Global Shipping Services
Use of international and global shipping services is often utilized by corporations that make frequent export and import shipments. The shipper will still be responsible for providing the trucking company who will pick the freight up from their dock - this is a standard bill of lading.
The bill of lading will document the shipment, stating the shippers name and full address - the consignee would be the shipping service that is to be contracted to handle the shipment. The shipping terms are stipulated on the bill of lading and pre-paid would indicate the shipment is to be paid for by the shipper - collect would be paid for by the consignee or recipient. It will also show the name of the carrier who is picking the freight up, along with the pickup date. A piece or pallet count with a description of the freight is listed. The gross shipping weight and freight class is also documented. The freight class is a standard that was established by the trucking companies. Class 50 is used for extremely heavy items such as machinery or shipments of metals, class 120 is used for extremely light shipments such as pillows or other goods which are not substantial. You will need to know which class your shipment should be categorized in or you may be overpaying the freight company.
When the freight carrier picks the shipment up they will sign the bill of lading and issue it a pro number. The pro number can be used for tracking the shipment while it is in the possession of the trucking company. A copy of the packaging list, commercial invoice and bill of lading should be faxed or e-mailed to the shipping service that has been contracted to handle the shipment. Once they receive the proper documentation they will prepare all the customs papers and shipping manifests that will be required.
The shipping service, who specialize in international and global deliveries, will then act as a broker with the airlines. By consolidating shipments from multiple shippers they are able to leverage better rates with the airlines that otherwise wouldn't be obtainable if you were to attempt booking the shipment yourself. They will then coordinate the shipment and supply all the required documentation to customs to have the shipment cleared and processed in a timely manner. Shipments will then be loaded onto either a ship or plane and transported to the country in question.
Once the shipment arrives it will once again have to go through another customs process. Often the same shipping service can be used as your broker at the receiving country or depending on the terms of the shipment it might be the consignees appointed shipping service that will work with the customs office in the receiving country.
Once the shipment has properly cleared customs it will be time to schedule the shipment from the port of entry to the final destination. This again will require contracting an LTL or TL carrier and generating another bill of lading. Upon delivery the contracted carrier will get a signed delivery receipt. If any questions were to arise regarding the receipt of the shipment the signed delivery receipt would be used as a proof of delivery.
