork.
  • Storage.
  • Inventory management.

This list is not exhaustive; other operations can be performed by freight forwarding entities.

As these services are grouped under freight forwarding, the whole process of importing and exporting products becomes less stressful.

TJ China freight forwarder

Why is it profitable to use freight forwarding services?

We can see 5 key factors that make freight forwarding services helpful.

Flexibility. With freight forwarding services, you can easily change your choice of transport company or mode of transport without any hassle.

Versatility. A good freight forwarder knows how to react quickly and solve problems as they arise (such as rerouting to sea or air delays).

Cost-effective. Freight forwarding services can help you save a lot of money. Shipping companies handle bulk cargo, which makes it possible to reduce freight costs.

No customs hassles. Customs rules and regulations can make your deliveries confusing and complicated. A freight forwarder will ensure that you can avoid all these hassles.

Additional services. Such options include purchase tracking, packaging and on-demand reporting. When choosing a freight forwarder, it is a good idea to choose a company that offers helpful additional services.

If you need to export a shipment from China, TJ china freight has the best service for you, get a free quote for your cargo shipping now!

What are the main duties and responsibilities of a freight forwarder?

The freight forwarder uses the best routes and methods to deliver large shipments to their destination.

The freight forwarder must ensure that the goods reach the buyer in the shortest possible time.

Therefore, freight forwarders must make the most efficient use of multiple modes of transport.

The freight forwarder must carry out research while planning the route.

 

He needs to take into account

  • The type of product to be transported.
  • The distance to the final destination.
  • Any specific customer requirements regarding the final delivery time?

The freight forwarder is also responsible for the

  • The packing process.
  • Insurance procedures.
  • Customs documentation and other regulatory requirements.

A good freight forwarder must have a high level of organization.

She/he keeps a close eye on controlled shipments using satellite technology and software applications.

Finally, such a person (company) must communicate with her/his clients and make payments on their behalf.

What is freight forwarding insurance?

The freight forwarding process assumes a cash flow of billions of dollars, so insurance is an obvious choice.

  • Good insurance coverage for freight forwarder liability includes
  • Bill of Lading Liability.
  • Errors and Omissions (E&O).
  • Bailiff’s liability for warehouse and trucking operations.
  • Packing and container filling liability.
  • Container and transport equipment cover.
  • Customs liability.
  • Third party liability (mainly for 3PL companies).
  • Rail cargo

How does the freight forwarder deal with lost cargo?

In this matter, it all depends on the contract you have with the freight forwarder.

Freight forwarders also have similar liability contracts with shipping companies and carriers.

Generally, such agreements set out the course of action in the event of loss or damage to the goods.

Once the freight forwarder has entered into a contract, he will endeavour to ensure that no such trouble arises.

If it still occurs, the freight forwarder will take care of such damage himself or with the help of an insurance company.

How much does freight forwarding cost? What are freight forwarding surcharges?

The freight forwarding process entails various costs and fees.

They can be divided into two groups: ordinary costs and non-standard costs.

In any case, there are 3 general charges that must be paid in practice.

Air/land/sea freight charges. This is the most obvious one. It depends on the size of your shipment, the country of origin and the distance of delivery.

Some freight forwarders may include additional charges here.

Cargo inspection fees.

Airline security fees.

Fuel surcharge.

Pick-up fees. These are the fees associated with picking up the goods from the warehouse.

Freight forwarding handling fees. These are fees associated with different paperwork, including copying documents and preparing bills of lading. This fee may range from US$35 to US$75.

 

Non-standard (additional) fees may refer to

Certificate of origin. In some countries, you may need this document to verify the manufacturer of the product.

Hazardous substances. There are always additional costs and fees for handling hazardous substances.

Legalization procedures. In most countries, the legalization process is linked to the verification of the document by the consulate or embassy.

Please bear in mind that each country/region charges additional fees.

For example, the US government assumes additional export fees, such as TSA security and AES fees.

 

What are the common problems with the freight forwarding process?

The freight forwarding process faces many challenges.

The following are the most common problems.

Unclear rules of the game

Freight forwarding depends on the economic conditions of each country, as well as international regulatory rules.

It makes the process quite complex and unbalanced due to different rates, fees and charges.

Customs clearance complications

Following on from the previous topic, here is another problem with the freight forwarding process: uneven global customs regulation.

This limits the scope for freight forwarders to operate. This means that most freight forwarders will take their chances in local markets.

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

How to Aviod Get Scamed for DIY Importers?

As the DIY industry becomes more and more popular, more and more novice Chinese sellers are entering the market, but the reality is always harsh. Unfamiliar with the export process, some sellers have encountered a succession of scams in the China sea freight chain.

How to protect yourself

Because it is difficult for the government or private companies to stop scams before they occur in such a large market, it is not enough to rely on Chinese law or Alibaba’s terms of service to protect you. Buyers should avoid using smaller freight forwarders and unusually low offers should also be a cause for concern. Verify the Chinese business license of any freight forwarder you use and get a reference if possible.

Scam cases

Scammers will masquerade as freight forwarders on Alibaba or other business-to-business directories. Their advertised rates are usually significantly lower than other legitimate freight forwarders to lure unsuspecting buyers into their trap.

Once the goods have been packed for shipment from the port of loading, it is normally the freight forwarder who should issue the bill of lading. This is a mandatory legal document issued by the freight forwarder after shipment, specifying the buyer, the seller, the port of destination and the type and quantity of product to be shipped. Without a bill of lading, the port of destination will not allow you to take possession of the goods.

You guessed it. Importers who fall victim to this scam will never receive a bill of lading from their freight forwarder. Instead, they will receive an email ransom letter telling them to pay or never receive their product. If the supplier does not pay, many things can happen, none of which will involve the buyer receiving their product: the

The buyer may be responsible for storage costs after the goods have been unclaimed at the port for several days. Thus, every day of inaction ends up costing the buyer more money.

Customs may take possession of the goods and auction them off. Or, in the case of dangerous goods, customs officials will simply destroy them.

Also, remember that overseas suppliers are usually not responsible for anything that happens after the product has been shipped from the factory. Therefore, even if the buyer’s goods are held hostage by a stolen freight forwarder, the buyer is still liable to pay the supplier to stop their bargain – i.e. to produce the goods and ship them away.

Reliable China freight forwarders

TJ CHINA FREIGHT is a renowned logistics company in China. We specialize in FCL, LCL, and air freight services from major ports in China to other countries. Door to door service is one of our specialties. We are famous for our service with the aim of faster, safer and more convenient delivery. Our account managers are on standby to provide you with the best shipping quote in as little as 24 hours.

 

/ By TJ China Freight / China Freight News • Logistic • sea freight forwarder • Shipping

What Are the Differences Between Sea and Air Transport for Cross-border Logistics?

Cross-border logistics refers to the planning, implementation and control management process of the effective flow and storage of physical goods and information on both sides of the customs border. So what are the modes of cross-border logistics and transportation? What’s the difference? Follow the editor of the shipping system to learn about it!

Common cross-border logistics and transportation methods mainly include: international express, air transportation and sea transportation . The four major international express delivery companies are UPS, FedEX, DHL, and TNT. I believe everyone is familiar with them. So what are the differences between sea and air?

Shipping is a way of using ships to transport goods between ports in different countries and regions through sea lanes, including FCL and LCL.

Air freight refers to the use of aircraft as a means of transport to transport goods across borders.

sea freight, air freight, freight forwarder

The main differences between sea and air transportation are:

  1. The transport subject is different;

The main body of air transportation is major airlines and logistics companies, and the main body of sea transportation is major shipping companies.

  1. The transportation timeliness is different;

Relatively speaking, the timeliness of air transportation is higher, and the timeliness of sea transportation is slow, so you can choose air transportation for urgent goods.

3.Customs Clearance

Although there is not much difference in the customs clearance process between air and sea transportation, there is a big difference in the time limit for customs clearance. International air freight clearance is usually done within 1-2 days, while sea freight takes about 3-4 days. In addition, in terms of miscellaneous fees, declanation documents. etc.. air freight is less than sea freight. For example. when shipping from China to USA. sea freight needs to declare AMS (American Anti-Terrorism Manifest System), but air freight does not.

  1. 4. Shipping costs are different;

Air freight has high timeliness, but the transportation cost is high and the price is high. Although the sea freight is relatively slow, the transportation cost is relatively low.

  1. 5. Different inspection methods;

When transporting goods by air, the principle of first inspection and then warehousing is implemented, which is faster; shipping needs to pick up and unpack boxes, which is time-consuming and costly.

If you choose large and heavy goods, then sea freight may be your best choice; while air freight has the least resistance and the shortest transportation route. Because the air assist is far less than the frictional resistance of water and the ground, the straight-line transportation distance of air transportation is also far less than the curved transportation of sea transportation.
However, when choosing sea freight, the bill of lading should be carefully checked, and it must be checked with the contract and LC. If there is an error, it should be corrected in time. Insurance should be timely and supplementary insurance should be carried out according to the different goods.

The above is about the difference between sea freight and air freight. If you want to know more, you can follow us! TJ CHINA FREIGHT shipping system can provide logistics track tracking, face sheet printing, container arrangement, shipping notification, logistics node information reminder, financial bill management, delivery order management, quotation management, shipping report management and other systems for shipping dedicated line logistics enterprises. functional service.