Things to Know About Cargo Company Procedures
Posted by Total Freight International (TFI) on November 4th, 2016
Knowing about the cargo handling procedures followed by your shipping company is imperative for the successful planning and execution of a consignment’s transportation. With getting the freight delivered to your customer safely and on time. And to make a watertight, fool-proof plan, you will need information about your cargo company’s procedures and processes. This article will provide you with all the basic information that you should possess in this regard.
Documentation
Without proper documentation, your cargo will never be able to even leave the shipment warehouse. Invoices, packing lists, certificate of origin, bill of lading (in the case of transit by sea) and many other documents need to be expertly prepared for getting your goods transported smoothly and legally. Copies of these documents will accompany the package and will be provided customs authorities as well for scrutiny and recording.
Pick-up and screening
Once your consignment handed over to the cargo company’s representatives, it is taken for further screening and classification. The package is carefully checked to determine the nature of its contents so that it can then be sent off for proper shipping while adhering to the rules applicable to the specific commodity type. You will need to provide a declaration that your package doesn’t contain any hazardous materials, and if it does, the shipment will be handled appropriately.
Storage and Packaging
Post-screening, your consignment will be sent to the cargo company’s warehouse where it will be packaged properly for transit. From corrugated boxes to wood packaging and dunnage – companies use a variety of packaging material to provide stability and strength to your consignment’s container. Handling instructions, destination details, and carrier information are also affixed. Post this process, your package will be placed in the warehouse until the time for shipping.
Dimensions and weight
The packaging quality and dimensions of the consignment are of prime importance to cargo companies. The amount of weight that the consignment will apply on every square meter of the carrier vessel’s floor will also be calculated. This helps the cargo company to ensure that the vessel is loaded to optimum capacity and that the goods will be transported safely and successfully.
Loading/unloading
The final aspect of the process involves carefully loading the consignment into the carrier vessel for the purpose of transportation. Consignments that have been cleared of all checks and formalities including customs assessments, content screening and safety procedures are passed as OK and taken from the warehouse for the purposes of loading into the cargo hold of the vehicle. Companies usually work with multiple carriers and transporters to ensure that consignments reach their destination on time, where they are unloaded and taken for further processing and delivery.
The above points will give you a glance on the various procedures followed by different cargo companies for consignment handling and transportation, also make sure your account has all the required supply chain operations.
About the Author:
Total Freight International (TFI) offers high-end logistics and supply chain management services to global business across different modes of shipment including air, land, and sea. With a strong network of agents spread across 115 countries and a sharp focus on providing consistent, top quality, and reliable services to customers, TFI is well on its way towards becoming a global industry leader.
