Freight shipping has become an important part of the customer service of most companies. Some of the major companies that require freight shipping to send and receive goods are e-commerce stores, medical clinics, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturing or industrial companies.
For businesses that ship abroad, the return of goods due to damage can be a burden in terms of money and time. As such, here are some tips on how to prepare your cargo for international shipping:
Understand your Shipping Options
To make sure that you are using the best shipping option for your goods, make sure that you understand your shipping options. Today, there is a wide range of international shipping companies like 3pl logistics that you can talk to depending on your needs. Talk to your carrier or shipping consultant to know the best shipping services for your timeframe and budget.
Know your Product
Create a detailed description of your product for shipping. You can talk to your customs broker regarding the import or export schedule. Research on what licenses or registrations are required by government agencies. Talk to your freight forwarder or customs broker to avoid any penalties if you fail to comply with any regulations. The majority of the freight forwarders have counterparts in the destined ports. They can gather those requirements for you but you must do the job too. Make sure to ask your buyers about the things that are required of you as the shipper.
Check the Company’s Licenses
You also have to make sure that your freight shipping company such as 3pl logistics complies with the shipping market. You can do this by checking out their registration and license. You can check it on their website or physical office. Companies with licenses are trusted by high-end shipping businesses. This is because they tend to have an excellent degree of customer service.
Ready your Goods for International Shipping
Next, analyze how protected your goods are for the entire journey. This is true for larger goods. It is not just making sure that the goods are protected. It is also about getting it ready for what international shipping throws at it.
This means that you have to make sure that your goods are stackable. It is also important that your goods are protected no matter where it is placed. See to it that it can withstand being handled by a forklift. In many international deliveries, the goods are loaded and lifted by a forklift. As such, you have to be sure that it is ready for safe handling.
The goods you ship by sea must deal with the motion of the ocean. If your goods are being sent by a plane, see to it that can handle tilting. This occurs during takeoff and landing. Think ahead and prepare everything inside the packaging to be compact. Finally, if your goods are being sent by road, see to it that it can withstand vibration or shocks during mechanical handling and road transport. It must not be fragile when packed to avoid serious damage to the goods.