Welcome back!
Let us not assume this smile is still on my face now behind my desk keeping my nose to the grindstone. Truly, when you are in the shipping business, commerce does not stop for your holiday break. I am back to a status quo between the ILWU & the PMA (international longshoreman warehouse union, pacific maritime association). Still debating the ILWU contract renegotiation since July 2014 & still seeing the ILWU dirty maneuverings keeping the Long Beach/ LA ports congested with shippers paying through their noses for delays taking place. JOC related that the ILWU wants 27% increase compared to 4% rise in containers moved through those ports (refer to past blogs for more accurate details). 2015 our local ports will lose businesses to the Gulf & East Coasts ports.
ETC International Freight System have seen an increase through the end of the year for small air shipments coming from new shippers with no experience, but a great deal of demands assuming we own the airplanes, pilots & customs here or overseas.
The regular shippers are also pushing for the end of the year inventory to boost their numbers plastering us with ocean shipments to a variety of world destinations. For sure, our operation department deserve an award putting out long hours to make the deadlines work.
Our overseas shippers leaning on us to get their air freight shipments keeping the air freight manager on alert about 24/7 (no kidding) with calls coming in on our cell phone at 3 AM in the morning.
It sounds like I am complaining & really I should not as we are making a living out of this frenzy. Also, I must add, I am not in the operations & I have it easy compared to my colleagues.
Consulting DPT.
Here I come! Shippers with big or small project developments needing to understand the regulations, timeframe or projected estimations; here I am your experienced consultant. Whether, you are a large industrialist or a small, independent business owner witth questions, I welcome you to call ETC International Freight System at my direct line (310) 632-2555 or email us at Sales@etcinternational.com or simply fill out our form by clicking below:
Jumping on a freight train is dangerous
Call ahead of time with a good understanding of the product you want to ship. If you import, deal with an American forwarder, do not trust your supplier with the goods & the freight. Dealing local (made in America) has its rewards. We can get you the complete cost without omitting transfer fee or filing with the US Customs the ISF (import security filing) 48 hours prior to the shipment leaving the overseas port or airport (avoid expensive penalty). ETC International Freight System will get you behind the scene experience, lifting your freight & customs knowledge.
Know what you are running after
When shippers begin discussing pricing with overseas vendors, which should read FOB (free on board) overseas port or airport of departure, gather quickly and before speaking with your freight forwarder the description, unit price, packed weights & dimensions as well as the harmonized system number (HS code number) from your supplier. In doing so, you will avoid unsubstantial conversations that won't advance your query.
Freight Terms / Glossary
New shippers, learn some of the freight terms & review with your freight forwarder what will serve you best.
GLOSSARY
Freight terms
- Shipper: A person or a company sending freight (theoriginator
- Consignee: A person ora company receiving the freight (the receiver)
- Carrier: A transportation provider (truckers, railroad, airline, steam line)
- Freight bill of lading: A legal shipping document between a shipper and a carrier for the transportation of freight (reflect all parties involved and shipping terms of sales)
- Free on Board (FOB): ex-factory charges up to the origin port / airport
are for the shipper’s account. Consignees are responsible once delivered to the port / airport of origin all the way to their site. - Cost of freight (C & F) or Cost of Freight + Insurance (CIF): Freight
charges payable by shipper & up to the destination port / airport only. (Always refer to ETC International Freight system disclosure / information sheet) - Loss or damage cargo: While in transit in a carrier’s possession will fall
under the terms & conditions of the carriers’ liability coverage, as shown on their terms & conditions. If am insurance coverage is purchased through ETC International Freight System & a claim is filed timely with the carriers with supporting documents, the insurer will handle the insurance refund. - Common Carrier: Transportation providers
- Freight forwarder: A booking agent on behalf of the shippers handles the export declaration to the USA Customs and other logistical freight services
- Customhouse broker: A clearing house through Customs for importers
- Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier: Wholesaler of space. Buy from carriers’yearly space in bulk.
- 3PL: A 3rd party outsourced logistic company (warehousing & distribution)
- Interline Shipment: When more than one carrier is used during
transportation to move a container from the destination port to a door location (IE# Hong Kong to Chicago via Long Beach) - Door to Door: Transportation services from the origin / destination curb sides (duty paid or unpaid to be defined). The originator of the request (shipper or the consignee) is responsible to pay all charges. (Always refer to ETC International Freight system disclosure / information sheet)
- Consolidation services: NVOCC re-group shipments into a warehouse from various shippers, load a full container load, ship to a destination port to their agent known as the break-bulk agent that will segregate the each shipment readying it for its final destination (refer to your shipping terms)
- Terminal / Deport: Where cargo is shipped or picked-up from.
- Cross-dock: A terminal receiving (inbound), storing & exporting
(outbound) - Full Truck Load (FTL): using the whole trailer (53’)
- Less Than A Container Load (LTL): Consolidating a shipment with others into a truck.
- Full container Load (FCL): exclusive use of 1x20’ or 1x40’ ocean
containers - Less Than a Container Load (LCL): Consolidated shipments into a full
container load Intermodal: Ocean containers transferred onto a truck chassis or railroad for final or depot delivery - Reefer: Refrigerated ocean container
- Drayage: Local trucking
- Line-haul: Trucking from depot to airlines warehouses
- Long-haul: Long distance from terminal to terminal
- Detention / Demurrage: Assessed by the carriers to the shipper / consignee for keeping a shipment longer than the authorized time.
- Diversion / Re-consignment: Change of consignee name on the bill of lading while the freight is in transit (cost associated with it)
- Bulk Cargo: vehicles, tank, grain moved by bulk-ship types
- Break-bulk cargo: Each piece is handled by the terminal handler
(stevedore) - Pallet or Skid: a 48” x 42” heat treated (HT stamped for export) wooden platform on studs
- Dunnage: Materials inside a container used to secure (IE# bracing &
blocking a vehicle) - Stock-keeping unit (SKU): A line-item of inventory that is a different
type or size of good. Freight weight measures: Short ton (American) 2000 lbs. Long ton (English) 2240 lbs. Metric ton (1000 kg. 2.2046 lbs. - 20’ ocean container unit (TEU) Standard 20’ container: Measuring capacity for a vessel.
- 40’ ocean container (FEU):Standard or High Cube container: Measuring
capacity for a vessel - Slot: Location of a container on a ship
- Liner shipping: regular sailing schedules between specified ports
- Tramp shipping: irregular sailing schedules (IE# Bulk ship)
- Ocean conference: cartel of vessels sharing trade points with set rates
- Alliance: airlines or steam lines coordinating each other’ s schedules and selling capacity
- Container leasing: supplied by the carriers to shippers for the duration
of the voyage - Lo-Lo: lift on & lift off for conventional container cargo ships. Cranes are used on the quay to load /unload.
- Ro-Ro: roll on, roll off. A method by which the cargo is wheeled on & off a Ro-Ro ship
More terms are available, some more obscure. For a quote please contact us at www.etcinternational.com or email us at Sales@etcinternational.com. Call 1-800-383-3157Click here for a rate quote:
