Detailed explanation of foreign trade freight knowledge: full analysis from containers to air freight

Containers, pallets and seals

In foreign trade transportation, Container is the most commonly used loading tool. Common containers are divided into two specifications: 20 feet and 40 feet. The 40-foot containers are divided into flat containers and high containers. Specific specifications are as follows:

• 20-foot container: Dimensions are 5905mm × 2350mm × 2392mm, volume is approximately 33.2 cubic meters.
• 40-foot flat container: Dimensions are 12036mm × 2350mm × 2392mm, with a volume of approximately 67.7 cubic meters.
• 40-foot container high box: The dimensions are 12036mm × 2350mm × 2697mm, and the volume is approximately 76.3 cubic meters.

For products with refrigeration requirements, 40-foot refrigerated containers are usually used. The choice of container specifications depends on the product characteristics. It is necessary to pay attention to the limited weight regulations of containers in various countries’ terminals. For example, some limit the weight of 20-foot containers to 17 tons and the limit of 40-foot containers to 25 tons. In addition, there are lunch box-sized convex corners at the upper left and right corners inside the container, which will affect loading. This factor needs to be considered when calculating the loading capacity.

Pallets are used to place goods for automatic loading and unloading by forklifts. Usually made of wood, it can bear a maximum load of 2 tons. Because European and American countries have regulations on the import of wood products that must be fumigated and inactivated, containers using wooden pallets must also be fumigated and obtain a fumigation certificate. Those who do not want to undergo fumigation can choose plastic or composite wood pallets.

Lead seal is a special one-time lock for containers, with a unique corresponding number. It is sealed immediately after loading and recorded on the bill of lading. Unless checked by customs, it should always be delivered to the consignee in good condition.

Freight terminology and operations

In foreign trade freight, there are many jargons and terms. For example, “customs clearance” means that when the goods fail to be cleared in time or the customs declaration information is incomplete, in order to meet the shipping date, the customs clearance is flexibly processed the day before the ship sails. “Container dumping” refers to the fact that customs-cleared goods are not loaded on ships in time due to port congestion and other reasons and are detained. “Trailer” refers to using a container trailer to pull the container from the station to the location of the goods for loading and return. “Search” means that the containers are randomly selected for inspection by the customs, and the cargo owner will bear additional inspection fees. “Small cabinet” and “big cabinet” are the common names for 20-foot cabinets and 40-foot cabinets respectively. “Heavy container” refers to a container loaded with goods, while an unloaded container is called a “good container”. “Throwaway goods” refers to goods that are large in size and light in weight. For such goods, the fee or fee increase is generally calculated based on the volume. “Heavy cargo” refers to cargo that is small in size but heavy in weight.

According to the handover situation of cargo transportation at the station CFS, field CY, and door DOOR, it is divided into different modes such as CY-CY, CFS-CY, and DOOR-DOOR. These methods will be shown on the bill of lading.

Shipping company/freighter statement

The shipping company/cargo statement is a document similar in nature and format to the beneficiary statement, which is issued by the shipping company or freight company to prove that the freight company meets customer requirements in its shipping operations. Common types include a statement that the ship’s age meets the requirements (for example, within 15 years), a statement that it does not fly the Israeli flag (commonly required by Middle Eastern customers), etc.

Situations that may be encountered during cross-border e-commerce shipments

After the goods are sent out, sometimes the logistics will encounter various problems, such as the logistics information is not updated in time, the goods are in transit for a long time, the confirmation of receipt has not been properly delivered, or the goods are lost, etc. At this time, the seller should take the initiative to communicate with the buyer to prevent the buyer from filing a dispute or leaving a bad impression. If the goods can arrive successfully within the estimated time, the seller also needs to promptly inform the buyer of the relevant freight progress.

Related progress in cross-border e-commerce freight transportation

If the logistics process reaches the buyer’s country smoothly, the seller should always track the package and inform the buyer of the progress in a timely manner. After the goods arrive at the customs, the buyer must be notified to pay attention to the news to ensure that the goods are received in time. After the goods are delivered, you can ask the buyer whether the goods received are in good condition and ask the buyer to give praise and feedback.

Cargo charter capacity market

E-commerce has shortened the release cycle and supply method of consumer goods, and flexible and efficient air transportation is the first choice for logistics companies. Airlines have many freight forwarders, and the quality and price are equal. The order of cargo delivery usually depends on the customer’s bid and agreement. During the off-season for cargo, there is plenty of space and the timeliness is not much different from that in the peak season. The waiting space on low-cost airlines and connecting flights is sold at “floor prices”. The air freight feast in the peak season belongs to the hatch agents of the four major express delivery companies and airlines. Those limited space resources and key stalls are the bargaining chips to manipulate the market.

Basic knowledge of international freight forwarding companies

International freight forwarding companies accept the entrustment of consignees and consignors of import and export goods to handle international cargo transportation and related business and collect service fees. Its business scope includes cargo solicitation, space booking, consignment, warehousing, packaging, cargo loading and unloading supervision, container loading and unpacking, distribution, transfer and related short-distance transportation services, customs declaration, inspection application, inspection application, insurance, etc. .

Common air cargo channels

Civil aviation is divided into three major categories: passenger, cargo, and general. Cargo airlines are divided into express cargo airlines, cargo departments of passenger airlines or all-cargo subsidiaries, and pure cargo airlines. There are two methods of air transportation: one is a pure cargo plane, and the other is transported using the belly hold of a passenger flight.

Term explanation – air cargo terms: flight transportation and charter transportation

There are two modes of air transportation: flight transportation and charter flight transportation. Airline transportation refers to aircraft with fixed departure times, routes, departure stations, destination ports and docking stations. Charter transportation means that the airline rents the entire aircraft to one or several charter operators according to agreed conditions and rates, and transports the goods from one or several airports to the designated destination.

Cross-border e-commerce freight and logistics: key steps to optimize transportation process

Cross-border e-commerce sellers need to carefully plan and manage the freight and logistics process to ensure that goods can reach consumers around the world safely and quickly. Goods preparation and packaging, transportation mode selection, logistics partner selection, customs declaration and clearance, transportation tracking and customer communication are all key steps in optimizing the transportation process.

The above content combines the basic knowledge of containers, pallets, and seals, freight terminology and operation guides, shipping company/shipper statements, situations that may be encountered during cross-border e-commerce shipments and their solutions, cross-border e-commerce Freight related progress tracking, freight charter capacity market analysis, basic knowledge of international freight forwarding companies, introduction to common air freight channels, explanation of air freight terms, and key steps for optimizing the transportation process of cross-border e-commerce freight and logistics, etc. , aiming to provide comprehensive reference information for foreign trade practitioners.