Whether you ship domestically or worldwide, chances are that you’ve encountered shipping complications before. These issues can be frustrating and can negatively impact your business’s reputation. Fortunately, there are ways you can go about minimising the likelihood of them arising.
1. Damaged Items During Shipping
Shipping conditions can be very harsh, so it isn’t uncommon for damages to occur along the way.
The best way to mitigate the risk of breakages is to ensure your packaging is effective and suitable for your items. For a detailed article on how to effectively package your cargo, read our Packaging Tips to Minimise Damage During Transit blog.
2. High Shipping Costs
There are many expenses associated with shipping, particularly if your items require special care.
A good way to minimise your expenses is to ship as far in advance as possible. This will help you get better rates and avoid unnecessary fees.
In addition, it is a good idea to aim to ship in bulk as much as possible.
3. Shipping Route Disruptions
Whether due to harsh weather conditions, political events or pandemics, shipping route disruptions are entirely out of your control and there is little you can do once they occur. There are, however, precautionary measures you can take.
Employing the services of experienced shipping logistics companies such as ISS is a good idea. These companies often monitor local, national and worldwide events and are able to anticipate any issues that may arise during transit. If issues do arise, they are then able to utilise their extensive knowledge and networks to modify shipment paths and minimise disruptions.
4. Lost Items
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for cargo to get lost along the way.
The best way to avoid this issue is to ensure you are shipping with a company that offers tracking services throughout the journey. This way you can rest assured knowing that your delivery is on its way and that you’ll be notified immediately if there are any complications.
5. Misunderstanding International Shipping Requirements
Shipping domestically is fairly straight-forward, however when it comes to shipping internationally, things can get much more complex. Different countries have very different rules when it comes to importations and exportations, so ensuring you are familiar with them and have all required documents is critical.
The best way to ensure smooth international shipping is to consult a shipping services company. We will be able to inform you of your requirements prior to dispatch, and ensure that your items will pass customs with no issues.
These complications can be exceptionally disruptive to your business processes, so minimising the chances of them occurring is paramount.
For a full logistics solution that will prevent these issues from arising, get in contact with the ISS team today!
If you’re planning on shipping LCL (less-than-container load), something you’ll have to determine is whether you’re going to opt for parcel shipping or pallet shipping.
What is Parcel Shipping?
Parcel shipping is the most popular method for shipping consignment when the goods are small, lightweight, and can be easily lifted without assistance. Here, the items are placed in a package or a carton, generally wrapped in a plastic film/bubble wrap or a protective material. They are then loaded directly into their shipping container with no additional packaging or storage.
Benefits of Parcel Shipping
What is Pallet Shipping?
Pallet shipping is when multiple packages are stacked into boxes or pallets and transported as a single shipment. It is the best choice of shipping for bulky cargo and when the supplier has to ship multiple packages at once to a single location.
Benefits of Pallet Shipping
Which One is Best for You? Parcel Shipping or Pallet Shipping?
Ultimately what it comes down to is the nature and volume of your cargo. If you’re shipping one or two small, lightweight products, it's most time and cost-effective to choose parcel shipping. If you’re shipping multiple goods or large/heavy cargo, opt for pallet shipping .
The best way to get your products from A to B quickly and efficiently, is to set up an effective shipping strategy. At ISS, we’ve been establishing efficient and cost-effective logistics for small and large businesses for years. We are highly experienced in managing international shipping processes and are able to offer competitive prices and shipping times due to our long-standing relationships with shipping companies all around the world.
Call ISS today for more information!
Shipping containers are used in transporting freight from port-to-port via container ships. They allow for the easier and more efficient flow of cargo from origin to destination.
Containers are either owned or are leased by shipping lines who provide them to their customers (shippers or merchants) for the safe and fast door-to-door transport of their goods. Because the cost for using the container during the door-to-door transport is included in the freight, it is essential for shipping lines to turn around their containers as fast as possible.
As a result, and with the objective to encourage merchants to move or return their containers quickly, shipping lines discourage merchants who exceed the free time by charging demurrage and detention fees.
Demurrage refers to the charge that the merchant pays for the use of the container within the terminal beyond the free time period. Detention refers to the charge that the merchant pays for the use of the container outside of the terminal or depot, beyond the free time period.
It is an obligation for shipping lines to provide a reasonable free period during which no demurrage and detention charges apply. This free period is supposed to provide the merchant with a realistic period of time for:
It’s important that all shippers are aware of the length of the free period offered by their shipping lines prior to importing and/or exporting. This will allow them to plan out their loading and delivery processes better and avoid demurrage and detention fees.
For a complete logistics solution that helps you avoid unnecessary expenses and fees, get in touch with ISS today.
August 2022 marks ten years since Stevan Ilic, our dedicated Operations Manager, first started at ISS.
Stevan joined the company right after he finished high school. He was largely motivated by his father, Zoran Ilic, Founder and Managing Director of ISS, to join the family business.
Seeing the work that his father did and the way he helped people inspired Stevan to join ISS and help grow it from its humble beginnings.
When Stevan first joined the business, it was still in its infancy. ISS started with only a few members of staff and a few customers.
Now, ten years later, he has helped expand the business considerably. With Stevan’s help, we’ve opened an office in Melbourne, we’ve got a strong foothold internationally, and we’ve got an extensive network of carriers and shipping providers across the globe.
We look forward to watching Stevan continue to grow and are excited to see what else he has in store for ISS.
Well done, Stevan!
The Basics of Express Shipping
Express shipping is a service offered by many companies today. These services are designed to make sure the customer receives their package as quickly as possible - this may be within the same week or even the same day of them placing the order.
Some of the benefits of express shipping include faster delivery, faster response time for tracking, and a higher level of customer satisfaction.
3 Choices for Your Express Shipping Needs
There are three types of express delivery services that one can choose from.
The first is the courier service, which is usually provided by private companies. These companies offer door-to-door delivery services to customers within specific regions.
The second type of service is offered by public postal services. These post offices provide different types of express delivery services that can be used for sending letters or packages internationally or domestically.
The third type of service is called international parcel consolidators. They offer regional shipping to countries all over the world, but at a higher price than the other two options.
How Does Express Shipping Work?
When shipping to international customers, express post usually involves air freight. This is the fastest way of transporting your products, although there are often restrictions surrounding what you can send, and how much it can weigh.
Shipping domestically, however, can be done simply and quickly by truck transport.
The method of transport used for express shipping is dependent upon your goods, where they are going, and how fast your customers need them.
There is a lot of information out there about express shipping, and many companies offer different services, so it can be hard to know where to get started. If you’re unsure, we recommend you contact ISS today. Our team will help point you in the right direction and navigate your express shipping options.
If you’re a regular importer/exporter of goods, you’ll know that international shipping is not a straight-forward process. Regardless of what or how you ship, there are numerous complexities involved in the process and many things that you as a shipper need to understand. This includes a sizable list of terms and acronyms.
Fortunately, ISS is here to help. Read on for 5 freight terms that every international shipper should know.
1. Incoterms
Incoterms are international rules for the interpretation of shipping terms. They universally outline roles and responsibilities in shipper/carrier relations and help traders in different countries understand one another.
Incoterms outline a thorough list of trade terms, and it is important that you are familiar with them. Read our Incoterms Definitions article here for an overview of the most recently updated Incoterms.
2. FCL and LCL
FCL stands for Full Container Load and LCL stands for Less than Container Load.
As their names suggest, FCL refers to freight that fills a full shipping container, whilst LCL refers to freight that fills only part of a shipping container.
Knowing when you should opt for FCL versus LCL is important in determining the cheapest and most efficient way of shipping your goods.
3. Bill of Lading
The Bill of Lading is a legal document issued by the carrier to the shipper. It includes basic details like the type of goods being shipped, their quantity, the destination address, and the freight rates.
The Bill of Lading can be regarded as an agreement between the two parties to follow given rules and regulations, guaranteeing the hassle-free and timely delivery of goods.
4. Detention
A detention fee is a fee that you may have to pay if your shipping containers have been picked up from the port of destination but have not been returned empty to the shipping line on time.
Shippers must pay an extra fee, depending on the number of days they have taken to return empty containers. This is one of the many reasons why it is crucial for you to be on time when unloading and returning shipping containers when importing goods.
5. Rollover
Rollover occurs when a container does not load onto the correct ship on time. It usually means that cargo needs to be switched from its original sailing to a later one.
There are various reasons why a container may not get loaded onto its originally scheduled ship, such as late delivery to the terminal, overbooking, vessel omissions, and customs complications.
In rollover situations, the carrier reschedules cargo containers to the next sailing with available space.
At ISS, we understand that international shipping can be confusing, especially if you have little to no experience. Fortunately, we can help guide you through it with our complete logistics solutions. These will guarantee that your products get from point A to point B without hassle and without unnecessary expenditure.
For more information, contact ISS today.
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:
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:
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)
FCA (Free Carrier)
FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
FOB (Free On Board)
CFR (Cost and Freight)
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
CPT (Carriage Paid To)
CIP (Carriage And Insurance Paid To)
DAP (Delivered At Place)
DPU (Delivered At Place Unloaded)
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
Sign up for our monthly newsletter and get the latest ISS news plus shipping and freight updates!
