Category: Cargo
Understanding Air Cargo Export Procedures
Air cargo export procedures involve any number of steps – export documentation being one of them. Of course, Customs is a major factor in air cargo export procedures and can, for some, be a major hurdle. This particularly applies if you don’t have the documentation you need. Some of the procedures involved in air cargo transport depend on the cargo itself.
A Look At Documentation
There are a number of documents which are relatively common when it comes to exportation. The product and destination involved may, of course, demand more specific requirements. The following subsections are included as applying to export documents:
- Temporary shipment documents
- Certificates for shipment of specific goods
- Certificates of origin
- Export compliance documents
- Transportation documents
- Common export documents, and more
Specifically, common export documents can include the following:
- Pro forma invoice
- Export packing list
- Commercial invoice
For many, this is already making some heads spin. That’s why, more and more, businesses are going with logistics support companies to aid them in reducing the headaches of transport – particularly when transporting goods worldwide. Let’s take a look at some other aspects of air cargo export procedures.
Steps Taken
Here is an oversimplified list of steps taken during the journey of a product from manufacturer to the desired destination.
- A product is manufactured, packaged, and given to a shipper. While the freight is taken from the manufacturer to the airport (likely via ground transportation) an electronic data interchange is taking place between the manufacturer, shipper, the airport, and the freight forwarders at the final destination.
- If shipping is international, airport customs comes into play when the shipment arrives at the airport. The proper paperwork is essential. Customs will either release or deny the export. Involved in the document flow can be the following: house manifest, air waybill, flight manifest, packing list, house waybill, and more.
- Once Customs is cleared, the shipment is loaded onto the airplane.
- Upon arriving at its destination airport, goods will need to go through the customs release import process. They will need to be declined or accepted.
- From there, more ground transportation provides movements of the product from the airport to the final destination (possibly a holding facility/warehouse).
- From a holding facility or warehouse, products are distributed to stores or directly to consumers.
3PLs – Logistics Companies
With everything that is involved in shipping, particularly when shipping around the world, overseas, via railway, etc., it becomes too much for many companies to handle efficiently. The hiring of a logistics company or 3PL can simplify everything from product pickup, to warehousing, to transportation, to delivery, and more. Logistics companies today do the following supply chain duties (these duties apply to the supply chain starting at the manufacturer through to the consumer):
- Store goods
- Move goods (any and all shipping/transportation functions)
- Implement, plan, and control that storage and movement
- Certain logistics services, depending on the logistical needs of their clients, will handle all or just some of the above stated duties.
Naturally, not only do logistics companies take on the responsibility of the above stated duties, they provide the staff with which to execute those tasks. This saves manufacturers not just the headaches involved in all matters logistics-related, but saves the cost and burden of extra staffing, warehousing, etc.
STC Logistics knows what it’s doing when it comes to shipping and transport. We know all the ins and outs involved in air cargo export procedures and so much more. We offer warehousing, distribution, crating, packing, and so much more. Contact us today to find out how we can be of assistance to you.
Retail Procurement: Preparing for the Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, gifts and displays have been pouring into retail distribution centers. To be well organized for each upcoming holiday season, retailers must implement smart planning throughout the entire year, usually beginning in August. This will allow retail procurement to find the correct balance for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sprees, as well as the remainder of the holiday season.
Smart Planning
The simple steps to the procurement lifecycle that most individuals generally agree upon are as follows.
1. Information gathering
2. Supplier contact
3. Background review
4. Negotiation
5. Fulfillment
6. Consumption
7. Renewal
The most important aspect of smart planning in retail procurement is to order the correct quantities of products thus ensuring renewal demands are met. This includes contingency planning for natural disasters and consumer spending habits that can cause logistical disruptions. The goal of smart planning is to capture the greatest number of sales without being overburdened with excess stock.
In recent years, retail procurement has learned to balance merchandise by improving the overall supply chain. This accounts for improvements in the amount of products to purchase/manufacture, where to place them and how to get them to the stores. Two major contributors to these improvements are technology and flexible agreements with shipping lines.
Order Quantities
For brick-and-mortar stores, the key to a perfect holiday season is for retail procurement to predict the number of each product the company requires at each retailer. Although there is an arbitrary calculation, the correct answer varies greatly per location. The greatest challenges for retail procurement to calculate the correct quantities include:
- Short timeframe
- No selling activity to indicate buyer behavior
- Over-stocking
- Under-stocking
Point-of-Purchase (POP) Displays
In addition to smart planning by retail procurement for products, companies must also create a strategy for POP displays which help drive costs from the supply chain. As a mechanism for advertising, POP displays create value in the retail stores with low labor cost. Therefore, these displays must arrive at the stores concurrent with the products to ensure a timely advertising campaign during the holidays. Therefore, it is critical that upstream logistics is involved in POP display design timelines as assembly and shipping is a major aspect of the process; not just design.
Consumer package goods companies want the POP display to differentiate from the competition through vivid colors and sharp graphics. In many instances, design creates the POP displays to be so complicated to assemble that it adds considerable labor costs, as well as time. In an effort to ship on-time, in some cases, logistics must use expensive transportation methods like air shipping.
Nevertheless, by including logistics and retail procurement in the design and production timeline, POP displays could be scheduled more efficiently to accommodate more cost efficient delivery avenues. By allowing 3PL’s to assist in mapping out the most advantageous transit schedules, improvements will allow for the most intricate displays to still have adequate assembly times.
Shipping POP Displays
Like any other product, there are certain precautions that must be taken when shipping POP displays which should be built into a contingency plan. During transit, shock and vibration can jostle and even damage the display, dirt and dust can collect, corrosion can occur (depending on the material) and exposure to a variety of temperatures can affect the overall appearance or functionality. Therefore, correct testing, proper protection and evaluation of the shipping routes will assist in ensuring safe transportation of the POP displays to their required destinations.
STC Logistics specializes in shipping retail procurement items like POP displays. We pride ourselves on the principal that when we ship your product, it is delivered on-time, 99% of the time. We are a trusted logistics provider for the retail industry and have a successful track record for reliable and flexible logistics solutions. Contact us for all of your holiday shipping needs here or click on the button below!
The Impact of White Glove Service for Logistics Solutions
There are many different types of freight being shipped every day across land, air, and sea channels. Some items tend to be far more fragile than others,thus require specialized attention in order to prevent an imminent disaster. The most ideal logistics solutions needed for cargo of the most delicate nature will come from carriers who embrace the concepts behind white glove service and understand its overall importance. As a result of such diligence, any business can feel secure knowing that their logistics affiliates are willing to take the time to carefully secure, handle and transport their cargo based on the unique physical attributes each shipment possesses, as well as the price tag of the items themselves and the time-sensitivity they require.
Countering Potential Shipping Issues:
Just as different types of freight require different levels of hands on attention, each unique shipping method offers its own challenges regarding the way that freight must be handled. Fortunately, the use of white glove service presents a measurable counter for any potential threat that may or may not occur during all steps of the shipping process. Direct line-haul service can be used to minimize transfers, while special attention can be given to pick up and delivery methods. Transit times are reduced and your freight is tracked consistently to ensure on-time deliveries of your most time-sensitive cargo.
By Land:
When moving shipments by truck, some of the preventable dangers that can be experienced on the road include:
- Jostling of freight that could easily cause it to crack, break, or otherwise be damaged – remedied by packaging and securing the freight with the proper equipment
- The ever present threat of getting into an accident while on road – accidents occur, but timeliness in recovering from them is determinant in completing the job.
- Problems that could develop based on the temperature of the cab depending on the type of freight that is being shipped – temperature controlled equipment and temp tabs can regulate and monitor these issues
- Theft or vandalism that could easily happen while a truck is parked at any location – inventory tracking technology, secure cross-docking facilities, locked trucks and video monitored loading docks are some precautions taken to minimize theft
By Sea:
Problems that could be encountered by sea are somewhat similar and include:
- Waves from bad weather conditions that could easily cause the freight to be bounced around – contracting the correct size equipment and securing cargo is important in preventing slippage
- Long travel times that could cause time sensitive freight to expire – by knowing anticipated transit times and the nature of the product, your logistics company can lead you to choose the best service based on your type of freight.
- Temperature issues, especially if freight is being kept below deck – remedied just as any temperature sensitive situation
By Air:
The issues for freight moving by air are less serious, even though this is considered to be the safest means of transport:
- Jostling that could take place during take-off and landing – packaging practices are crucial
- Turbulence in the air – D-containers may be implemented to prevent moving inside the cargo space
The Solution:
Any business will find that logistics companies who pride themselves in offering white glove service can effectively combat each and every one of these issues. In doing so, such companies will assess if all items are neatly packed and secured with proper materials, all boxes are sealed correctly, delicate items are wrapped in the proper way, everything is loaded in the neatest order possible, and the correct type of shipping method used for particular types of freight. Packaging assessments should be made and solutions offered to your shippers so they can reinforce products prior to shipping. Without this level of service, there are too many potential disasters that could befall the freight in question which ultimately means lost time, lost money and unhappy customers.
By employing proper white glove service, logistics companies like STC Logistics are ensuring that those they work with will never have to fret in regards to even the most expensive or delicate types of freight. Because the top logistics outfits take their time to develop a unique solution, born in practices of white glove service and then custom tailor it for each and every item, it makes their service standards worth looking into. Because freight must ultimately be shipped in one manner or another, choosing the safest and most secure methods simply makes sense, which of course is precisely the aim of white glove service overall. Any company bold enough to embrace white glove service standards will be rewarded with personalized service, fewer pieces of damaged freight, faster shipping times, and happier customers overall.
To learn more about how you can safety ship the most delicate and high importance items from a trusted logistics provider, please click here.
