The Bill of Lading Defined Prior to the beginning of the freight shipping process, a legal document protecting the interests of both the shipper and the carrier must be completed. This document is known as the Bill of Lading (BOL). Serving as one of the most important documents in the shipping industry, the BOL contains…

Different products require different shipping methods, which is why choosing the appropriate container for your needs is a crucial step in the logistics process. In order to accommodate the various products that are shipped on a daily basis, there are a number of containers that differ in height, material, and structure in order to ensure…

The shipping of dangerous goods is not something to be taken lightly; it requires a tremendous amount of training and responsibility. When dealing with shipments containing hazardous materials, one must consider all aspects of the process very carefully, from packaging and labeling to the way in which it is handled at the terminal. Overall, the…

Incoterms 2020 has arrived and there have been a handful of changes made in the newest revised version. Published by the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), Incoterms 2020 serve as industry standards for determining the duties of buyers and sellers of goods in international trade. When comparing to the last revision made in 2010, it…

What is the difference between pallets, skids, and crates? Wooden pallets, skids, and crates are three terms that are often confused and used interchangeably in the industry. While all three can be used for shipping and storing materials, choosing the right one for your needs can be more cost effective for you in the long…

The US Customs and Border Protection, along with the United States Census Bureau (the organization responsible for the analysis of economic statistical data from the United States), conduct an analysis of cargoes moving around the country. The government uses this data for safety purposes in order to control and detect exports to countries with economic…

Learn why having a walk-in cooler is beneficial for your warehouse and how this feature can set you apart from competition. Sensitive and temperature-controlled cargo require specialized care.   Laboratory elements, plasma, certain foods, and medicines are some examples of products that require walk-in cooler storage with ambient temperature control. When handling these sensitive shipments…

Understand how drayage occurs in the United States and the different modes of unloading. Drayage is characterized by the transport of merchandise in containers, both from the port to   the importer, and from the exporter to the port. With regards to exporting the cargo via ocean operation, a shipment coordinator first structures the drayage process….

The American rail network is very large and companies often use rail transportation to allow more agility to internal cargo traffic. When choosing to use rail transportation, it is a common requirement to drive the cargo to the nearest railway ramp. The containers are placed on wagons that have enough space (spots) for 40′ containers….

Learn what cargo insurance is and why it is essential to provide security for your shipments We all know that cargo transportation involves risks, accidents, theft, loss, etc. Getting cargo insurance along with the freight service is a way to alleviate the disruptions that these types of problems may cause. But most importantly, offering this…

Learn to how to identify the two types of inland pickup in the United States US carriers offer LTL or FTL  services as cargo pick up options. The LTL (less than truckload) service is characterized by grouping several customers with small loads onto the same truck, whose destinations are the same or very close in…

Understands how a Warehouse Receipt affects the logistics process Upon receiving a new piece of cargo in the warehouse, the cargo agent must prepare a warehouse receipt (WR) for that specific cargo. This document must be elaborated as complete and as precise as possible. This precision and completion is necessary because both the MAWB and…

Understand its particularities through a didactic approach regarding nature, fare value, frequency, dimensions, regulatory registration, and frequency of flights. The freighter flight transports cargo and the crew, while the passenger flight transports the crew, the passengers, and a select amount of cargo in the baggage carrier. In order of priority, the passenger flight carries food,…