The Bill of Lading (BoL) is one of the most important documents in international shipping. It helps ensure that your freight gets to where it needs to go on time and with minimal complications.

To learn more about the Bill of Lading, what it includes, and why it’s so important, read on.

What is the Bill of Lading?

The BoL is a legally binding document issued by a carrier to a shipper. It contains all the necessary details of the shipment such as freight type, quantity, and destination of the goods.

The Bill of Lading acts as a shipment receipt. An authorised representative from the carrier, shipper, and receiver should sign it. However, only the carrier or their agent issues the Bill of Lading.

Why is the Bill of Lading Important?

The Bill of Lading is critical in ensuring that your goods get from point A to point B with as few complications as possible. BoLs serve as:

• A receipt for the goods received and delivered by the carrier
• Evidence of a contract of carriage (transport)
• A title for the goods in shipment.

The BoL can also be an important document in ensuring the shipper gets paid. In some cases, the shipper can hold the original bill until they receive payment. By doing this, the consignee is unable to access their goods until payment has been made and the Bill of Lading released.

What Goes on the Bill of Lading?

BoLs should contain the following information:

• Details of the transportation company (i.e. the carrier), the shipper and/or consignee
• The place where the goods were loaded
• Destination
• Transportation mode (i.e. road, rail, air, sea, etc.)
• The terms of the shipment (incoterms)
• A description of the goods being carried (including their weight, dimensions, classification, etc).

The carrier fills out most of the information on the original Bill of Lading. As a shipper, your responsibility is to provide up-to-date information to the carrier and ensure that every detail listed is accurate and correct.

For more information or assistance on your shipping, get in touch with ISS.

Expanding your business internationally is a great way of reaching new customers, expanding your business and boosting sales. Before you do start shipping internationally, however, there are a few things you need to know.

1. Duties and Taxes

With international shipping comes greater taxes and duties. Ensuring you understand how they work and how they are calculated is key to minimising costs associated with international shipping and knowing how much you should charge your customers.

Duties are calculated before your product is released from customs and is based on things such as your product’s value, where it was manufactured, and any existing trade agreements between the countries of origin and destination.

The best way to get an estimate on duties is to consult a shipping services provider such as ISS.

2. Incoterms and Shipping Policies

Incoterms (or International Commercial Terms) are a set of rules which define who is responsible for what in international transactions. Like other shipping policies, they should be clearly defined and displayed on your website. This will prevent miscommunication between you and international buyers and ensure a positive customer experience.

It’s critical you communicate who is responsible for the payment of duties in your incoterms. You may opt for delivery duty unpaid (DDU) incoterms, whereby the customer is responsible for the payment of duties, or delivery duty paid (DDP) incoterms, whereby you are responsible for paying them.

3. Permits

Some goods require import permits in order to be allowed into the destination country. In order to determine whether there are any restrictions or required permits for your products, you should always consult the customs website of your destination country.

4. Size and Weight Requirements

The larger and heavier your goods are, the more shipping costs they are likely to incur. It’s therefore important to ensure your goods are well-packed with volumetric weight kept to a minimum.

Once again, the best way to estimate shipping costs is to get in contact with ISS or another experienced shipping services provider.

Although it is worthwhile, international shipping can seem complicated and expensive at first. We’d recommend to all businesses wanting to expand internationally to outsource their logistics to an experienced shipping services company who can help with freight, transport, storage, and customs clearance. Although there may be an upfront cost, doing so will save you money, time and effort in the long run.

There are many different methods of transportation, all of which have their benefits and drawbacks. Air freight is a popular choice for transport, particularly for low-volume, high-value cargo. But what are the other benefits of air freight? Read on to find out!

Fastest Shipping Method

Air freight is much faster than alternative shipping methods such as sea freight and trucking. It is the first choice for express shipping as it can often have goods delivered to customers within 1-2 days of them placing the order.

Global Delivery

Using air freight enables you to send your products to a greater range of destinations. As airplanes are not limited by roads, oceans, or shipping ports, you can send your goods almost anywhere with air freight.

More Security

Shipping via air allows for a much higher level of security. As goods do not have to go from handler-to-handler or truck-to-truck, the likelihood of theft or damage occurring is significantly reduced.

Low Insurance Premiums

The time required to ship by air is much less than that of alternative transport options. This means you can pay less in insurance premiums as your products will be spending less time in transit. 

Trackable Cargo

Most air freight companies give you easy access to sites where you can track your cargo in real-time. This means you can track your goods from departure to arrival without delay. 

Reliable Arrival and Departure Times

The arrival and departure times of airplanes are usually very reliable. It is very rare that there are any delays or unexpected hold-ups which often occur with other shipping methods, such as trucking.

Less Requirement of Warehousing

As products can be shipped much faster with air freight, there is not as much need to keep items in stock. This means there is less requirement for warehousing, allowing you to save money on renting, labour and additional transport costs.

If you have any additional questions about air freight and whether it’s right for your business, get in touch with our friendly ISS team today!

There are many different methods for transportation, all of which have their benefits and drawbacks. Sea freight is a popular choice for transport, particularly for high-volume, large, and heavy cargo. But what are the other benefits of sea freight? Read on to find out!

Cost-Effective

Compared to other shipping methods such as air freight or trucking, sea freight is the most cost-effective option. As transport via ship generally requires less fuel and labour, sea freight companies can offer a much more competitive rate for shippers.

Efficiency

With sea freight, you can transport more goods in less time. This makes it a great option for businesses wanting to transport their cargo as they will save time and money!

No Constraints

Air freight and trucking tend to have many constraints when it comes to the size, dimensions, and weight of the goods they transport. Sea freight services, on the other hand, offer much more flexibility in terms of space, dimensions, and weight, and can handle over-sized, heavy, and bulky cargo.

This is why sea freight is the popular choice for transporting items such as cars, machinery, and construction materials.

Safety

Ships are designed to transport potentially dangerous materials safely. For this reason, shipping staff are well-versed in safety procedures and know how to handle hazardous goods.

In addition, cargo containers can be sealed and locked to ensure extra security!

Environmentally-Friendly Transport

Sea freight is also the much greener option when it comes to shipping. Boats do not release as many carbon emissions as airplanes, and they require less fuel as well.

Businesses seeking to lower their carbon footprint should therefore employ sea freight as their primary shipping method.

Determining whether sea freight is the best option for your business is dependent upon your budget, your cargo, and the speed in which you wish to deliver.

If you have any more questions about sea freight, contact ISS!

Although they aren’t uncommon, shipping delays can have drastic effects on your business’s reputation. In a recent survey conducted by Voxware, it was found that almost 70% of consumers are much less likely to shop with a retailer again if an item they purchased does not arrive within two days of the expected delivery day.

Often, these delays are out of our control, however there are some things we can do as retailers to avoid them. Read on to find out how you can avoid three of the most common shipping delays.

Delay 1: Human Error

Whether it's on you or your customer’s end, human error is often the cause of many shipping delays.

One of the best ways to avoid it is to replace manual processes with automated ones. For example, you may want to set up a system that informs you of what you do and do not have in stock in your warehouse. This way you can avoid accidentally selling out of stock items and making your customers wait until you receive new stock.

In addition, installing a plug-in into your website that provides a list of valid addresses when your customer starts typing in their address will greatly reduce delays associated with incorrect or mistyped delivery addresses.

Delay 2: Peak Season

Peak season includes the weeks leading up to Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is when order volumes are at an all time high, putting strain on courier networks, and increasing the chance of delivery delays.

The best way to avoid these delivery delays is to prepare. When you know peak season is coming up, you should ensure you have more stock on-hand as well as extra warehouse staff to help you store and distribute your goods.

Encouraging your customers to do their holiday shopping earlier through website banners and ads is also a good idea to prevent delays.

Delay 3: Courier Complications

Things such as bad weather, technical issues, and route closures can cause significant delays in your supply chain. Although these things are out of your control, there are some things you can do to avoid the risk of delays.

Outsourcing your logistics to a shipping services company is a great way to go about this. These companies often have years of experience dealing with delays and strong relationships with courier and transport companies across the globe. This enables them to respond swiftly to transport complications and find appropriate solutions to avoid delays.

If you’re wanting a seamless logistics solution that will help you avoid shipping delays, get in contact with ISS today.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) published their latest version of Incoterms in 2020. These Incoterms came into effect on January 1 2020 and are still being used in 2022 and beyond.

It’s critical that both buyers and sellers have a clear understanding of the Incoterms and their obligations throughout the supply chain.

ISS has provided an overview of the 11 Incoterms 2020 below.

EXW (Ex-Works or Ex-Warehouse)

• Ex-works is when the seller places the goods at the disposal of the buyer at the seller’s premises or at another named place (i.e., works, factory, warehouse, etc.).
• The seller does not need to load the goods on any collecting vehicle. Nor does it need to clear them for export, where such clearance is applicable.

FCA (Free Carrier)

• The seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person nominated by the buyer at the seller’s premises or another named place.
• The parties are well advised to specify as explicitly as possible the point within the named place of delivery, as the risk passes to the buyer at that point.

FAS (Free Alongside Ship) 

• The seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside the vessel (e.g., on a quay or a barge) nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment.
• The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the products are alongside the ship. The buyer bears all costs from that moment onwards.

FOB (Free On Board) 

• The seller delivers the goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment or procures the goods already so delivered.
• The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the products are on board the vessel. The buyer bears all costs from that moment onwards.

CFR (Cost and Freight) 

• The seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered.
• The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the products are on board the vessel.
• The seller must contract for and pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination.

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) 

• The seller delivers the goods on board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the products are on the ship.
• The seller must contract for and pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination.
• The seller also contracts for insurance cover against the buyer’s risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage.
• The buyer should note that under CIF the seller is required to obtain insurance only on minimum cover. Should the buyer wish to have more insurance protection, they will need either to agree as much expressly with the seller or to make their own extra insurance arrangements.

CPT (Carriage Paid To) 

• The seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another person nominated by the seller at an agreed place (if any such site is agreed between parties).
• The seller must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the goods to the named place of destination.

CIP (Carriage And Insurance Paid To) 

• The seller has the same responsibilities as CPT, but they also contract for insurance cover against the buyer’s risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage.
• The buyer should note that under CIP the seller is required to obtain insurance only on minimum cover. Should the buyer wish to have more insurance protection, they will need either to agree as much expressly with the seller or to make their own extra insurance arrangements.

DAP (Delivered At Place) 

• The seller delivers when the goods are placed at the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the named place of destination.
• The seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods to the named place.

DPU (Delivered At Place Unloaded) 

• DPU replaces the former Incoterm DAT (Delivered At Terminal). The seller delivers when the goods, once unloaded are placed at the disposal of the buyer at a named place of destination.
• The seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods to, and unloading them at the named place of destination.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) 

• The seller delivers the goods when the goods are placed at the disposal of the buyer, cleared for import on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the named place of destination.
• The seller bears all the costs and risks involved in bringing the goods to the place of destination. They must clear the products not only for export but also for import, to pay any duty for both export and import, and to carry out all customs formalities.

What is Air Freight?

Air freight is a type of transportation in which packages and goods are delivered by air.

Air freight is one of the safest and fastest methods of shipping goods and packages. It is most often used for time sensitive deliveries or when the distance to be covered by the shipment is too large for other delivery modes such as ocean shipping or rail transport.

Who Uses Air Freight?

Generally, air freight is utilised by businesses that need to transport goods internationally. It is commonly used for transporting expensive items that are time-sensitive, have a high value, or are not able to be shipped by other means.

Air freight is also a viable option for those who need to transport cargo quickly (i.e express shipping).

What Can be Sent Via Air Freight?

Most items can be shipped by air freight, however there are some restrictions surrounding ‘dangerous goods’.

Items such as acids, compressed gas, batteries, bleach, explosives, flammable liquids, ignitable gases, and matches and lighters are considered ‘dangerous goods’ and cannot be transported via airplane.

Why Ship by Air?

There are a number of benefits to shipping via air. Most notably, air freight is significantly faster than sea freight or trucking. It is the top choice for international express shipping, as goods can be transported on a next-day, same-day basis.

Air freight also allows you to send your cargo almost anywhere. You are not limited by roads or shipping ports, so you have much more freedom to send your products to customers all around the world.

There is also generally more security surrounding air freight services. As your products won’t have to go from handler-to-handler or truck-to-truck, the likelihood of theft or damage occurring is much less.

Getting Started with Air Freight

If you want to transport your goods via air freight, there are a number of documents you need. These include commercial invoices, consular invoices, a certificate of origin, an inspection certificate and more.

Your best bet for ensuring you have all the required documentation and certification is to give ISS a call. We can help guide you through the process and ensure your goods are suitable for air freight. We will also help you get the best rate as well a s the fastest shipping time to keep your customers satisfied!

ISS is currently looking for a Victorian State Manager to oversee our small dedicated branch in Melbourne.

This exciting role is newly created and will be strongly supported by our ISS head office and staff, located in Sydney.

We are looking for a motivated and ambitious person with extensive experience in International Freight Operations, Sales and Logistics.

To qualify, you must have a sound understanding of local processes for International Freight Forwarding business operations, as well as the ability to maximise profitability of overall operations.

If you are interested in applying or want to discuss this exciting opportunity further, send your resume to zilic@issshipping.com.au or call Zoran Ilic on (02) 8566 7700.

FCLs (full container loads) refer to when one party owns all goods in one shipping container. Rather than paying for a portion of a container, you are paying for the whole container.

There are both benefits and drawbacks to FCL. Read on to find out more.

Pros of FCL

• Cost-Effective: When you ship by FCL, you are paying a flat rate for the entire container rather than paying by the cubic metre. The cost per cubic metre for FCLs is lower than the cost per cubic metre for LCLs (less than container loads), making it the more cost-effective solution for businesses shipping large loads.

• Reduced Damage: As the container is not shared in FCLs, the risk of damages occurring are minimised.

• Faster Transit Times: As FCL shipments are composed of goods from only one supplier, they do not take as long to be loaded and unloaded.

• Higher Costs: If you use FCL, you must pay for the entire container. Although this is cost-effective if you are able to fill it up, it can be unnecessarily expensive if you are shipping a small order.

• Unsuitable for Smaller Shipments: Businesses with smaller cargo volumes are not served by FCL.

Determining whether FCL is the best logistical solution for your business can be tough as there are a number of factors to consider. Fortunately, ISS is here to help.

Our experienced shipping professionals will be able to help you determine the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to ship your goods.

Get in touch with ISS now for more information. 

At ISS, we’ve implemented a number of technological processes to maximise the efficiency of our operations. We understand that the accurate and rapid flow of information is a critical requirement in ensuring the smooth and predictable movement of freight.

At the centre of our technology strategy is the world’s leading Freight Management Solution, CargoWise from WiseTech Global.

CargoWise is a cloud-based software platform that enables us to execute highly complex logistics transactions and manage our operations on one database across multiple users, functions, offices and countries.

CargoWise allows us to automate and optimise our international forwarding operations across modes and borders. We are able to boost productivity by automating repetitive shipments tasks, escalations and notifications, improve visibility by sharing job-related information with our partners and suppliers, and mitigate regulatory risk by keeping all our data on the one platform.

This means we are able to offer faster, clearer, more efficient, and more reliable freight, transport, and distribution services for our customers.

Incoterms were developed and first published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 1936 as a means of regulating trade agreements and defining rights and responsibilities throughout the supply chain. They are often described as being the terms that the buyer and seller of goods both agree to during international transactions.

Incoterms are accepted by governments and legal authorities around the world. Having a thorough understanding of all Incoterms is critical in international trade as they define which tasks, costs, and risks are associated with either the buyer or seller.

Each Incoterm states when the seller’s costs and risks are transferred onto the buyer. Not all rules apply in all cases, however. Some terms cover all modes of transport (road, rail, air, and sea). These are FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, and DDP. Other terms cover only sea/inland waterway transport (sea). These are FAS, FOB, CFR, and CIF.

Incoterms play an important role in regulating international trade. They provide internationally accepted definitions and rules of interpretation for most common commercial terms used in contracts for the sale of goods.

All International purchases are processed on an agreed Incoterm to define which party legally incurs costs and risks. Incoterms will be clearly stated on relevant shipping documents.

For more information, get in contact with ISS today.

What is Sea Freight Shipping?

Sea freight shipping involves transporting goods from one place to another by boat.

It is a cost-effective and reliable method of transport, and can carry larger quantities in a shorter amount of time

Who Uses Sea Freight?

There are much fewer limitations when it comes to what can be transported by sea freight as opposed to other shipping options. For this reason, sea freight is a viable option for most businesses.

It is also suitable for transporting very large and heavy items that cannot be transported via airplane or truck.

Why Ship by Sea?

There are numerous benefits to shipping via sea. Many businesses choose sea freight as it is more cost-effective than other transport options. As ships can transport larger quantities in less time, products can be shipped in bulk for less. There are also fewer restrictions when it comes to the volume and weight of your cargo.

Sea freight is also the greener option. It doesn’t require as much fuel as air freight or trucking and releases fewer carbon emissions.

Getting Started With Sea Freight

Similarly to air freight, sea freight requires a lot of documentation and certification.

To ensure you have all required information, we recommend you give ISS a call. We can also help get the best sea freight rates to ensure you get the most for less.