International Freight Companies & Quotes

International freight consists of goods being moved from one country to another by means of air, sea or road. No matter what kinds of goods you need to move, you'll surely want a reliable, efficient company to team up with. But where should you begin when you are faced with a sea of companies to choose from? Start by filling in our quick form to receive up to 5 free quotes from various freight companies around the world, and your decision will be made in no time!

The international freight industry is strictly regulated for the convenience and safety of all parties. It's essential that the rules and regulations on each ship are consistent around the world in order to guarantee safety and efficiency. Standards are set not just for logistics but also for construction and billing. For example, all nations around the world use the same bill of lading, or contract for consignment. Even the terms used on the bill are the same worldwide, such as free along side (FAS) which indicates the price of the shipment that is next to a transport vessel. Its precise location must be stated at the time of quoting the price. This number is important because the buyer will incur shipping costs beyond that point, which is also why he or she is in charge of loading the items onto that vessel. Whereas the free on board (FOB) price is inclusive of loading costs. The bill of lading can also state various charges for pick up or delivery, such as charges collect (also known as freight collect or charges forward) and the chargeable weight, which could be either the scaled weight or dimensional/volume weight.

Once the international freight is on its way, it may arrive in a duty- free foreign trade zone. This port area is quite distinct in that goods can be stored here and raw materials can even be manufactured. Then, when the shipper is ready, the items can be re-exported. Taxes are paid only later on when the consignment enters another zone where duties and customs must be paid. International air freight doesn't have such luxuries, but there is something called a bonded terminal which acts like a holding zone where shippers can stow away their goods until duties are paid.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) acts in the best interest of developing countries. Given the fact that about 80% of their exports are manufactured goods (not raw materials as they have focused on historically), developing nations are playing an increasingly important role in the international freight industry.

Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), an international shipping association, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that acts as a consultant for its members and stakeholders. They actively participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, training courses, and also print various publications and manuals. Being a member of their organisation gives you unprecedented access to their database of information which covers everything from ice conditions in the Polar Regions to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations. Incidentally, the IMO oversees issues on legal matters, technology, safety and the environment. At present, the IMO has about 170 member states.