Do You Need A Ph.D. In International Shipping To Do Business Overseas?

Of course not... However, like anything else, the more you understand and the more experience you gain, the better and smoother your specific international shipping operation will become.

My name is Daniel and other than being a guest blogger for ETC International Freight Systems from time to time, I have little to zero experience in international shipping. That said, I know I can help you in 2 different ways. One being the big picture and the other with specifics & important details I have learned working with a successful & experienced air & ocean freight forwarding service like ETC.

First, you should know that I have been managing and developing a service business myself since 1999. I say this because there are some very key differences in building a service business and a business that sells products overseas or domestically. If we can agree on that basic conclusion, I will go on to say that I provide a professional marketing service to many clients around the world and in the realm of this discussion I would like to share one common denominator I see & experience with every client, every prospect and just about all other businesses that I have spoken with over the years.

I call this common denominator the "spinning-brim" syndrome. If you are the owner of any small to medium sized business, you are forced to wear many different hats. I just think it's easier if we put on one hat with 6 different brims so we can just rotate the hat as each of our endless responsibilities hit the desk. Thus, a spinning brimmed hat. Some leaders understand and see this challenge for what it is and decide to maintain control of so many responsibilities when others let it happen & grow without even being aware that it is happening. Some leaders have never learned to delegate responsibilities efficiently. Other leaders have simply decided they don't like or want to delegate those responsibilities. I have spoken with many leaders that have determined that it's the budget that dictates how and when to bring in other professionals. The worst of these examples are when decision makers have become so overwhelmed that any clarity & reason isn't within their grasp.

As a professional service provider, I live to see those moments when a business leader sees the light and makes the commitment to better efficiency. Maybe I am bias but I see nothing wrong with that because it still helps others differentiate and comprehend different business strategies. You, as a leader must decide which strategy will work best and which one could work against your objectives. ETC International Freight Systems and it's Owner/President Reid Malinbaum is an example I use regularly to point out how leadership, strategy, ego control, delegation, priorities & consistent evaluation can all come together to rid a leader of spinning hat syndrome. International shipping that includes both air freight and ocean freight services is no joke. I have a better view than many and can tell you with confidence that overseas shipping, including warehousing & distribution is a complex and sensitive operation. Reid Malinbaum & ETC International Freight Systems is an excellent example of what is possible when the owner or leader of an organization can zero in on what he/she does best while putting other professionals in place to "help" manage other critical departments or tasks. Never forget your expertise & just as importantly don't confuse necessity with skill. If you become ill, you call a doctor. If you have legal challenges you work with an attorney. This is the thinking that is part of a well organized & highly skilled operation.

I hope this perspective and this example can help you as a leader to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and strategically place other trustworthy professionals in a position to help you grow, become more efficient and more successful. Avoid cutting corners to save a nickel and be sure to place a skilled professional or skilled team in place to help you reach all of your goals more effectively.

As I described earlier in this article, international shipping and freight forwarding can be a complex task and certainly demands a professional team and experienced management. ETC International Freight Systems is a perfect example. As a bystander with a unique point of view it's easy for me to recommend ETC for any overseas shipping or freight forwarding needs. I have personally seen the quality and care that goes into this specific overseas shipping operation and have always been genuinely impressed. They are a great example and resource for any product based business to partner with a highly skilled international shipping team.

Finally, I am listing some important overseas shipping, freight forwarding, warehousing & distribution terminology & acronyms to help the management of your organization communicate that much better.

• Airbill (AWB) - The document that shows the details of any air freight shipment. It can be a receipt and is issued by the airline or freight forwarder.
• Bill Of Exchange - This is an order issued by a seller that instructs the buyer to pay a specific bank.
• Bill Of Lading (B/L) - This acts as a document of title allowing possession of goods to be transferred. It also serves as a receipt to the consignor for the goods & a contract of transport including all conditions.
• Breakbulk - Cargo that is non-containerized
• CAF - Currency Adjustment Factor
• Cash Against Documents (CAD) - The buyer pays for the goods as soon as they receive the seller's documents.
• CIP - Cost & insurance paid
• CFS - Container freight station
• Customs Duty - A tariff or tax levied at the time goods are imported.
• DDU - Delivery duty unpaid
• Dumping - Selling of goods in a foreign market at a lower price than the home market.
• Exchange Rate - The price of one currency against another.
• FAK - Freight all kinds
• FCL - Full container load
• FI - Free In, international ocean freight terminology "free" means not included.
• FO - Free out
• FIO - Free in & out
• FOB - Free on board
• Freight Forwarder - An organization that arranges the transportation of goods on behalf of the buyer or the seller.

ETC International Freight Systems encourages you to subscribe to this blog where we will continue adding helpful information to make your overseas shipping goals easier, with less stress & more efficient. These guys are true experienced, international shipping experts. You can also get a quote for any air freight or ocean freight service by using the button below.