How a shipment is run.
From first request to delivery, with one person to ask at every step. This page says what happens, what a quote contains and how you hear about your cargo.
Four steps before the cargo moves.
Quote requests that arrive before 15:00 on a working day are answered the same day. Others are answered the next working day. Ocean and air quotes state the dates they are valid for. Road quotes are valid for 14 days.
- You send the lane and the cargoUse the quote request: service, where from and to, what is moving. An HS code and an Incoterms® rule help but are not required.
- We check what could go wrongDocuments, dangerous-goods rules, customs value, who pays each leg. If something is missing we ask before we quote, not after.
- You get a written quoteEach charge on its own line, the Incoterms® rule it assumes, what is included and what is not, and how long it is valid.
- You approve, we bookA named coordinator takes over, confirms the booking and emails you at every milestone until delivery.
What is in the price, and what is not.
We show both lists on every quote, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
INCLUDED
- Freight charges for each leg named under the agreed Incoterms® rule
- Terminal and handling charges at origin and destination, where the rule puts them on you
- Documentation fees
- Fuel, bunker, peak-season and security surcharges known on the quote date, each on its own line
- Customs declarations, when you ask for them
NOT INCLUDED
- Import duty and VAT, which are paid to customs on the declaration and passed on at cost
- Demurrage, detention and storage caused by delays outside our control
- Customs inspection, scanning or unpacking ordered by the authorities
- Cargo insurance, unless you ask us to arrange it
- Extra costs from documents that were late, wrong or missing
How you follow your cargo.
Every shipment has one named coordinator, from booking to delivery. You email and call the same person. We do not run a tracking-number lookup on this website: you get the answer from a person, with the carrier's own reference where there is one.
Your coordinator emails you at every milestone below, and any time something changes the plan: a rolled booking, a customs query, a delay.
SEA
- Booking confirmedThe carrier has accepted the booking; we send the vessel and sailing date.
- Cargo receivedGate-in at the origin terminal, or loaded in the container if you load yourself.
- Vessel sailedYour container is on board. We send the expected arrival date.
- Arrived at RotterdamThe vessel has discharged. We confirm customs and release status.
- DeliveredCollected from the terminal and delivered, with proof of delivery.
AIR
- Booking confirmedSpace is booked and you have the air waybill number.
- Cargo acceptedThe cargo has been accepted at the airport and weighed.
- DepartedThe flight has left. We send the arrival time.
- Arrived and clearedThe cargo has landed and customs status is confirmed.
- DeliveredDelivered to your door or ready for collection, with proof of delivery.
ROAD
- Collection plannedDate, time window and truck confirmed with the loading site.
- LoadedThe truck is loaded and the CMR note is signed.
- In transitBorder crossings and any customs steps are reported as they happen.
- DeliveredUnloaded and signed for, with the signed CMR copy.
What we normally ask for
The more of this you send, the firmer the first quote.
- Incoterms® 2020 rule and named placeFor example FOB Shanghai or DAP Rotterdam. It decides who pays each leg and where risk passes.
- HS codeSix digits worldwide; eight (CN) or ten (TARIC) for goods entering the EU.
- Weight, dimensions, packagesAir is charged on actual or volumetric weight (1:6000 cm³/kg), whichever is greater. Ocean LCL is charged per revenue tonne.
- Dangerous goodsA UN number and class, under IMDG for sea, IATA DGR for air and ADR for road.
- Cargo-ready date and valueThe first sets the booking window; the second sets cargo insurance.