Guides & Q&A
Freight guides and Q&A
Straight answers to real freight questions.
Costs, customs, containers, Incoterms and more, explained in plain English by people who've worked every side of freight.
24 answers
Shipping basics
Shipping basicsWhat does a freight forwarder do?A freight forwarder organises the movement of your goods from origin to destination. They book space with shipping lines, ferries or hauliers,…Read the answer →Shipping basicsShould I ship FCL or LCL?Choose FCL (a full container) when you have roughly 13–15 m³ or more, or when your goods are fragile, high value or urgent. LCL (sharing a…Read the answer →Shipping basicsWhat size are shipping containers?The standard sizes are the 20ft (about 33 m³ inside), the 40ft (about 67 m³) and the 40ft high cube (about 76 m³, roughly 30 cm taller). All are…Read the answer →Shipping basicsHow long does sea freight from China to the UK take?Port to port, a direct service from Shanghai, Ningbo or Shenzhen to Felixstowe or Southampton usually takes around 28 to 35 days through the Suez…Read the answer →Shipping basicsWhich UK port should I ship my container into?Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway handle most deep-sea containers into the UK, with Liverpool best placed for the North West, Northern…Read the answer →Shipping basicsHow do I prepare my supply chain for peak season?Share forecasts with your forwarder early, book space well ahead, stay flexible on ports and sailing dates, make sure cargo is ready before the…Read the answer →
Costs & charges
Costs & chargesWhat affects the cost of sea freight?The main factors are the trade lane, container size, time of year, the carrier and service, fuel and other surcharges, origin and destination…Read the answer →Costs & chargesWhat is the difference between demurrage and detention?Demurrage is charged when a full container stays at the port or terminal beyond its free time. Detention is charged when a container is kept…Read the answer →Costs & chargesWhat surcharges appear on a sea freight quote?Common surcharges include BAF (bunker or fuel adjustment), low-sulphur fuel charges, CAF (currency adjustment), peak season surcharges (PSS),…Read the answer →Costs & chargesWhat are destination charges on an import?Destination charges are the costs at the arrival end, typically terminal handling, documentation or delivery order fees, port and security…Read the answer →Costs & chargesHow can I reduce my freight costs?Plan earlier, be flexible on ports and dates, ship full containers where possible, control your own freight (FOB or FCA terms), book haulage…Read the answer →
Customs & documents
Customs & documentsWhat is a bill of lading?A bill of lading (B/L) is the shipping line's document confirming they've received your goods for transport. It acts as a receipt, a contract of…Read the answer →Customs & documentsWhat documents do I need to import goods into the UK?Typically a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (or air waybill / CMR), your GB EORI number, the correct commodity codes and any…Read the answer →Customs & documentsWhat is an EORI number and do I need one?An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number identifies your business to customs. You need a GB EORI to import or export…Read the answer →Customs & documentsWhat is a commodity code?A commodity code (based on the international HS system) classifies your goods for customs. It decides the duty rate, any import controls and…Read the answer →Customs & documentsHow is UK import duty and VAT calculated?UK import duty is a percentage of the customs value, which is generally the price of the goods plus freight and insurance to the UK border, at the…Read the answer →
Incoterms
IncotermsWhich Incoterm should I use when importing?Many importers prefer FOB (sea) or FCA (any mode) because they control the main freight and can see the full cost. EXW gives the most control but…Read the answer →IncotermsWhat's the difference between FOB and CIF?Under FOB, the seller loads the goods on the vessel and the buyer pays and controls the sea freight. Under CIF, the seller pays the sea freight…Read the answer →
Europe
EuropeWhat's the difference between accompanied and unaccompanied freight to Europe?Accompanied freight travels with its driver on the ferry or tunnel, which is usually fastest door to door. Unaccompanied trailers cross without a…Read the answer →EuropeDo I need customs declarations to move goods between the UK and EU?Yes. Goods moving between Great Britain and the EU need an export declaration, an import declaration and safety and security information, even…Read the answer →EuropeHow long does road freight from the UK to Europe take?From the Midlands, a full load reaches near-continent destinations such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany in one to two…Read the answer →
UK haulage
UK haulageHow do I book container haulage from a UK port?Give your haulier the container number, the port and terminal, the delivery address with opening times, the equipment you need, the cargo weight…Read the answer →UK haulageWhat is a side-loader and when do I need one?A side-loader is a truck with cranes that lift the container off the trailer and onto the ground. You need one when your site has no loading dock…Read the answer →UK haulageWhat should I check before my container lands in the UK?Make sure your invoice, packing list and bill of lading match, your commodity codes are ready, haulage is booked, your delivery site is ready to…Read the answer →
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