Top 10 Freight Forwarders in the United States

Freight forwarding companies play an essential role in the transportation of goods and merchandise around the world. They are responsible for managing the logistics and transportation of goods, including handling customs clearance, documentation, and transportation arrangements. Freight forwarders are vital partners for businesses that rely on the timely and efficient delivery of goods.

Here are the top 10 freight forwarders in the USA:

  1. DHL Global Forwarding: DHL is one of the world’s largest logistics companies, and their freight forwarding division is no exception. With over 40,000 employees worldwide and a presence in over 220 countries and territories, DHL is a reliable and experienced freight forwarder. They offer a range of services, including air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, and warehousing and distribution.
  2. Kuehne + Nagel: Kuehne + Nagel is another major player in the logistics industry, offering a range of services including air and ocean freight, road transport, and contract logistics. With a presence in over 100 countries, Kuehne + Nagel has the experience and expertise to handle any logistics challenge.
  3. DB Schenker: DB Schenker is a global logistics company that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, land transport, contract logistics, and supply chain management. They have a strong presence in the United States, with over 8,000 employees and 100 locations across the country.
  4. Expeditors: Expeditors is a well-respected freight forwarder that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, and warehousing and distribution. They have a strong focus on technology and innovation, and their online platform provides real-time visibility and control over shipments.
  5. Panalpina: Panalpina is a global logistics company that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, supply chain management, and customs brokerage. With a presence in over 70 countries, Panalpina has the experience and expertise to handle complex logistics challenges.
  6. UPS Supply Chain Solutions: UPS Supply Chain Solutions is the logistics division of UPS, one of the world’s largest package delivery companies. They offer a range of services including air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, and supply chain management.
  7. Agility: Agility is a global logistics company that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, road transport, and contract logistics. They have a strong focus on technology and innovation, and their online platform provides real-time visibility and control over shipments.
  8. BDP International: BDP International is a privately held logistics company that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, and supply chain management. With a presence in over 135 countries, BDP has the experience and expertise to handle any logistics challenge.
  9. C.H. Robinson: C.H. Robinson is a leading third-party logistics provider that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, trucking, and customs brokerage. They have a strong focus on technology and innovation, and their online platform provides real-time visibility and control over shipments.
  10. Damco: Damco is a global logistics company that offers a range of services including air and ocean freight, supply chain management, and customs brokerage. They have a strong focus on sustainability and are committed to reducing their carbon footprint.

In conclusion, the above-listed freight forwarders are among the top 10 in the USA. They all have the necessary experience, expertise, and technology to handle any logistics challenge. It is always recommended to research and compare multiple freight forwarders before choosing one to ensure you select the best fit for your shipping needs. If you need a China freight forwarder to arrange your shipment, TJ China freight will always be your reliable partner.

Ultimate Guides for DDP Shipping From China

What is DDP from China?

DDP is an abbreviation of Delivery Duty Paid. the seller delivers the goods to a place designated by the buyer’s country and pays import duties, including inland transportation from the point of entry to the buyer’s location.

Who is The Importer of Record on a DDP Shipment?

In DDP freight, the importer is recorded as the foreign shipper of the goods. For US example, Foreign shippers must obtain foreign entity customs bonds from US customs brokers through freight forwarders or surety companies (single or annual/continuous).

What are the responsibility of the seller under DDP Incoterms?

EXW (EX Works) represents the seller’s minimum obligation, and DDP represents the maximum obligation. The responsibility, cost, and risk all fall entirely on the shoulders of the seller.

The seller (exporter) is responsible for all costs involved in delivering the goods to the designated destination and clearing customs in the importing country.

The seller may also need to obtain import licenses, permits, or specific payment methods and customs. If the seller cannot obtain an import license, DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) shall be used instead of DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).

What are the responsibilities of the buyer under DDP Incoterms?

The buyer’s liability is minimal in a DDP shipping from China agreement. These are the unloaded goods at the pre-arranged transshipment point and their final destination. The buyer does not need to provide assistance or advice regarding import responsibilities or any other documents, and the buyer also does not accept any risks during transportation.

What are the benefits of sellers and buyers under DDP incoterms?

Seller’s Benefits

Like any general international trade terms in transportation where the seller controls the export of goods, the DDP allows the seller to control logistics costs and adjust them accordingly to maximize profits. It also allows the seller to choose which transportation service is willing to provide the largest profit for the contract.

Buyer’s Benefits

For inexperienced or busy buyers, the DDP shipping from China is numerous. Since the full responsibility for cargo transportation and paperwork mainly falls on the seller, the buyer can only focus on arranging sales. Before the goods arrive, the buyer enjoys a trouble-free situation because they have almost no responsibility.

DAP vs DDP shipping: how are these two differ?

DAP (Delivered At Point) is different from DDP. Under DAP, the buyer is responsible for customs clearance, duties, and taxes. Under DPP, the seller is obliged to clear the goods and pay import duties and taxes. DAP is more suitable for situations that do not require customs clearance at the border or customs during the import process.

What are the Risks of DDP Shipping from China?

  • Low-value customs declaration

If it is a small package, they can try to pass it through customs by placing a low value on the customs declaration form. If you are arrested by customs and asked for a tax, but you must pay the tax.

  • Wrong HTS Code

An HTS Code known as H.S. Coding or Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System is used by U.S. Customs to classify products using codes to determine the import duties and taxes. Some sellers will use the wrong H.S. code to lower the taxes and duties they have to pay. Be mindful of dealing with sellers because some offers might be too good to be true. There are many cases where buyers got in trouble when they used Alibaba DDP shipping.

For accounting purposes, the buyer needs the correct documentation and proof. If you have a wrong code stated in your Commercial Invoice, you cannot use this for your business tax declaration.

  • Hidden/additional charges

DDP shipping meaning Delivery Duty Paid shipping, is a method where the seller will cover the cost of VAT (Value Added Tax). VAT can be up to 20% of the item’s price plus duties. If there are VAT refunds, the buyer will receive them, but the seller must bear the cost.

Sellers usually increase the air or sea freight price that will pay for these taxes and customs duties. If the buyer agrees to this, the seller shall shoulder other hidden charges within the shipping process.

What are the advantages of hiring TJ China Freight As Your DDP agent?

TJ China Freight is one of the most reputable China freight forwarders providing sea freight, air freight, rail freight, ddp, ddu and more. TJ China freight’ expert team has rich experience in DDP, DDU from China and has got amounts of satisfied clients all over the globe for DDP shipping cases. You will get:

  • Reliable and hassle-free service

We will provide a hassle-free transportation solution in which the company in charge handles the end-to-end process. This includes picking up the shipment, performing quality control, handling all documentation, paying all applicable taxes and transport costs, and delivering it on time and safely to its destination.

  • 7*24 Hours Client Support

You will get all the necessary updates and answers to your queries from our team. It is our primary concern to provide support to your delivery needs.

  • Most Competitive Rates.

TJ will provide you with best rates without compromising in service.

Why Choose Rail Freight for Shipping From China to Europe, Central Aisa & Russia?

In addition to general sea freight and air freight ways, rail freight is a new way of transporting freight that is preferred by many people.  Rail goods trains are a very efficient way of shipping from China to Europe, they are cheaper than air freight and take much less time to travel from China to Europe than sea freight. So if you are looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to get your goods from China to Europe, rail freight is the way to go.

The China rail freight to Europe is known as the Eurasian Continental Bridge. It is the longest railway line in the world, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany before reaching its final destination

How much does it cost to transport a container by rail?

By train it will cost between US$ 7,000 and US$ 9,000. On the other hand, sea freight costs US$ 6,000 and air freight costs US$ 32,000. In the last few years, China rail freight has offered a cheaper alternative to China air freight , with faster transit times than sea freight.

What are the advantages of rail freight

  • Competitive prices
  • Reliable schedules
  • Guaranteed delivery times
  • More reliable and consistent transit times

How can containers be transported from China to Europe by rail?

A rail goods train can carry up to 40 x 40 foot full containers at a time, which means it can transport up to 8 million pounds of cargo at a time. That’s enough cargo to fit two fully loaded Boeing 747s!

Rail freight is also more environmentally friendly than road transport, as it produces less CO2 emissions per tonne kilometer transported.

Freight trains have a higher loading capacity than trucks, which allows them to carry heavier loads at a lower cost per tonne-kilometer transported.

China-Europe Railway Freight Line

The first Sino-European train was successfully launched in 2011, and since then Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Yiwu, Wuhan, Changsha, Harbin and other provinces and cities have been opened to major European countries: Duisburg, Germany, Hamburg, UK, Liege, Warsaw, Poland, Milan, Italy, Madrid, Spain, Tilburg, Netherlands, Lyon, France, Brest, Belarus.

The trains do not stop along the way and the route is from China to the EU train stations. The trains run directly from China to different destination train stations in the EU.

To cope with the difference in gauge between China and Europe, the train will have to stop twice at the borders of Kazakhstan and China and Belarus and Poland to reload the containers onto a new set of rail wagons, which normally takes less than 48 hours.

The transit time is factored into the departure date, so you can rest assured that your goods will arrive on time.

How long does it take to ship by rail from China to Europe

Rail freight is a very efficient way of transporting goods from China to Europe. Rail freight from China to Europe takes between 15 and 20 days, which is much faster than using other methods.

16 days for rail freight from China to Germany

Rail freight from China to Hungary 15 days

Rail freight from China to Poland 14 days

Rail freight from China to Spain 20 days

Rail freight from China to Austria 20 days

Rail freight from China to Hamburg 16 days

China to Belgium rail freight 16 days

Rail freight from China to France 18 days

Rail freight from China to Italy 18 days

Rail freight from China to Europe and the UK

Rail freight from China to Europe is often referred to as the Yiwu London goods train / China-European Banlin / Eurasian Railway Initiative under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, all referring to the same mode of transport: A Block Train caring 40 x 40HQ full container load (full container) direct from China to Europe with no stops in between. A China freight forwarder will help you to develop the most cost-effective rail transport solution

In recent years, due to the opening of the China-Europe train, which has significantly shortened the transport time between China and Europe, many companies have also started to put rail transport on their transport list. Besides air or sea freight being your main transport option, rail freight from China is also a good choice.

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.

2023 Latest Shipping Guide| Read It To Make You Understand More About Shipping

Main feature

Ocean transportation is carried out with the help of natural waterways, which are not restricted by roads and tracks and have a stronger passing capacity. As the political, economic and trade environment and natural conditions change, the route can be adjusted and changed at any time to complete the transportation task.

With the development of the international shipping industry, modern shipbuilding technology is becoming more and more sophisticated, and ships are becoming larger and larger. The ultra-large oil tanker has reached more than 600,000 tons, and the container carrying capacity of the fifth-generation container ship has exceeded 5,000 TEU.

There are two main types of maritime transportation: liner transportation and chartered transportation. Liner shipping is also called regular ship shipping, and charter shipping is also called irregular ship shipping.

Mode of operation

  1. Liner transportation

Liner shipping refers to a kind of ship that conducts regular and repeated voyages between specific routes and established ports in accordance with a predetermined schedule to engage in cargo transportation and collect freight charges in accordance with a pre-published rate table. shipping method. Its service objects are non-specific and scattered cargo owners, and the liner company has the nature of a common carrier.

  1. Chartered transportation

Chartering refers to a method in which the charterer leases a ship from the shipowner for cargo transportation, and is usually applicable to bulk cargo transportation. Relevant routes and ports, types of goods to be transported, and sailing time are all confirmed by the shipowner in accordance with the requirements of the charterer. The rights and obligations between the charterer and the lessor are determined by the charter contract signed by both parties.

Advantages of shipping

  1. Large carrying capacity.

A very major advantage of ocean freight is the ability to handle oversized, heavy or bulky cargo – commonly known as bulk or non-trailer (NIT) cargo, including large vehicles, equipment, construction materials, and more. The carrying capacity of sea ships is far greater than that of rail and road transport vehicles. The world’s largest oil tanker is 500,000 tons.

    1. Low freight.

From the point of view of economies of scale, because of the large volume and long voyage, the transportation cost allocated to each ton of goods is small, so the freight rate is relatively low. Is the most economical international shipping option(Let’s say you have a hundred pounds of clothing that need to be shipping from China to Australia).

  1. Strong adaptability to goods.

Ocean shipping ships can meet the needs of various transportation. Many ships are now specially designed according to the needs of the cargo. For example, multi-purpose ships and specialized ships provide conditions for the transportation of different goods.

  1. Good security

Vessels are designed for the safe transport of hazardous materials and dangerous goods. Ocean Freight is well-versed in the handling of such cargo and has regulations in place to ensure the safety of ships, crews, cargo and the environment. With the improvement of maritime transportation safety, the rate of cargo loss caused by accidents during transportation has been decreasing. Containers are designed to keep cargo sealed and locked during transit, further increasing the security of shipments.

Like the means of transportation on land, sea transportation can also be divided into passenger transportation and freight transportation. What we mainly understand today is freight transportation . According to the different types of cargo transportation, freight can be roughly divided into dry bulk, oil transportation, containers, general cargo, liquefied gas transportation, chemical transportation, and some special goods transportation, such as semi-submersible ships and some ships used for oil tanker drilling Wait.

The transportation of the entire bulk trade by ship or sea can be roughly divided into three categories: dry bulk shipping, container shipping, and tanker shipping. The research on shipping in the market mainly focuses on three aspects: dry bulk cargo, oil transportation and containers . When it comes to the good and bad of the shipping market, the fluctuation of the shipping market, etc., it is also analyzed from these aspects , among which containers are the most common . You often see ships with neatly stacked boxes on the seashore. They ship some of the most commonly used light industrial products or small daily life. Supplies, etc., many large coastal cities have container terminals that provide loading and rest.

Dry bulk carriers and oil tankers, we have relatively little contact with them in our daily life, and we can only see them when they are docked at the dock. During sea transportation, they will not sail close to the sea, so there are not many opportunities for you to see them.

From the perspective of global shipping trade classification, whether it is dry bulk cargo, small shipments, or some other general cargo ships, they add up to almost half of the entire ocean freight volume, that is to say, the dry bulk cargo transportation situation. Good or bad has a decisive impact on the entire shipping market .

Dry bulk carriers mainly transport bulk dry bulk cargo, such as iron ore, coal, grain, etc. , and the cargo is loaded into the hold for transportation. Oil tankers are mainly used for the transportation of crude oil or refined oil . The loading and unloading process is to pressurize crude oil or refined oil into tanks inside the ship through pipelines for transportation. Consolidation is to pack the goods into boxes of uniform size, and then code the boxes on the deck to fix the cards and reinforce them to prevent movement caused by bumps during sea transportation.

If you are seeking in terms of delivery, it is known to find freight forwarders is the cheapest and most convenient method, the major international courier agents, the volume of goods opened the agency discount account, usually find them to send prices as long as the official half or even lower, very cost-effective. Here best China freight forwarder, TJ China freight with more than 20 years of experience in freight forwarding, is committed to creating the most perfect experience for our customers, we always welcome your contact.

 

2023 | A Guide to Common Shipping Documents in International Trade

International trade is a responsible affair and different countries correspond to different regulations and require different relevant documents. The choice of shipping method corresponds to different materials, so below is a list of a few of the most commonly used shipping documents that should give you an idea of what documents are required to ship your goods or personal effects.

Commercial invoices

A commercial invoice is a document presented by the seller containing the name, quantity and price of the goods. A commercial invoice is effectively a note or invoice from the seller to the buyer describing the agreement between the parties on the terms of sale and purchase of the goods.

The commercial invoice is mainly used for import and export of goods between countries. It is mandatory in international trade. The commercial form of the invoice is used for customs clearance and collection of duties, and some countries require the original invoice for customs purposes.

It also records the goods being transported, the place from or to which they are being shipped and the names of the parties or businesses involved in the transport of the goods.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

A BOL has a lot of information. The B/L must have the name of the consignor and consignee, the origin, the destination and the quantity of goods. It is one of the most important documents you will care about when shipping internationally.

There are two forms of bill of lading. A non-negotiable bill of lading is a registered bill of lading, also known as a non-negotiable bill of lading.

In this case, the goods recorded on the bill of lading can only be picked up by the specific consignee on the bill of lading, in other words, the carrier can only deliver the goods at the port to the consignee named on the bill of lading for unloading.

A bearer bill of lading is negotiable – the carrier delivers the goods to the person holding the bill of lading. As a shipper or customer, you should always have a copy of the bill of lading because you prove that you own or have the right to claim the consignment.

A bill of lading is a written document provided by the carrier, usually signed by the shipping company’s transport department, certifying the carrier’s acceptance of the particular goods received in the form of cargo and its responsibility to deliver the goods to their destination. destination or to the named consignee.

Insurance document

An insurance policy is a certificate of cover issued by an underwriter who has underwritten insurance. This is the insurance of the goods purchased at the port of export prior to shipment. This document will be the basis of your claim if these goods are lost, stolen or damaged in transit.

Packing List

A packing list is a document detailing the contents of a shipment. As a supplementary document, it sets out details of the packing matters agreed between the buyer and seller in the letter of credit (or contract) so that foreign buyers and customs can check the destination of the goods when they arrive in port.

Usually, the commercial invoice includes the relevant contents, but when explicitly required by the L/C, the packing list must be produced strictly in accordance with the L/C.

Certificate of Origin

A certificate of origin is a document issued by the relevant government agency of the exporting country to prove the origin or place of manufacture of the goods. It is mainly used by the customs of the importing country to implement differential tariffs, import duty rates, import quotas, etc. according to different national policies.

Importers require exporters to provide certificates of origin, which are available in various forms. The most widely used are Certificate of Origin and GSP Certificate of Origin, which are commonly used in countries or regions where customs invoices or consular invoices do not need to be provided.

If you are importing from China, the certificate of origin is issued by the Chinese government’s customs department.

Air Waybill

This shipping document is issued by the air carrier or its agent. It is the carrier’s receipt of the goods and is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, proving that the carrier has received the goods you have listed in the AWB and that the air waybill is also non-negotiable.

It is also your proof that the carrier is responsible for the removal of your goods to the named destination.

Import Licence

Some countries require importers to obtain a prior licence for the import of certain goods. Otherwise, they cannot engage in this business.

These countries limit the amount of imports for the sake of homeland protection. So foreign companies have to apply for an import licence in order to import some goods.

Relevant Dangerous Goods Certificates

For certain goods you must prepare a Dangerous Goods Certificate. If the goods you are transporting are dangerous goods, you will need to use a Dangerous Goods Note, also known as a DGN.

The DRG will give details of what dangerous goods are, what risks may be involved in transporting them and how to transport them efficiently and safely. For example, if you are transporting lithium batteries, you will need an MSDS.

Our advice

Knowing the correct way to prepare these documents is very specific and must be done properly, otherwise even minor errors in the documents will be enough to keep your goods in customs for a long time.

Worse still, you will have to pay fines or penalties. To avoid this, it is a good idea to have your international shipping provider or customs broker assist you with all documentation requirements.

In addition, you need to know which documents are relevant to the laws of the country you are importing or exporting to, the goods and the mode of transport. For example, sea freight and air freight have different documentation requirements.

When you need to import certain goods from China, you should choose a professional China freight forwarder to hedge all the risks for you, a professional doing a professional job to achieve twice the result with half the effort. TJ China freight is a good choice for you.

Shipping from China to USA: Everything You Should Know

Ways to ship from China to US

  1. International commercial express

International commercial express refers to the express and logistics business carried out between two or more countries (or regions). After the international express shipment arrives at the destination country, it needs to be delivered in the destination country before the express shipment can be delivered to the final destination. International express parcel delivery is fast and the service is excellent, but the price is relatively high. Common logistics carriers include UPS, DHL Express, FedEx, etc.

  1. Air freight

Air freight refers to a mode of transportation that uses aircraft as a means of transportation for cross-border transportation of goods.

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

How to choose FCL or LCL?

Depends on the volume of the consignment to be shipped. The minimum container type of a standard ocean freight container is 20 feet. If the volume of the consigned goods is less than 20cbm, it is recommended to use LCL transportation; if it is larger than 20cbm, use FCL transportation.

How much does it cost to ship from China to US?

Different goods, different routes, the corresponding international express freight is usually not the same. The price of sensitive goods (liquid, powder, liquid, food, medicine, F brand, etc.) will be higher than that of general goods, and sea freight will be cheaper than air freight.

International express charges

  1. The weight of an international express package is divided into actual weight and volume weight. The international express company will use the larger of the two weights as the billing weight.
  2. Calculation of the volume weight of DHL, TNT, UPS and FedEx (Federal) four major international express delivery (length*width*height/5000); calculation method of volume weight of air or ocean special line package: (length x width x height/6000), Relatively speaking, the price of the special line with double clearance and tax package will be more cost-effective, and it is a more cost-effective mode of transportation

At this point, you’re likely wondering how long packages from China take to arrive in the US. In general, shipping by air is much faster than shipping by sea. With all the supply chain blockages due to COVID-19, it’s become increasingly common to see delays in shipping.

When you import goods from China, you must prepare for the Chinese New Year shutdown. However, you should also be aware of other Chinese holidays, here is the full calendar of holidays and observances in China.

1. Express shipping

Express shipping usually takes 4 to 7 days. If your product has a high-profit margin, you might want to use this option to get your product on the shelves as quickly as possible. Here the average shipping times for express shipping to the US. depending on the carrier. EMS takes 3 to 16 days, DHL takes 1 to 4 days, FedEx takes 1 to 5 days, and UPS takes 1 to 5 days as well.

2. Air Freight

Air Freight is quite like express freight. However, your regular air freight shipment won’t be a priority because you did not pay the extra fees. There is a wide range in shipping times with air freight. Anywhere between 7 and 15 days.

3. Sea Freight

Lately, we’ve seen numerous port closures in China due to the coronavirus. This has had a domino effect on all aspects of shipping, but it has harmed sea freight the most. Nowadays, Sea freight to the west coast of US is 15+ days. Sea freight to the east coast is going to be about 30+ days. Get your business a professional China freight forwarder to book space for your goods to make sure it will not be affected by season, holiday or other events.

In case you want to ship sea freight to the east coast, you might be better off receiving your goods from a port on the west coast and sending them to your destination by truck or by rail.

2023 Marine Insurance Must-Knows

In international trade contracts, there is usually insurance an item, the delivery time of sea freight is usually about 10-15 days as the routes involved are far away, so the unexpected risks are often much more unstable than domestic freight, in order to avoid these risks to maximize your rights and interests, international trade has introduced marine insurance, which will give you more peace of mind, no matter what conditions arise the insurance company speaks to bear The insurance company will cover any risks that may occur.

What is Cargo Insurance

Cargo Insurance coverage is initially intended to cover people who import on export goods by sea, and Cargo Insurance usually covers all or part of the loss on damage to the subject matter of the insurance if the goods are damaged or lost in transit.

Essentially, it is designed to transfer risk for any type of the shipment of goods or property. If you are the owner of a business and you are shipping valuables by sea, without insurance you could suffer irreparable losses.

Transport insurance is always beneficial

The business of importing and exporting goods from one part of the world to another can be fraught with many risks. The availability of insurance coverage can prevent such losses.

Your goods are in transit and you have to wait and hope that they arrive safely at their destination. Can you imagine goods being damaged or lost in transit due to an accident? Your customer will take it very seriously when your goods are in transit and there is an accident. Your customers would see this as a defect in your product. The availability of insurance coverage can prevent such losses.

You will also often fnd that the cost of marine insurance is actually much lower than the overall freight costs. lt is also true that, at the cost of service, you only have to service a little.

What is covered by marine insurance?

This is why you need to have good coverage in your shipping policy. Marine insurance can cover risks or only those risks specified in the policy. it is important to be fully aware of the insurance risk coverage provisions.

This type of policy protects against extensive damage that can occur during transport. For example, the insured goods may be covered if a container falls into the sea in the event of a fire during the transportation of sea cargo.

If anything goes wrong during transit, your insurance policy will cover some or all of the goods so that your business can reduce its losses.

How to buy insurance

Obtaining an insurance plan prior to shipping is essential to protect your goods from any form of accident that may occur during transit. Obtaining such a policy is vital. Anyone involved in the import/export business must be aware of cargo insurance issues.

You should consider and review it carefully. How you insure your goods can vary greatly in terms of protection and insurance costs Seller’s quote

This is a CIF or CIP contract where you pay for goods with cargo insurance already included. The supplier will be responsible for insuring your goods, the supplier is the insured and if there is a problem with the goods the supplier will take care of everything.

Buying through a China freight forwarder or customs broker

In addition to providing sea freight services, Chinese freight forwarders also offer some secondary services to help carriers purchase cargo insurance. When you ask a freight forwarder for a freight quote, you can ask them to take out insurance through them.

The insurance rate usually depends on the value of the goods you want to insure, and once the insurance is in place, you are insured and the freight insurance will take the risk for your goods. and in the unlikely event that you have some problems with your goods and need to negotiate with the insurance company, the freight forwarder will take care of this. Carriers

Some carriers, such as courier companies, can offer freight insurance on a per-shipment basis. Usually, this means that you will have to pay a small premium based on the value of the goods.

They can give you a quote at the time of dispatch to you. lf necessary, you will receive a certificate of insurance in order to make a claim.

Buy it yourself

This is a free option. lf your purchase contract does not include cargo insurance then you can buy it yourself. By bypassing freight forwarders, customs brokers, and overseas suppliers, you buy your own cargo insurance. Deal directly with the insurer and search their network to find the bespoke marine cargo insurance that best suits your individual business needs.

If you have an application, you are the insured and the insurance company issuing the policy is entitled to process the claim fairly.

In any case, marine insurance is a necessary item in trade, it is just divided between different traders.

Things You May Be Interested In About Amazon FBA

What does Amazon FBA refer to?

  1. The full name of Amazon FBA is (Fulfillment by amazon), which literally means fulfillment by Amazon. In fact, this service launched by Amazon is very simple, that is, the seller will prepare the goods in advance to the warehouses built by Amazon around the world. When a seller has an order , Amazon performs follow-up work such as packaging, labeling, shipping, and customer service on behalf of the seller.
  2. That is to say: after a foreign buyer places an order, if the goods are shipped in China, the timeliness will be very poor, and the buyer may not receive the goods for more than a week. In order to improve the service quality and level, you can use the FBA freight forwarderservice provided by Amazon, and according to the sales forecast, first ship the goods to foreign countries in large quantities by sea, air or international express, and then enter the Amazon FBA warehouse. In this way, once a foreign buyer places an order, it can be shipped directly from the FBA warehouse. For example, after an American buyer places an order, the goods will be sent directly from the American FBA warehouse. This is equivalent to the domestic express delivery in the United States, and the timeliness and quality are improved promote!
  3.  “FBA first journey”. FBA first journey refers to domestic shipments (by sea, air, international express… …) Until the goods enter the Amazon FBA warehouse, the period of logistics and transportation that can be put on the shelves for sale, as well as a series of related businesses such as customs clearance and tax payment.Amazon fba

(1) Sending the goods to Amazon, that is, the first step of FBA sellers is usually the only step that needs to be operated by themselves when doing FBA. Sending the goods from their own warehouse to Amazon’s warehouse requires labeling and other operations.

(2) Amazon Warehouse Commodities. After the goods arrive at the Amazon warehouse destination, the seller needs to register the goods with Amazon and store them in the Amazon warehouse for short-term storage.

(3) Amazon picking and packaging. When the seller receives the customer’s order, Amazon will sort out the seller’s goods from the inventory according to the order and pack them, waiting for delivery.

(4) Products delivered by Amazon Amazon will be responsible for the delivery of products from the FBA warehouse, and will also be responsible for the consumer’s return/exchange activity requirements.

Should you choose a freight forwarder from China or the country of your destination?

Regardless of the mode of transportation from China to the country of your destination, it is always best to choose a freight agent from China because the Chinese freight forwarder has the advantages of language and geography, becoming the ideal choice for overseas transportation. This will make the shipping process faster, will save you time, and the shipping price will be cheaper than your country’s shipping agent. In the shipping process, you will also need a Chinese warehouse for storage and preparation.

An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have these abilities: he will be fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese; it will have a thorough knowledge of the Chinese business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, category and sourcing process experience, quality control experience, audit experience, and logistics experience. Local forwarders (from the country of your destination) will often have to contact another agent in China to handle the picking, preparation, storage, and customs clearance, which will lead to higher costs and time.

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