International Shipping & Freight Forwarding Blog

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Being a TSA certified known shipper will help you get the cheapest international shipping rates because it opens many doors and avenues not available to those who aren't.

In response to the events of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) instated new regulations in order to ensure the safety of domestic and international air flights. The TSA was made responsible for instating these new regulations and programs as well as overseeing all transportation by truck, rail, ocean, and air.

One of the programs the TSA instated is the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS). It is one of TSA’s most important implementations in order to strengthen air cargo security by establishing procedures for air carriers, indirect air carriers, and freight forwarders to distinguish between known and unknown shipping agents that deliver their cargoes for air transport.

What does this mean for securing the cheapest international shipping available? It means when you comply with these regulations, you'll have access to more opportunities that result in lower shipping rates AND better routes.

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Who knew we had so many hazards in our lives?

Hazardous shipments come in a lot of different forms, from the obvious, like chemical compounds and paints to the maybe not-so-obvious like perfumes we spray in our faces and the alcoholic spirits we drink.

If you're shipping an automobile or motorcycle, you MAY avoid calling it hazardous, but only if you follow the strict guidelines, such as draining enough gasoline before packing it up. Do you remember our blog article about specialty shipping services where we touched on the race car we helped ship? They had to separate everything to avoid dealing with one large hazardous sea freight shipment.

Yeah, but what about my Tesla? There's no gasoline in there, so does it qualify? Actually, electric vehicles are most DEFINITELY treated as hazardous cargo because of the self-contained lithium ion batteries.  So, although it may not seem intuitive at first, when you're shipping something overseas, you'll want to ensure you're following the proper guidelines, so you can avoid any unnecessary complications.

Even shipments having only a very small quantity of hazardous contents need to follow the proper regulations.

So, what does this mean for you? Many shipping lines have their own, self-imposed regulations outside of other governing agencies, and if your'e not careful, your shipment could be rejected by the port itself. So, rather than deal with the woes as they happen, here are some things to consider and take care of prior to pulling the trigger.

 

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THERE IS NO MORE HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY THAN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:

This particular blog is a bit on the lighter side for two reasons. First, we think it's important to take advantage of the opportunity to take a step back and look at the less serious side of your job and second, there are some entertaining stories and facts in this article that will help you with the first reason.

Before we move forward to the world of strange and puzzling international shipping regulations, here are some more serious articles and information to make your overseas shipping challenges easier to solve:

• First: Get An Accurate Rate Quote For Your Shipping Needs
• Second: Tips To Reduce Your Overseas Shipping Budget
• Third: Have You Consider Your Warehousing & Distribution Options
• Forth: What To Know About Shipping Contracts, Before You Sign

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