How Freight International Services Can Help Your Business
Whether your company needs to transport high-value goods and products or simply want to reduce its environmental footprint, freight international services can help.
Air freight is faster than shipping by sea or land, so it’s a smart choice when you need your gear to get there sooner rather than later.
Air Freight
International air freight services offer fast, flexible transportation freight international services options. They’re particularly useful for time-sensitive or urgent cargo that could lose value if it’s shipped any slower than necessary. Air shipping can be costly, but it’s often worth the extra expense to get your goods where they need to go.
Air freight services work by placing your shipment into the cargo area of a passenger plane. This limits your size and weight options compared to ocean or land freight, so it’s important to consider how large or heavy your package will be before choosing this option. You can choose between a flat rate or an air cargo charter, which allows you to pay for more space and weight.
Another important aspect of air freight shipping is its dependable departure and arrival times. Sea and road transport can be more unreliable, especially when weather or border regulations interfere. Air freight services are highly regulated, and they’re much more likely to arrive on time than other shipping methods.
One benefit of shipping internationally with an experienced team is that all the boring administrative work can be taken care of on your behalf. Getting customs arrangements, contractual fine print and other logistical details squared away is crucial to an effective overseas shipping experience. Mistakes can carry financial penalties and cause delays, so it’s best to leave this work to the pros.
Sea Freight
Ocean freight, or sea container shipping, is one of the most commonly used transportation methods. From transporting mass quantities of consumer goods (CPGs) to moving vehicles and electronics, ocean freighters move the majority of the products traded globally. It is also the most cost-efficient way to ship international cargo.
Like air freight, sea freight international services must navigate customs at both ends of the trip. That’s why you need a logistics company that has experience working with both types of cargo, and offers full packaging and crating services before your gear gets on the boat.
When your product shipment isn’t time-sensitive, sea freight might be the best option. While it will take longer than air freight, it can still be a cheaper option. It is also the most common mode of transport for bulk shipments, whether they are dry or wet.
If you’re importing more than five times per year, it may be worth looking into a customs bond. This is a surety bond that guarantees payment of any duties and taxes to the government upon freight international services entry. You can choose to get a single-entry bond or a continuous one, depending on how frequently you plan to import. Then, you can leave the paperwork to a logistics partner and focus on what matters most: building your business. You can also rely on them to provide comprehensive international supply chain management services.
Truck Freight
Trucks are great for shipping goods across long distances and can be used to deliver shipments within a specific timeframe. They are reliable and offer visibility into your shipment throughout the journey. Additionally, they can transport a high-volume of goods with ease and are usually very fuel efficient.
Truck rates vary by load type. FTL, full truckload shipments typically have cheaper and more reliable rates than LTL, less-than-truckload shipments. Rates increase with demand, which can be influenced by seasonal changes in consumer shopping patterns and supply chain issues that constrain supply.
Using a freight international service to manage your shipments can be an effective way to optimize logistics and get your goods from point A to point B efficiently and reliably. Freight international services can provide you with a truck shipment quote that takes into account fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs are those that remain consistent, like insurance and equipment leases. Variable costs are those that fluctuate based on how busy you are, like driver pay and gas.
Less than truckload (LTL) shipments are a popular method of transporting freight. They’re ideal for businesses with enough cargo to fill an entire trailer, but not enough to qualify for a full truckload. They’re also the fastest way to ship freight if you need your goods to arrive within a certain timeframe.
Logistics Coordination
Logistics Coordinators work with all employees who are involved in a supply chain warehouse, including Warehouse Workers, Inventory Clerks and Delivery Drivers. When complex problems arise with delivery costs, shipment timelines and inventory levels, these individuals are called upon to logically address and solve them. They are also responsible for confirming purchase orders, as well as processing and approving freight bills.
They must have good problem-solving skills to quickly find solutions. In addition, they must be computer-savvy and have the ability to efficiently input data into logistics software on a daily basis. Lastly, they should have excellent written and verbal communication skills since they will need to communicate with customers and other team members over the phone or via email.
Logistics Coordinators can also perform manual tasks such as assembling, addressing and stamping shipping labels, as well as receiving, packing and arranging incoming merchandise and materials. They also need to be able to accurately maintain precise records of all shipments and returns. They also need to be able to adjust their logistical plans and strategies when needed. Other soft skills that Logistics Coordinators need to possess include teamwork and impulse control. These skills are important to ensure that the entire logistics process runs smoothly, regardless of unforeseen challenges. These issues may include a broken down truck, weather conditions or misinformation about shipment locations.
