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Personalised Freight Solutions Global facilitates the movement of freight globally. It is our job to ensure that our customers are educated to empower them to make the best choices for their shipping needs.
Here are some common FAQ's that may assist in getting the process started.
✓ Bill of Lading
✓ Commercial Invoice
✓ Packing List
✓ Packing Declaration
✓ Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
✓ Treatment Certificates (if applicable)
An international freight forwarder is not necessary in the shipping of goods globally. It however can prove to be very beneficial as an international freight forwarder uses their expertise and knowledge to efficiently move freight from a sellers door to a buyers door.
A Customs Broker is an individual or private company that is licensed by Australian Border Force to declare goods on behalf of importers and exporters. It is necessary to use a customs broker when moving commercial goods in and out of Australia.
Each, an International Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker, perform a different role in the shipping transaction. An individual international freight forwarder cannot perform the work of a licensed customs broker. However, an international freight forwarding agency can offer customs broker services through a contracted or employed customs broker. By doing this the international freight forwarding agency can offer a full end to end solution for Import and export.
On departure from Port of Loading, PFS Global will liaise with your seller to obtain documentation, standardly documentation can include:
✓ Bill of Lading
✓ Commercial Invoice
✓ Packing List
✓ Packing Declaration
✓ Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
✓ Treatment Certificates (if applicable)
This will depend on the mode of transport and shipment commodity.
Your customs broker will provide your customs declaration with their invoice, you pay the customs broker and they will pay customs to execute release of the cargo prior to delivery.
Put simply, an Incoterm is the international language of who pays for what in an international purchase. An International Freight Forwarder will need to know the Incoterms used in the international sale to give accurate pricing for their services. The Incoterm will determine how much involvement you will need by the international freight forwarder.
When obtaining a quote from your overseas supplier, make sure these are formally stated on the quote received from the overseas supplier, as this will limit any unexpected charges down the line. The following are the most common used:
Ex Works (EXW) - Seller is required to make goods available for pickup at their own place of business. All other transportation costs and risks are assumed by the buyer. The full pick up address at origin will be needed (including any applicable postcodes). This can generally be found on the supplier’s quote, however, it may differ, so we recommend having your supplier re-confirm.
Free on Board (FOB) - Seller pays for transportation of the goods to the nearest port/airport of export, plus loading costs. The buyer pays the cost of sea/air freight transport, insurance, unloading, and transportation from the arrival port to the final destination.
When looking at the quantity of your shipment, ask for advice from your international freight forwarder on the most economical way to ship.
Options include a 20’ or 40’ foot ‘full container load’ (FCL), ‘less than a container load’ (LCL) or air freight (AF). To be as accurate as possible with pricing, your supplier will need to provide:
● Total cartons/pieces
● Size of each cartons/pieces
● Weight of each cartons/pieces
International Freight moved via Sea Freight in a "Full Container Load" (FCL). 20' Shipping Container accommodates approx 33 CBM and a 40' Shipping Container approx 66 CBM. Loose boxes or pallets can be consolidated into a shipping container. Cars, machinery or boats can all be loaded as 1 piece. Internal dimensions of a 20' General Purpose Container container is 5.89m x 2.35m x 2.36m and a 40' General Purpose 12.05m x 2.35m x 2.46m. If more height is needed a 40' High Cube can accomodate 2.69m high. It is important to note though that the door opening of a 40' High Cube Container is 2.59m and needs to considered when packing the container.
International Sea Freight moved as boxes or palletised is known as a "Less than Container Load" (LCL). The shipping is charged in relation to the volume the cargo occupies in the shipping container. Calculated with the weight or total cubic metre (CBM), whichever is higher. To calculate the total CBM of a shipment, take each piece measurement in metres and multiply the Length x Width x Height together (e.g 1.0 x 1.2 x 2.0 = 2.4cbm). If the weight of the piece or pieces in tonnes exceed the total CBM then the shipping will be charged per the weight. LCL can accomodate both boxes or cartons being shipped unpalletised, however, for the safety of cargo PFS Global recommend the cargo generally be palletised for international sea freight.
Lift on Lift off sea freight shipping is for cargo that generally cannot fit into a shipping container and is not self propelled. The shipping is charged on the basis of the size or weight of the cargo, whichever is greater. The cargo is loaded onto the vessel via the ships crane and discharges in the same way. The vessel operator facilitates the securing of the cargo once on the ship, on loading. When the cargo is discharged, it will either be discharged onto the docks and a shore crane will move to a holding area ready for collection. Alternatively, a discharge straight onto a truck with the ships crane is common. It is the responsibility of the receiver to secure the load on discharge to remove from the wharf.
Roll on / Roll off vessels are used for all types of cargo to be shipped internationally via Sea Freight. Most commonly, wheeled cargo. Machinery, cars, buses or Trailers. Roll on Roll off vessels have built in ramps that allow for loading of the cargo onto the vessel. Where cargo is not wheeled, known as static cargo, it is loaded onto a Mafi trailer. The Mafi trailer is a wheeled platform owned by the vessel operator that facilitates the static cargo to be moved on and off the vessel via the ramp. A Mafi trailer measures 12.64mL x 2.65mW x 0.742mH and can facilitate cargo up to 130,000kg. If approved by the shipping line, a Mafi can facilitate movement of cargo larger than the dimensions of the trailer.
Does the thought of importing direct from the factory sound too hard? International freight can seem confusing and overwhelming at times, but it doesn’t have to be! With a reliable international freight forwarder like PFS Global in your corner, and asking the right questions, importing has never been easier! It can even save you and your client a lot of money!
Quote Stage
1. Request that the product quote can be provided in USD
2. What are the incoterms of the quote provided?
EXW – Ex Works Address for Collection:
FOB – Free on Board Port of Export:
Other incoterms
3. How will the product be packaged?
Carton dimensions: …………… x …………… x …………… cm
Number of pieces per carton ……………
Weight per carton …………… kg
4. Can a Certificate of Origin be provided (specific for countries with Free Trade Agreements)
Yes – FOC Yes – with cost USD$ …………… No – PFS to arrange (USD$56)
Order Stage
1. What are the payment terms with the supplier?
2. Do you need to consider payment to the supplier prior to release?
3. When will the goods be ready from production? ……………
4. Request the following commercial documents to be made available to PFS Global once products are ready:
Don't Forget!
Once your order has been placed, please send PFS Global the following details for us to start the freight process.
PFS Global can service any location in the world. However, our strengths lay in importing from and exporting to:
Security seals are mechanisms used to seal a shipping container in a way that provides tamper evidence and some level of security. Such seals can help to detect theft or contamination, either accidental or deliberate.
Shipping Container Seals are fixed at Port of Loading, bolt cutters are needed to remove the seal when opening the shipping container at Port of Discharge.
Founder Rebecca Young, talks about who pays who when it comes to Import Customs Duties & Taxes.
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