Whether you already have experience in shipping goods from China to the USA, or this is your first time, we come to you with solutions that will help you understand how to save money, time, and avoid trouble.To make it easier for the reader, we divided this must-read guide into 8 parts:

Part 1. How to find a reliable freight forwarder?

• Why do you need a freight forwarder, and what can they do for you?

Sometimes finding a reliable business partner can be a hard job, and that is what freight forwarders are for. A freight forwarder is a reliable and experienced agent who will help you find solutions for shipping from China to the USA. Having a freight forwarder it would make a great difference when you don’t have enough time and energy, experience or you just want to avoid all the troubles this process might bring you sometime such as paperwork or cross-see transportation process problems. Another big advantage is the fact that a freight forwarder can help you save money, and will let you know where every cost is going, with no hidden expenses.

Freight forwarding is one of the best services to choose when it comes to international transportation because it can save you time and energy by offering reliable modes of transportation at reasonable prices.

A freight forwarder is considered to be an important asset in international transportation because he has useful services that can help you when you don’t have experience with the international shipping process.

An international freight forwarder for shipping from China to the USA is the best investment because it will help you maximize your e-commerce business, predominantly by providing logistics department for your supply chain, and will also help you to save money and precious time.

Freight forwarders are usually firms that specialize in organizing storage and shipping for merchandisers on behalf of their shippers. They provide a wide range of services such as:

Preparation of shipping & export documents;

Tracking inland transportations;

Booking cargo spaces;

Warehousing;

Freight consolidation;

Negotiating the freight charges;

Cargo insurance;

Filing the insurance claims;

Customs clearance.

They also take care of customs documentation, customs insurance, carrier documentation, lading bills, warehousing, and payment modes.

Freight forwarders play a key role in freight transportation because they advise customers about the important aspects of the supply chain.

A freight forwarder usually ships under its own lading bills or air waybills (also known as house lading bill or house air waybill). The associates or agents at the destination provide deconsolidation, freight collection, and document delivery services.

A freight forwarder is a firm or a company, which organizes your importing and exporting of goods. For importing and exporting goods, finding and using a reliable freight agent will make your entire process less stressful and faster.

In other words, if you want to save time and money while making an international delivery from China to the USA by air, sea, or land, consider using a freight forwarding agent.

• Should you choose a freight forwarder from China or the USA?

Regardless of the mode of transportation from China to the USA, it is always best to choose a freight forwarder from China because the Chinese freight forwarder has the advantages of language and geography becoming the ideal choice for overseas transporters.

In the shipping process, you will also need a Chinese warehouse for storage and preparation. An experienced Chinese freight forwarder will have these abilities: he will be fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese; it will have a thorough knowledge of the Chinese business culture, experience in managing Chinese suppliers, category and sourcing process experience, quality control experience, audit experience, and logistics experience. If you chose a local cargo agent (from the USA), he will probably need to contact another agent in China to handle the picking, preparation, storage, and customs clearance, which will lead you to higher costs and time waste.

• How reliable is a freight forwarder?

Finding a reliable freight forwarder for your shipping can be a hard task. Time, money, and the success of your shipment from China to the USA is what matters. In general, there are a couple of questions you can ask the freight forwarder or yourself to assess whether he is qualified for your transportation or not:

1) Does the freight forwarder have a business license from the Chinese government? – Having a business license makes everything legal and transparent for you.

2) Does the freight forwarder have an official website, and has a good ranking on Google? – On their website, you can find the necessary information about their services and costs. Not to mention that in these modern days, Google reviews are a must-have for any company that respects itself and cares for its customers.

3) Does the company have a good insurance plan? – Having a good insurance plan is very important because it will compensate for your merchandise if any damage occurs in shipment or warehousing.

4) Do they have a complete cargo tracking system to update your cargo progress in real-time? – Finding a cargo shipping partner that offers cargo tracking is crucial because you can see in real-time where your shipping is and how much it takes to arrive at the final destination.

5) You can also ask them to provide the most recent shipment record or bill of lading – A bill of lading contains all relevant details about the type, amount, condition, and destination of the goods.

6) During the consultation, were the responses prompt, with professional advice and explanations? – If you are convinced by their services, but you still have some doubts about the shipping process, is best to try the freight forwarder with a shipment of small goods. This way, if anything goes wrong, you won’t lose a big amount of money.

Part 2. How many modes of transportation are there from China to The USA?

Shipping is the primary mode of transportation for global import and export operations from China to the US. Advantages for shipping by sea include low prices, high-volume loading, and full container load (FCL) or less than a container load (LCL) options, making it the first choice for most US importers.

• Major ports – Top 10 busiest container ports in China and the US

Sea shipping starts at Port “A,” and ends in Port “B,” so you will need to know the distribution of the ports of origin and the ports of the destination countries.

The geographical location of your vendor is not as important, because no matter where it is located in China, your goods will never be far from a port. Listed below are the world’s largest and most productive ports ready to ship your goods from China to the US:

In China, there are several ports such as Shanghai port, Ningbo port, Shenzhen port, Tianjin port, Qingdao port, Xiamen port, and Hong Kong port, from which your shipping can leave to the USA.

According to the US Coast Guard, the US has approximately 360 commercial ports. The top 8 cities for container ports are as follow: Port of Los Angeles, Port of Chicago, Port Authority of New York , Port of Seattle and Oakland, Port of Boston, Port of Miami, and Port of Dallas.

• Shipment type – FCL/LCL

Less Than Container Load (LCL)

If the quantity of your goods is small, with a volume of less than 15 CBM, a freight forwarder will help you ship your goods by LCL. When an importer does not have sufficient volume to fill a full container load, the LCL option enables them to ship smaller amounts of cargo. This means your cargo will be combined with that of others traveling to the same destination.

When LCL goods arrive at a port, they can be delivered by truck or by express companies, due to their small size and relative flexibility. LCLs uses CBMs (cubic meters) to calculate the dimensions of freight.

Full Container Load (FCL)

FCL refers to when the quantity of your goods is large enough to fill at least one shipping container. In this case, shipping costs are calculated on an FCL basis. FCL shipments are loaded and sealed at the origin by your supplier, then shipped to your final destination.

We offer three sizes of containers- 20 ft., 40 ft., and a 40 ft high cube container. The 20 ft. containers are designed to carry heavier weight, including minerals, metals, machinery, sugar, paper, and cement. The 40 ft. containers are designed to carry voluminous cargo rather than heavy cargo, such as furniture, steel pipes, paper scrap, cotton, and tobacco.

Note: Due to the large size of the FCL container, they may only be delivered by truck when they arrive at an American port.

• Packaging

During transport at sea, your goods may be stacked in a container for a month or more. They will travel from the factory, to the port warehouse, to the loading port warehouse, to a discharge warehouse, then finally on a truck to your destination. As they have a long way to travel to get to you, you will need to pack them appropriately to protect them throughout their journey.

Your package should have – 5 layers of inner carton, 5 layers of outer carton, plastic wrapping on the outer carton, IPPC ISPM 15 Standard Pallets, and the Freight Remark printed on the outer carton.

Common pallet size:

o For Europe – 1200*1000mm or 1200*800mm,

o For Australia – 1140*1140mm,

o For the U.S. – 40*48inches (1016*1219mm).

It is better to provide your shipper with clear and explicit packaging specification because they can make mistakes that can cause damage to your goods. And also provide them with graphical examples whenever possible.

• How long does it take to ship from China to the USA?

Estimated transit time (ETT) is the time between the estimated time of departure from origin (ETD) and the estimated time of arrival at the destination (ETA).

As a reference tool, we have compiled a timetable estimating transit days from the major Chinese ports to several commonly used US ports.

ETDs and ETAs are subject to change at any time, and they can never be guaranteed by your sea carrier; it should be noted that cargo loading time at the loading port can take up to 7 days.

Sea transportation is a slow mode of transportation, and you need to your planning in advance and have generous margins for the possible delays. Besides, Chinese manufacturers don’t stock any products, they make them to order.

In other words, if you need your goods to be ready for the Christmas season, you should plan ahead and place your order in August or earlier. We would recommend that you should place an order with at least 3 months in advance.

• Freight cost overview

90% of trade is done under the terms FOB (free on board) and EXW (ex-works). Because CIF (cost, insurance, freight) and DAP (delivered-at-place) are both carried out by your seller, they are costlier in both time and expenses. You should, therefore, choose FOB or EXW, and leave your goods in professional hands, at the lowest price and in the fastest shipping time. Doing so will save you money and valuable time!

1.EXW represents only the product cost. You will have to ship your own goods to the port of the shipment, and will not assisted.

EXW shipping cost = cost for sea freight from a Chinese to a US port + US customs clearance cost + US local logistics costs.

2. As EXW will not help you ship your goods, you will need to pay the following for sea freight:

FOB shipping cost = Local logistics cost in China + Chinese export cost + cost for sea freight from the Chinese to US port + US customs clearance cost + US cost for local logistics.

3. Other charges

Customs clearance and documentation;

AMS;

Charge for ISF filling;

Warehouse entry;

Insurance.

• Track and trace – container tracking

Due to unforeseen events, including bad weather, port congestion, and routing changes, shipments occasionally arrive later than scheduled.

To provide the most accurate location of your shipment, as well as its ETA, we provide a cargo tracking and trace system, which can allow you to adequately prepare and notify all parties involved. Knowing which shipping line is transporting your cargo, as well as your container number, booking number, or document number will help you track your container.

Knowing which shipping line is transporting your cargo, container number, booking number, or document number, will help you track your container.

You can easily find all the information on your Bill of Lading. The booking number and B/L number are listed on the top right, and the container number is usually under the section of “Marks & Numbers.” then you can simply track the route of your container through your bl number on the shipping company’s official website, for example: https://www.msc.com/track-a-shipment

Upon entering your B/L number, you can see the exact location of your goods.

• Major ports – Top busiest air ports in China and the US.

To begin, you will need to know the distribution of the airports of both the origin and destination countries.

These are the world’s largest and most productive ports that are ready to ship your goods from China to the US: Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Xian Xianyang International Airport, Kunming Changshui International Airport, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

The busiest US airports include: Memphis International Airport, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Louisville International Airport, and O’Hare International Airport.

The geographical location of your vendor isn’t something to pay much attention to because no matter where he is located in China, your goods will never be too far from one of the ports listed below. These are the world’s largest and most productive ports that are ready to ship your goods from China to the USA.

• Air products

Air transportation is suitable for goods that require urgent delivery, or for transport of a small quantity of goods (300-500kg) with a high unit price.

Shipping time for air freight is calculated by the time required for booking shipping space, flight time, and local delivery time in US.

Delivery times and prices are more flexible with air freight than with sea freight because you can choose non-stop transfer or charter services with different airline routes. Generally, experienced freight forwarders will organize freight being shipped from China to the US into three separate categories:

a) Economic air transport: economical price, suitable for goods with low time requirements (no dangerous goods, oversized or temperature-controlled goods).

b) Standard air freight: reasonable price, shorter time.

c) Emergency shipping: speed priority, suitable for time sensitive goods (perishables).

• Air freight cost and weight calculation:

Because of the different products shipped by air, the price is different.

The “standard air freight” market price range from Shanghai to Los Angeles is 5.5-10 USD/KG.

Of course, this does not include the cost of domestic and American delivery. Other costs depend on your terms of trade. This part is the same as shipping.

The unit of calculation for air freight is kilograms. There are two methods for calculating the weight of air transport, one is to charge according to the actual weight of the package, and other is to charge according to the dimensional weight.

This method of calculating shipping costs is similar to express. The difference is that for express transportation the volume is divided by 5000, and for air transportation the volume is divided by 6000.

Air transport dimensional weight calculation method:

Dimensional Weight = Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm)/6000

I will give you an example for foam with standard air transportation.

Let’s suppose you need to ship 1 piece of a large 100cm x 100cm x 100cm foam that weights 20KG. What will be its dimensional weight?



Let’s calculate.

Dimensional weight = 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm/6000=167 kg

So, you see, its dimensional weight is far larger than its actual weight.

Hence you will be charged for 167 kg.

For express transportation the formula is:

If your product package size is 50*50*50 cm and the actual weight is 10 kg, the express company will charge you 25 kg weight (50*50*50cm)/5000=25 kg) instead of the actual weight of 10 kg, if you want to ship this package from China to the USA.

You will find that packing your goods skillfully and minimizing its volume, it is often the key to saving money.

• Air cargo tracking

An air waybill or air consignment note (AWB) is a track-and-trace service. It is both a receipt and evidence of the contract of carriage issued by an international airline. In other words, it is a document of title to the goods. Each AWB is assigned a unique tracking number that can be found in the head section. This number can be entered onto an airline’s track-and-trace page to obtain updated information.

The AWB format is:

2 letter airline code – 123 (3 numbers as prefix) – 12345678 (several numbers).

Other carriers will provide the “email alert” service, which is a free service that will let you know when the goods are moved.

• Advantages of express shipping

Express shipping is the fastest and easiest mode of transportation from China to the US, compared to sea or air freight. With the express option, fees for Eastern and Western US will be likely the same, and you will not have to worry about duty payments and customs clearance. You will also be able to track your goods at any time and plan accordingly.

Overall, our services will help you reduce costs, improve your services, minimize delays, and increase your performance.

• Express service process

Each freight forwarder has its own set of operating procedures. Here I will only introduce my company’s procedures. I hope something will inspire you.

1. Fill and submit the quote with your shipping information.

2. We respond within 12 hours.

3. If you don’t like our terms, we can discuss more until we come to an agreement.

4. We will book the space from the carrier after we have contacted your supplier and rechecked everything.

5. You won’t have to worry about the inland delivery to out warehouse. We or your supplier will arrange that.

6. We will communicate to you the chargeable weight.

7. You will pay the costs.

8. Your shipment will be delivered to the courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)

9. Wait for your goods to be delivered to your door.

We will track your shipment and keep you updated until you receive your goods. Overall, we will help you reduce the costs, improve your services, minimize the delays, and raise your performance.

• Product types suitable for express delivery

All courier companies use air freight to transport goods, so the delivery time and price are also flexible, similar to air freight.

Several trusted, well-known courier companies regulate express deliveries, including FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Express shipping means urgent and faster delivery, with higher prices and rates than other forms of transportation. Also, the cost of express shipping may increase during the holidays, but it can drop dramatically in the off-season.

If you are looking for solutions for freight forwarding for shipping from China to the US, using cargo agents or freight forwarders is the best option, and can save you both time and money. They can find you an express company that will give you a reasonable price, as well as discounted prices that you won’t find on their official website.

Economic delivery: the delivery time is 8-10 days, the price is economical, and this mode of transportation is suitable for goods with low time requirements (no dangerous goods, oversized, or temperature-controlled goods).

Standard delivery: the delivery time is 3-7 days, reasonable price and shorter time.

Emergency delivery: the delivery time is 2-3 days, speed priority, suitable for time sensitive goods (perishable goods).

Express delivery has many advantages. The unit price is usually higher than that of transportation by sea or air, and will vary with your specific needs.

If your shipment is a sample, a small package, or a letter, express delivery is a simple, fast option. Of additional benefit, if the value of your good is under $800, you will not have to pay duties if you select FedEx as your carrier.

• 7 tips from practical experiences

No matter how far around the world they are travelling always choose the most trusted courier companies because this will guarantee that your documents, sample, or parcels are in good hands.

But as you know, different destinations and unlimited weight/volume data will make it harder for many basic rules to sum up. Here are a few tips:

1. First of all, find a courier agent who will help you find solutions for shipping from China to the USA. We hope it would be us! As you may know, the prepaid service is cheaper than the “collect” service. To save money on courier shipping, you should choose the prepaid service through a broker, which is the super VIP of the carrier.

2. DHL vs. UPS

• If your goods are up to 5.5 kg, DHL will save you money;

• For goods that are between 6 and 21 kg, UPS wins;

• For goods that are between 21 and 100 kg, DHL wins;

• And for goods that are over 100 kg, UPS will save you money.

3. When shipping to Southeast Asia, FedEx is the king no matter the quantity (small shipment or larger shipment).

4. If you are outside of Europe or Middle East, we don’t recommend using TNT’s services.

5. In general, big businesses pick one carrier and stick with him because it has bigger discount on pricing. Small businesses and medium businesses tend to work with 2 or more carrier companies to maximize their costs.

6. The total length of the package should be less than 330 cm. Total length formula is: length + width*2 + height*2. And for the best price offer, the weight should be less than 70 kg per package.

7. Always take extra care of the packing quality and use reinforced cartons for your goods to keep them safe.

4. How can you make sure that your shipment is delivered on time?

Sometimes the delivery time can differ with a day or two, but in general it is always fixed, and no forwarder can offer faster shipping than others.

Here is a list with things you can do to avoid getting your shipment delayed such as:

a. The declared customs value must match your commercial invoice and bill of lading. Always make sure that that information is correct

b. Make your orders according to the FOB terms, and make sure your supplier prepares all the documents in time (export clearance documents).

c. Don’t wait until the last day your goods are ready to ship. Ask your forwarder to contact your supplier a few days before.

d. Buy a customs bond with at least one month before the goods arrive in the US port.

e. Always ask you supplier, and be specific, to use high-quality packaging, to prevent your goods from being repacked before shipment.

f. In order for your shipping documents to be completed in time, always pay the balance and freight cost on time.

You can also consider splitting your shipping in two, if you are running late. One part (let’s say 20%) is delivered by air, while the rest (80%) is shipped by sea. Thus, you can stock up just one week after the production run is completed.

Part 3. Customs clearance US

Once your cargo enters an U.S. port or airport, you face customs inspection and clearance processes. This is a job that requires advance preparation and rich experience. Three of the things you must know are: document checklist, inspection process, and HS Codes and taxes.

• Documents to be prepared

If your goods want to be cleared by the US Customs, you need to submit these two documents: CBP Form 3461 and CBP Form 7501. If you are shipping your goods by ocean, you will also need to submit an Importer Safety Declaration (ISF).

1. Commercial Invoice

2. Packing List

3. Bill of Lading

4. Customs Bond

5. CBP Form 3461

6. CBP Form 7501

7. Arrival Notice

8. Commodity Specific Documentation

9. Importer Security Filing

• Importer security filing (ISF)

Importer Security Filing (ISF) or “10+2” – When you ship your goods by ocean, you need to submit the information about your shipment to the Customs and Border Protection with 24 hours before your shipment departs from its country of origin. This only applies for ocean transportation.

The 10+2 comes from the full name of the process, which is “Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements.” There are 10 importer security filing requirements, and 2 additional carrier requirements.

The things that need to be recorded in the ISF are:

1. Seller

2. Buyer

3. Importer of Record Number

4. Consignee Number

5. Manufacturer or Supplier

6. Ship to Party

7. Country of Origin

8. HTSUS Number

9. Container Stuffing Location

10. Consolidator

The additional carrier requirements are:

1. Vessel Stow Plan

2. Container Status Messages

Failing in submitting an accurate ISF, will result in serious delays, a $5000 fine per violation, and also increased inspections on your shipment.

• HS codes and taxes.

HS Codes (The 10-digit Harmonized Item Description Code) – This is the most important thing that all importers must know when importing goods. Almost every time you import an item, you need to know the HS code of the item. You can get this code from your supplier.

Taxes – After you confirmed your HS code, you can check your goods tariffs for free here https://hts.usitc.gov/

The coordination system is a large encyclopedia of product descriptions, covering all imaginable products. This system is used in almost every country in the world.

• About customs inspection:

After the submission of a customs entry, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have the right to perform the goods inspection.

These inspections are done completely at random, but if this you first time importing goods into the country, your chances are higher for your goods to be examined by CBP.

If no legal or regulatory violations have been found, your shipment will be released. Any charges relating the inspection are billed to the importer of record directly or through your Customs Broker.

Part 4. E-commerce logistics

• Shipping to Amazon USA

With the continuous rise of e-commerce business, shipping from China to Amazon fba in the United States has become very popular. But this process is not simple; every link is directly related to the profit of your Amazon business.

Of course, you can entrust your supplier to ship the goods directly to your Amazon address, which looks simple and convenient, but they will also have to contact a Chinese freight forwarder to transport your goods. The difference in the middle is also a large fee, and when you ask about the status of your goods, they often respond slowly.

In the following, we will mainly share what you should know when you choose to use freight forwarding, or what kind of requirements can you ask them.

1. Require picking-up or to consolidate your goods

In order to make it as convenient as possible, your freight forwarder will contact your supplier, pick up the goods to their own warehouse, and help you store them until you need them. Even if your goods are not at the same address, they will collect them separately, and then send them to you in a unified package, which is a time-saving and labor-saving choice.

2. Check your goods – Product/goods inspection

When doing Amazon business, your reputation and free from damage products is what matters. When you are shipping from China to the USA you will need a cargo agent to do one last inspection of your goods (in China). All requirements can be met, from the inspection of the outer box, to the quantity, quality, and even product photos or other needs. Therefore, you need to keep a clear line of communication with the freight forwarder as much as possible to ensure that your products are delivered to the Amazon center safely and and in time.

3. Amazon preparation services such as labeling

If you are a new e-commerce seller, then you need to rely on the additional services of a freight forwarder because Amazon products always have their own rules.

Cargo agents often have years of experience and will ensure that your product meets Amazon’s requirements. And doing these preparations in advance, such as FNSKU labeling, packaging, poly bagging, bubble wrap, and so on, in the Chinese warehouse, will save your costs greatly.

4. Choose your shipping method.

You should choose the mode of transportation of your goods according to the weight, size and the delivery time.

When you go to Amazon in the Unites States, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transportation, whether it is air, sea or express, or let your freight forwarder recommend it to you, so you won’t lose money and valuable time.

Customs clearance and various documents may sound complicated, but as an Amazon seller, you should focus on improving your Amazon business, and handing these shipping burdens to a reliable Chinese freight forwarder is really the best choice!

• Dropshipping

There is an increasing number of goods being imported from China, and for global sellers, purchasing from China is more economical than other countries like America or Europe (it includes shipping fees also).

It has become a trend among sellers to purchase goods from China and then sell it on eBay or Amazon platforms at a higher price.

China is the world’s largest exporting county and the trading partner of most Asian countries. No wonder foreign investors and growing startups businesses are interested in droppshiping from China.

The dropshipping business module help sellers reduce costs and increase their profits, becoming more popular than before.

Recently, numerous entrepreneurs have chosen to cooperate with dropshipping websites in China.

If you are an e-commerce seller such as Shopify, inventory and order management may take a lot of your time. And then, the dropshipping service came into being, so you can cooperate with a professional and experienced freight forwarder.

Store the goods (large or small) in your agent’s warehouse; they have their own system to interface with your e-commerce platform. So once your order is generated, the agent will immediately help you to ship the goods to the client, according to his needs. Logistics and customs clearance are included. For speeding up the process, logistics and customs clearance are included.

Part 5. Warehousing services

You may need a warehouse service during shipping from China to the United States. So what can warehouse services do for you?

• Why do you need warehousing services?

1. Central location storage space

No matter what your reasons are, storing your goods temporarily in a securely managed warehouse, long or short term, is a good choice.

Warehousing services provide a central location storage space for receiving, storing, and distributing goods (in general). After the shipment arrives at the final destination, the warehouse service providers will handle the goods transfers because it’s their responsibility. After the shipment has been transferred to the warehouse, the warehouse service providers will sort the goods and dispatch them to the temporary address. When the time to move the goods comes, each order will be retrieved, grouped, packaged, and checked, before sending it to their new destination.

2. One-piece delivery (e-commerce order fulfillment).

If you are an e-commerce seller, such as Shopify, then you can choose to store the goods in the warehouse. Once the order is generated, the warehouse will directly help you ship to the client, based on your customer information. This will speed up your business.

3. Consolidating your goods:

If you have suppliers in many different locations in China, then you need to integrate all the goods into the warehouse, wait for all the goods to arrive, and then send them to you uniformly. This is a time and money saving option.

4. Amazon preparation and other customized services

First transport the goods to the warehouse of the freight forwarder; they will perform basic outer box inspection, picking services, labeling, etc. for you, and customize your other needs, including Amazon preparation services.

• Should you choose a Chinese or an American warehouse?

Generally, freight forwarders have warehouse services in China and the United States. Choosing the country in which to store the goods, or using warehouses in two countries at the same time, depends on your actual situation. For example: warehouses and labor costs are relatively low when operating in China; goods stored in the United States are more convenient to transfer.

Carrying out such operations in China can save you a lot of costs and help you understand the situation of the goods early. Freight forwarders usually have warehouse experience, so you don’t have to worry too much.

Part 6. Do you need to buy cargo insurance?

The cargo insurance covers the loss or damage of goods during shipment, and applies to any mode of transportation (air, sea, or land). Loss and damage can occur on some occasions, even when freight forwarders, shipping lines, airlines, and truck drivers do their best to take good care of your cargo.

1) What is cargo insurance?

Is a type of insurance that covers or compensates a the buyer or seller of the goods against cargo damage or loss of cargo.

2) When do you need cargo insurance?

Your cargo has a long way until it gets to your country of destination. It will pass from hand to hand while loading and unloading from trucks and containers, through ports and inspection sites, and from a warehouse clerk to another warehouse clerk. Each step is necessary for your merchandise to ultimately reach you, and having your goods move through so many checkpoints and hands increase the chance of damage.

We strongly recommend always getting cargo insurance to give you the peace of mind you deserve and yourself from a huge hassle of sourcing replacements for damaged goods.

It usually covers damages caused by weather, natural disasters, goods handling such as loading and unloading, piracy, and other related risks.

Federal law requires trucking company carriers to have some carrier liability insurance, but sometimes the minimum requirement may not be enough protection for your shipment. However, other carriers don’t have the same requirements. These are the reasons we often recommend additional cargo insurance for our clients because it typically covers external causes of loss and damage to your shipment.

Common triggers for cargo insurance include:

Natural disaster

Vehicle accidents

Acts of war

Piracy

Cargo abandonment

Customs rejection

When a covered event causes damage to your shipment, cargo insurance pays up to the amount you insured it for, minus your deductibles.

Additionally, freight and cargo insurance policies have exclusions. These are policy provisions that eliminate coverage for certain perils.

Individual freight insurance policies typically exclude:

Damages caused by your inadequate packing – If water seeps in your cargo and corrodes it, you are responsible for your cargo damage.

Damages caused by faulty goods – If the carrier can show your product had a flaw that caused the damage, then they are not responsible for it.

Certain types of freight (goods) – Hazardous materials, certain electronics, other types of cargo may be excluded, depending on your insurer.

Certain modes of transportation – While some freight insurance may exclude trucking, others may exclude cargo ship, freight trains, or airplanes.

The insurance industry does not have a standard cargo insurance form, so exclusions and inclusions vary widely.

Always set aside time to understand the insurance you are working with and never hesitate to ask questions regarding your shipment.

Part 7. How to save money?

By now, using the guidance and the information given above, you must have chosen an appropriate mode of transportation for your goods.

When shipping goods, the cost of freight is an essential part, if not the most important, of the expenses of your business. Choosing the right mode of transport for your company, understanding how the freight moves in the supply chain and optimizing the visibility of the supply chain will help you save money. To save even more money, you will also need to develop other business skills (discussed below); after all, transport costs are a key factor in the transport system.

• Do not leave your large shipment to the supplier

Do not leave your large shipment to the supplier unless there is no other choice because costs consist largely of the logistics, and most sellers make this mistake thinking that is the simplest and fastest thing to do – leave the shipment to the supplier.

Instead, the best thing to do is to choose a carrier who is on his own side because is the only way to ensure control over the shipment. But plan this ahead because sometimes, in the middle of the peak season, due to capacity problems, it will be difficult to get a seat with the shipping companies.

• Plan ahead of time to avoid rush hours:

In international transportation, you always have to plan your shipment in advance because the delivery time of your goods is the crucial factor that decides the mode of transportation. Also knowing the holidays’ schedule in China and important shipping deadlines and guidelines will save you time and money because in those peak periods the shipping prices will rise sharply due to a shortage of factory and road staff and the factories are closed.

Generally, transportation costs increase in the following periods:

– Chinese New Year – Factories and facilities shut down in this period, and it’s causing price spikes and delays;

– Golden Week – This week-long festival exacerbates holiday season price spikes and delays,

– Dragon Boat Festival – for this holyday businesses typically close for three days,

– Holiday Shopping Season – Prices rise steadily over months as businesses prepare for holiday shopping (October-December for air freight), July-October for sea freight).

When transportation is relatively flat, the price will be more competitive — for example, every year after the Chinese New Year and also from March to April.

• Get a reliable logistics partner to work with.

We all know that sometimes is hard to find a reliable business partner.

Ensure that your logistics partner is getting the best prices from air freight companies, steamship lines, and truckers. Check whether your logistics partner has multiple ocean carrier contracts available. If your logistics partner has more than one carrier choice available, you will have a higher chance of getting your cargo on board as cost-effectively as possible. If they have multiple carrier contracts, they can always find an alternative option to transport your goods.

• Make sure you consolidate your cargo

Consolidating your cargo is important especially if the goods are being bought from different suppliers. The logistics company can provide a consolidation process at any port of origin, where goods from different suppliers can be stored and delivered to you together.

• Find a hybrid transportation solution

If air freight is too expensive, but sea freight cannot be delivered in time, you can cooperate with your freight forwarder. He can offer you the option of multimodal transportation combining air freight and sea freight with other forms of ground transportation (trucks, trains, or some other mean of transport) for the delivery.

Multimodal transportation also known as combined transportation is the transportation of goods with at least two different modes of transport, under a single contract. Legally speaking, the carrier is responsible for the entire transport, and he does not have to possess all the means of transport. . This mode of transportation might induce certain costs for transshipments and handling, but it also comes with many advantages such as centralization of responsibility in one transport operator, economies of scale in transport negotiations, use of international experience in transportation, in the field of bureaucracy and commerce, better use of available infrastructure and more efficient means of transport, focused on cost reduction, and reduction of indirect costs.

Experienced freight forwarders can often find a way to achieve this goal in their communications. This hybrid approach delivers products within the right timeframe and retains the budget for the delivery of your goods.

International transport may be a complex mode of serious shipping or it may be an easy way to move freight from point A to point B choosing the most cost-effective and timely mode of transport is crucial. It is advisable to explore the various transport options with your freight forwarder to ensure that you ship your cargo at the lowest overall price.

We recommend you to find a reliable freight forwarder to take care of your shipping from China to the USA.

• Consider your packaging

Many companies choose to let their suppliers handle packing. To save money, you should get involved in the packaging process by asking the suppliers if they have ways to improve this process. Remember, when it comes to shipping by sea, weight doesn’t matter, but the space the cargo occupies does!

Part 8: Tips to save time

Shipping delays are a common problem that can cause you to lose time, and therefore money, when your business is affected. To protect yourself from this risk while making an international delivery from China to the US by air, sea, or land, consider using a freight forwarding agent.

The following tips may also help you to prepare for any potential delays when developing a shipping plan:

International transport may be a complex mode of serious shipping or it may be an easy way to move freight from point A to point B, and choosing the most cost-effective and timely mode of transport is crucial. It is advisable to explore the various transport options with your freight forwarder to ensure that you ship your cargo at the lowest overall price.

Avoiding time delays In China

1. Be aware of Chinese holidays

As I mentioned earlier, knowing the holidays’ schedule in China and important shipping deadlines and guidelines will save you time and money because in those peak periods the shipping prices will rise sharply due to a shortage of factory and road staff and the factories are closed.

This can cause your shipment to be delayed, but in order to avoid this you should plan ahead your shipment with your supplier.

2. Choose experienced companies to work with

Not returning the packed container to the vessel on time is another common problem that can cause a delay.

Because every container has a deadline by which it must be on the vessel and ready for departure, products need to be finished, packed, and loaded at the port of origin by that time. Working with experienced freight forwarders that will find solutions for shipping from China to the USA and make sure your goods will leave the port of origin, is the best choice you can make.

Avoiding time delays upon arrival

Once your goods arrive in the US, you would think the hard part is over. Their arrival, however, is another point in the shipping process that could cost you valuable time and money if done incorrectly. The information provided below may help you avoid unnecessary expenditures of either:

1. Complete clearance paperwork correctly

Time delays will always cost you money. And the common cause for time delays is shipment being stopped during the clearance process and for this matter us important to fill out the paperwork correctly. Choose your suppliers wisely because they are the ones responsible for your goods paperwork.

You can also address them some question to make sure they have experience with exports that are bound for the US. If the supplier you chose doesn’t have these qualities, it is better to contact an experienced freight forwarder who will help you find the best solutions for shipping from China to the USA, including proper paperwork.

2. Have your documents ready

It is vital to have an international security filing (ISF), because when you ship your goods by sea, you will need to submit information about your shipment to the office of Customs and Border Protection within 24 hours before your shipment departs from its country of origin. This is only applicable, however, for sea transportation. Failure to submit an accurate ISF will result in serious delays, a $5000 fine per violation, and also increased inspections on your shipment.

Once your goods arrive at US customs, your shipper will need to file the Immediate Delivery Form and pay all associated fees. Other documents required at customs include the bill of lading, certificate of origins, commercial invoice, and a packing list.

What China Freight can do for you?

China Freight is an experienced, reputable Chinese freight company specialized in shipping goods from China to the United States.

We have an excellent reputation for shipping, airline connections, and good customs reputation, and we are known for offering competitive pricing and timely delivery to capture the market in the freight forwarding industry.

At China Freight, we believe that the customer’s gain is our gain. Establishing long-term relationships is the key to our success. Our principle of work is to place the customer first, together with our main values of integrity, honesty, and taking responsibility. Learning and growing have led us to be particularly successful both in shipping from China to the US and in the international transport sector as a whole.

Our experts are ready to start your worry-free shipping journey, click here for more information, quotes, and offers.