Like anything in the world of international trade, shipping for the first time can involve a significant learning curve. With so much to think about and many moving pieces, it can feel overwhelming before your goods have even left the factory. Then you add in that mistakes and missteps can end up costing you thousands of dollars needlessly, and it’s no wonder that even seasoned importers often turn to expert help before they begin. 

The surest way to avoid complications when shipping is with the help of a skilled freight forwarder like the ones you will find at PCB Freight Management, but in the early days of a shipper’s carrier, when you are just starting out, you don’t know what you don’t know. A few beginner freight shipping tips can go a long way to helping those first few shipments go a bit smoother. 

Documentation is Vital

One of the most important things you can do before you begin is to know your Customs documentation requirements inside out - be it for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or the US Customs and Border Protection. Knowing what you are going to need and for what is a significant portion of the battle when it comes to importing for the first time. There is a lot of bureaucracy to understand, even at this early stage. From permits to invoices, bills of lading, and even things like appropriate labels and packaging, getting the ‘paperwork’ right is crucial to the success of your shipment. The closer you pay attention to your shipment’s specific documentation requirements, the better off you will be. 

Whether it’s your first shipment or your thousandth, compliance is going to be the easier road to consistent success, and knowing ahead of time precisely what will be required for your shipment before boats hit the water is going to be among the most crucial first steps on that road. 

Of course, that begs the question, how will you know what paperwork you will need to ship goods internationally for the first time? We’re so glad you asked. 

Enlist a Customs Broker

As a first-time shipper, you might be tempted to think that all you need to be successful with your import is a skilled freight forwarder to handle the logistics, but in truth, a Customs broker will be one of the most important contacts you make. Your freight forwarder can absolutely help you set up your transportation, manage your cargo, and indeed help with a host of relevant paperwork, but your broker serves an important role as well. 

Not only do they help clear goods at Customs, but they serve as resources during complications and guides for learning what you will actually need to import your goods across the border. With a broker’s help, in PCB’s case with our Import Assessment and PGA Requirements services, you can have your shipment’s Harmonized System (HS) Code, duty rate, and any relevant government agencies explained to you in full, along with instructions on the necessary steps you need to take to ensure that your goods are adequately prepared for their crossing. 

In short, there is quite a bit more involved in shipping than logistics and supply chain management, and your broker is going to be vital to this process. While we’re on the subject, this is probably as good a place as any to talk about one of the best reasons to align yourself with experts early.

A Customs Clearance Process Explained for New Shippers

One of the things that new importers need to contend with when importing for the first few times is an increased chance of being selected for a Customs exam. It’s not a guarantee, of course, but history indicates that your chances are higher as a new importer than importers with a legacy of demonstrated compliance. To this end, it is often a good idea to begin the way you mean to proceed, having your goods properly declared and with accurate documentation and duty payments right out of the gate. 

It is also a good idea to have your initial shipments be LCL as smaller shipments tend to be simpler, clear faster, and have a lower associated examination cost. 

It may seem like obvious advice just to do things correctly, but the better you work to make sure these early imports go through seamlessly, the more straightforward the process will be in the long run. 

Speaking of simplicity, you read the title of this post, so it may be time to look at one of the more surprising mistakes new shippers make and how to avoid it. 

Home Deliveries

In nearly every case, a container cannot be realistically delivered to residential locations, but this may not be necessarily for the reasons you might think. For a fee, a container can absolutely be delivered almost anywhere; the issue is that the commanding majority of residential locations do not have the proper loading or unloading facilities or the correct equipment required to manage an entire shipping container. Whether it’s your house’s lack of a commercial dock, cranes, or forklifts, the absence of the skilled operators required to make the aforementioned equipment work or the additional surcharge you will be faced with for the attempt, it’s just not a good idea.

A recommendation is that full containers can easily be moved to a warehouse for cross-docking and then be delivered to your home with proper trucks that have lift gates or pallet jacks. The same goes for less than container loads (LCL), where the cargo is sent to a warehouse for de-stuffing before being delivered. 

If you are determined to have this happen, we recommend full container loads as they are slightly less complicated than less-than-container loads (LCL) in this department. However, this shouldn’t suggest that it will work well or affordability even then, as there are a host of permits and special issues required to make this happen. It is far easier to simply work with a skilled freight forwarder. With our help, we can get your goods where they need to go through proper, safe, and affordable channels. 

Starting out as an importer can be an intimidating prospect, but you don’t have to go through it alone. For help with every step of the process, contact the team of experts we have at PCB Freight Management. Our team of experts will work with you to set you up for success from the very first import, and before you know it, you’ll be an importing expert.

We look forward to hearing from you and getting you started in the global marketplace!