Transporting products overseas is a complicated matter. This is why acquiring help from reputable shipping companies is very important for a smooth and cost-effective transaction. However, even the best shipping companies out there can only do so much to help customers with their shipping needs. There are still factors that need to be considered and answered before going through with the plan of moving cargos from one place to another. This article will discuss some of the challenges customers may experience with ocean freight shipping procurement. Furthermore, the article will also be talking about some necessary tips that can help alleviate these problems faced when transporting products overseas.
Ocean Freight Shipping and Its Challenges
The good thing with the procurement of ocean freight shipping services is that most kinds of products are allowed to be transported as compared to trying to have these items shipped via air freight. This service is a very convenient way for any kind of business to move large numbers of products all over the world. However, with benefits also come challenges. There are multiple challenges that customers may face when they plan to pursue the procurement of ocean freight shipping services. Below are some of the most common challenges that need to be solved to have a cost-effective way to transport goods overseas:
The shipment has more risks as it travels at a slower rate
o Shipping vessels have schedules to follow, which may be delayed due to the possibility of bad weather. This proposes a serious risk to the shipment. Accidents may happen when the vessel is exposed to heavy rains and strong winds. There are multiple unforeseen problems that may arise during the transport of the cargos.
Tracking the actual location of the shipment while the shipping vessel is in transport can be difficult
o Knowing the exact location of the shipping vessel all the time may not be possible. There may be areas where GPS services may not be available. Customers will need to rely on updates from the company that owns the shipping vessel. However, if the shipping company cannot locate the exact location of the vessel, they may not be able to send out accurate updates to their customers.
There are many charges that customers have to be wary with
o The price quotations made by shipping companies may sometimes look complicated to their respective customers. This is because ocean freight shipping needs to consider various factors to ensure that the shipment will be allowed to travel overseas. Fees will include hauling services from the pickup point up to the port of origin and from the port of discharge up to the destination of the cargo. Then terminal handling fees will also be factored in, which will be different for each country. Any missing documentation or unpaid fees will immediately hold the cargo from being loaded on to the shipping vessel.
Determining documentation and charges related to customs
o Exporting and importing specific kinds of products are bound by customs taxes and duties. These fees are some of the strictest charges given to the shipment and can cause long delays if not catered to at the soonest possible time. Customers may need to avail the services of customs brokers to help them solve their concerns related to customs. In addition, there are documentation needed to be acquired beforehand that are related to the items that have been included in the cargo. This is actually tedious work without the guidance of a reputable customs broker.
Customers have to find the best shipping company that would handle their cargos
o This is a big challenge since customers must not only base their decisions on the price quotation, but also have to consider the safety of their goods and efficiency of the shipping company. There are many shipping companies offering ocean freight services in the market. The challenge is to know which of them will be the most cost-effective choice while making sure that there will be no delays with the shipment.
Tips To Overcome Ocean Shipping Procurement Challenges
There are multiple challenges that can slow down the process for businesses to ship their goods overseas. These may seem complicated for newer businesses. However, there are various steps that can be taken to effectively solve most of these challenges. You may refer to the following tips to overcome these challenges:
Prepare, research, and schedule as early as possible
o Since shipping vessels can only move at certain speeds, customers will not be able to control how fast their shipments will reach their destinations. However, if customers are in need to meet certain deadlines for the delivery of their buy prednisone online no prescription goods, they may create effective plans ahead of time. Since weather conditions are a huge deal in ocean freight shipping, customers must research the upcoming weather for all the locations the shipment may pass by. This may include researching the upcoming weather from the country of origin, the possible areas the shipping vessel may sail through, and the country of destination. If there are possible weather disruptions that may be coming to one of these areas, customers are advised to send out their products at the earliest possible time. They can have their goods transported to their respective destinations before the weather problems arrive.
Choose a shipping company that has contracts with carrier services that can be located anywhere in the world
o Even though carrier services that use advanced tracking systems may charge more for their services, they are the best choices for customers that are shipping items with high value. It is possible that shipping companies do not have contracts from the same carrier services. Some may have limited connections compared to others. Customers are highly advised to inquire from the shipping companies which carrier services they are connected with. By doing this, customers may be able to do further research about the carrier services and inquire about the systems they use in handling, securing, and tracking their shipping vessels while in transit. It is also advised that while in the process of researching about the carrier services, customers must look at the testimonials other customers have about these carrier services. These comments will be crucial to see if availing the services of a specific carrier service will be worth it.
Thoroughly check the price quotation and request an explanation for any information that is unclear
o Customers should not just rely on information in the price quotation to be correct at all times. Shipping companies are known to follow certain templates and market rates that may be deemed too much in relation to their respective shipments. If customers find something that would seem too high, they should question the shipping companies so that they will know if they can ask the shipping company to reduce it. There may be hidden charges that might get overlooked if customers just scan through the price quotations.
Hire customs brokers to handle the documentation and computation of the needed customs taxes and duties
o To avoid having their shipments held by customs authority, every customs-related requirement must be completely fulfilled beforehand. Shipping companies can offer customers their in-house customs brokerage services, but this may cost more than finding brokers by themselves. The important thing about hiring brokers is that they can acquire the needed documentation for the goods that will be imported or exported. Also, they can accurately compute all the customs duties and taxes that will be incurred for the specific transactions.
Compare different shipping companies before ultimately deciding who to go with
o Reputable shipping companies are known to have qualities which may include integrity, fairness, adherence to standards, and promotes customer satisfaction. The shipping companies that have been able to already serve customers for a considerable period of time shows that they are being trusted by their clients with their shipments. This is crucial when searching for one because customers do not wish to have their items get damaged or lost while in transit. Excellent quality of service should be considered over the amount it would cost to transport from one country to another. Comparing price quotations between shipping companies is just one way of choosing which shipping company to go with. Customers must find shipping companies that may offer customized, but affordable, solutions to their shipping concerns. Also, shipping companies that have contracts with different carrier services should be considered first since having more options on which carrier to go with will ensure that the customers will not worry about having their shipments cancelled or delayed due to overbooking or some other issues that would prevent a certain carrier from fulfilling the job.
Do Not Let Challenges Hinder You From Shipping Out Your Freight
Businesses that rely on sending out products to their customers will need to avail the services of carrier services unless they have their own shipping vessels. Instead of directly dealing with these carrier services, customers are recommended to work hand in hand with reputable shipping companies to make sure that the process will run smoothly and the products will be secured during transit. If you need to transport some items overseas, you may contact Ontario Container Transport at (905) 695 1501 to help you.