Air and Sea Freight: What you need to know before shipping

If you are considering overseas air or sea shipping, then congratulations!! You are now entering the big leagues, joining other business people operating on a larger scale. Overseas freight shipping can expand your business exponentially and position you as a market leader. Now that you are looking to take the next step, here’s what you need to know…

The FOUR things all International Shippers must know

As defined, international shipping is importing and exporting goods between different countries via ocean or air. Because international shipping involves crossing borders, it may attract a lot of logistic complications. To be successful, every businessperson looking to import or export freight must know the following:

• They should understand their local shipping regulations
• They should learn and follow the specific international shipping policies
• They should collect paperwork so their freight passes customs clearance
• They should plan for time zones changes, language barriers, and currency exchanges

Moving overseas freight has far more implications than local shipments since every country has its unique laws.

Navigating Overseas Freight Shipping: A 3-step guide to a smooth process

Here are the three key factors you should have at your fingertips when shipping international cargo:

1.  Collect Information

This may seem trivial, but if not done right, it will attract bigger problems than you can imagine. Gather all the shipment information and organize it in the required form. In our experience, failure to do is one of the biggest causes of shipping delays, leading to losses for many businesses. By carefully filling in the documentation and providing the required paperwork, you can be assured that your cargo will arrive safely and in good time.

• Track Progress

This goes without saying, but you need to track your shipment to ensure safe arrival. If you can, invest in a real-time tracking software. Alternatively, you can find a service provider who does. This will save you time and money as you will seamlessly oversee and get timely updates on your freight. 

• Seek Expert Advice

Having a trusted partner to work with when dealing with international freight is important. It can be a consultant or a logistics company. Their years of experience in navigating the nuances behind international transportation and logistics will give you an easy time shipping.

How it all works – Exploring Your Shipping Options

International shipping borders on two well-known modes of transportation, that is, by air or by sea. Let dive into each mode and explore the options you have for any you select. 

International Ocean Freight Shipping

This is perhaps the oldest global logistics mode known to man. It, however, remains a staple of logistics due to its consistency and reliability. Before you ship, you need to determine which container size is right for your goods.

The standard size of ocean freight containers is 20 feet and 40 feet, both the standard width and high cube. Almost all global shipping companies use these containers but don’t always offer the same services. For larger shipments that don’t fit in standard containers, we use what’s known as a “flatrack.” However, regardless of the size of your goods, your shipment will either be classified as Full Container Load (FCL) or Less Container Load (LCL).

(a) International Less than Container Load (LCL) Shipping

This means a load that does not fill a whole container. In this case, we load another shipper’s goods into the container to cushion you from paying the full amount while only using a small amount of space. At times we even facilitate this process by mobilizing many business people to ship their goods jointly. We call this process of sharing consolidation. 

(b) International Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping

FCL shipping is the opposite of LCL shipping. It means you’ve booked your container and can fully use the space. With LCL shipping, the container can only leave once it’s full. However, with FCL shipping, you don’t have to wait on new cargo to arrive.

International Air Freight

Air transport is the pinnacle of all innovations by man, in logistics. Overseas air freight shipments are fast and the best when time is a factor. While air freight services tend to be more costly than ocean freight, some companies view it as a necessary cost. The viability of airborne shipping depends on your company’s:

1. Logistic timelines
2. Business objectives/needs
3. Cost trade-offs

By far, air freight is the fastest international shipping method, with the price reflecting the expedited timelines.

Make sure you find the most suitable logistics partner for your business before commencing the shipping process. If in doubt, click here for an easy guide on how to identify the best logistics partner.