Everything You Need to Know About International Freight Shipping

Any successful company operating internationally must have a robust and reliable shipping process in place in order to maintain its reputation and credibility.

Goods must be shipped safely and securely, adhering to the laws and regulations in place.

In perpetually fluctuating global, economic, and political climates, this is much, much easier said than done. The entire international shipping process–from packaging to storage to customs clearance–is quite complicated.

Since there are so many moving parts, it behooves any international business to use a freight company with experience and expertise to help them navigate these (oftentimes) challenging waters.

We will give you an outline of what you should be aware of when it comes to freight shipping internationally.

Every Country Handles International Shipping Differently

This might seem obvious, but it is important to emphasize: there is a wide array of procedures, customs, and communication styles in the world. Businesses worth their mettle are aware of these differences, and embrace the agility needed to be successful in various regional markets.

Are you a Seattle-based company looking to ship goods to The Maldives? You need to be aware of what can and cannot be imported there, what tariffs might be in place for certain goods, and how customs payments are processed. You need to know which application forms need to be filled out depending on what you are shipping.

And those are just a few considerations.

Bottom line: businesses cannot afford to make mistakes, especially when it comes to high-value freight shipments, so you need to know the ins and outs of the markets you will be exporting to/importing from.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Here is a basic breakdown of what an international shipment looks like from an exporter’s perspective:

1. Paperwork is filled out to identify exactly what and how much is being shipped
2. The goods are sent to a facility where they will be stored until…
3. The goods are sent to the exporting nation’s border/customs point, where they will undergo customs clearance
4. The goods are loaded onto a vessel and sent to the importing nation
5. Once the goods arrive at the importing nation, they will undergo a final customs clearance so that they can be delivered to the end-point destination

As we mentioned, this is a fairly bare-bones breakdown. There are many nuances and details that exist within these 5 steps. Having expert input and consultation is crucial to understanding and implementing the entire process, legally and successfully.

Why Use a Freight Company?

Since the international shipping process has so many moving parts, it can be daunting for your business to handle. Running a business is difficult enough without having to worry about managing freight.

Not to mention that with the Covid 19 pandemic, the global shipping industry has endured a serious downturn. Laws and regulations have shifted dramatically, requiring a recalibration of how goods are handled and transported.

There will always be unpredictable challenges posed to businesses operating internationally–new governments, pandemics, quickly evolving technologies.

Your business needs a freight company prepared to handle these challenges for you, coordinating all the complexities involved, to give you peace of mind so that you can focus on other aspects of your business.

Don’t do it all yourself. Count on our expertise to position yourself well for the future.