Pick-up, transit, delivery... These are the three basics of every ocean freight quote. On the surface, acquiring an accurate ocean freight quote might seem like a breeze. However, each of these seemingly simple elements contains a subset of questions your provider needs to answer to establish an exact price. The more information you can provide at the beginning will make the process quicker and your final invoice that much closer to your initial quote. No surprises mean accurate budget forecasting for your business. Whether you're new to the world of ocean freight or find yourself always trying to reconcile quotes with invoices, we'll walk you [...]

Whether you’re shipping or receiving goods, the Incoterms® you agree to can either make or break your bottom line. By defining who’s responsible for transportation, insurance, and tariffs, the Incoterms rules ultimately determine your final costs as either a buyer or a seller.  To help you understand the intricacies of these terms—and what they mean for you—we’ll walk you through all eleven of the 2010 Incoterms Rules.  We’ll also show you why Incoterms are only half the story when negotiating your contract. There’s one additional element you need to include, and ignoring it can cost you big. We’ll show you why. Let's start by understanding exactly what Incoterms are—and why they matter [...]

International air freight and ocean freight volumes continue to grow, despite the fact that many countries are turning to global import tariffs to protect domestic production of goods. Ultimately, this growth signals that international freight will continue to be a day-to-day reality as international business continues to thrive.If you're new to shipping freight internationally—or you simply want to leverage this shipping method more effectively—we'd love to help you brush up on the major concepts and get your piece of the growing global marketplace.Below, we'll walk you through our answers to the most frequently asked (and most important!) questions we get around international freight.Question #1: Which [...]

Ocean freight invoices have a tendency to cause confusion for experienced and inexperienced shippers alike. Because the industry is steeped in history and tradition (and jargon!), understanding exactly what you've been charged for can feel like a mystery—until now. In this article, we'll walk you through the most common charges you'll see on your ocean freight invoice. By understanding these line items, you'll get a better handle on the real cost of shipping your goods. Additionally, we hope that clearing up the confusion will build your confidence with this shipping method so you can continue to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. Depending on your [...]

There's a lot of confusion around the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS) program—and with good reason. As part of its mission to protect the United States' transportation systems, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has kept the program's requirements largely secret. However, here's what you need to know: If you're regularly shipping goods via air cargo, becoming a known shipper can save you both time and money. In this article, we'll explain how. Additionally, while there's no official process to apply directly with TSA, we'll show you a quick workaround that will be your fastest path to becoming a known shipper. First, let's set the groundwork [...]