No cars in LCL shipments| Reading LCL Rate | Destination Charges | Sample of Total Charges | Avoiding Common Mistakes 

LCL – LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Note: Before you will read this page and/or be involved in an international seafreight shipment IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND, WHICH KIND OF SEAFREIGHT SERVICE YOU ARE GOING TO USE! For your convenience we have separated our U.S. Real-time Online Seafreight Calculators by sub-domains for different kinds of seafreight services:

• LCL ocean freight (Less than Container Load): International shipping of boxed, crated and/or palletized cargo by sea. Consolidated ocean freight. Note that you may use an LCL seafreight service for shipping both types of freight: either commercial cargo or household goods or personal effects.
  The related domain is - http://InternationalShippingUSA.com
  IMPORTANT!: LCL seafreight service CANNOT be used for shipping motor vehicles*
  
• FCL COMMERCIAL CARGO (Full Container Load): Shipping entire containers that contain a commercial cargo.
  The related sub-domain is - http://Containers.InternationalShippingUSA.com
  IMPORTANT!: You must NOT use pricing schedule in this sub-domain on international shipping of Household Goods and Personal effects! Shipping rates and procedures for commercial cargo are different from international shipping of Household Goods and Personal effects. For shipping Household Goods and Personal effects use other sub-domains below.
  
• FCL with HOUSEHOLD GOODS/PERSONAL EFFECTS: International shipping of entire seafreight containers containing Household Goods and/or Personal effects that are not for sale, but for personal use only.
  The related sub-domain is http://Householdgoods.InternationalShippingUSA.com
  IMPORTANT!: No motor vehicles* can be included! Export motor vehicles require special customs formalities and procedures. If you ship motor vehicles 
  
• FCL containing MOTOR VEHICLES*: International shipping of entire containers with consolidated motor vehicles consolidated in multimodal ocean freight containers.
  The related link is http://Cars.InternationalShippingUSA.com
  
• International shipping RO-RO: International shipping cars, trucks, trailers, boats, heavy equipment etc from the USA overseas.
  The related link is http://Ro-Ro.InternationalShippingUSA.com

* In respect of international shipping, motor vehicles mean vehicles such cars, motorcycles, boats, jet ski etc that require a registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

In international shipping using ocean freight service, LCL is an abbreviation for "Less than Container Load". This international shipping term is commonly used to describe an international ocean freight service that designed for shipping boxed, crated or palletized cargo that cannot fill an entire 20 or 40 foot sea freight container.

If you are a commercial shipper and your international shipment is considerable small, i.e. the total volume of your shipping goods is up to 15-20 cubic meters, then there are many advantages in using the LCL ocean freight service on your international shipment VS. using of FCL (Full Container Load ocean freight service).

If you are shipping Household Goods or Personal effects, then there are many advantages in using the LCL ocean freight service offered by direct or indirect international shipping companies (Freight Forwarders, NVOCCs, VOCCs) VS. using service offered by international moving companies.

IT SHARPLY DECREASES SHIPPING COST ON SMALLER INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FREIGHT SHIPMENTS AND:

• When you share a 40 foot sea freight container with one or more exporters, you pay ONLY for the space used in the container, but NOT for the entire container.
  
  
• As a rule transit time on your international shipment will be the same or even less as if you would ship a full ocean freight container. Most likely it will be faster if you use a service from an international moving company.
  
  
• Typically international LCL ocean freight rates are calculated is BY VOLUME (per cubic meter/cubic foot) but NOT BY WEIGHT. Since international cargo vessels capacity is not in fact limited by weight of cargo, but by hold of the ship, in general WEIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL LCL SHIPPING IS NOT A PRICING FACTOR (you may find more about dimensional weight in ocean freight and inland (LTL) trucking in our website).
  
  
• You may save on inland trucking. If you self-deliver your boxed, crated or palletized goods, which easily fits into your own or rented truck, to an ocean freight carrier's shipping terminal, you will then eliminate pre-carriage expenses that with FCL or international moving company's service may be comparable to or even exceed the international ocean freight shipping cost itself.
   
  Notice: In the International shipping the term Ocean Freight means the price paid by shipper for the transfer (sailing) his/her cargo between international ocean freight carrier's terminals in countries of origin and destinations. SHIPPING COSTS IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING MAY NOT INCLUDE ORIGIN AND OR DESTINATION CHARGES. See samples of total shipping costs calculations on Import or Export to or from the USA below.
  

IT IS FLEXIBLE:

• If you self-deliver your boxed cargo to international shipping company's ocean freight shipping terminal, you may request to palletize your loose boxes into one or more shipping units at the shipping terminal. By palletizing your boxes you make it safe for the international shipping. You may palletize smaller shipping boxes and request to ship bigger items loose. You then eliminate shipping cost and extra-volume charges related to the palletizing (you may find more about palletizing of cargo for the international shipping using LCL ocean freight service in our website).
   
  Notice: International moving companies may box, crate and palletize your goods upon your request for the international shipping as well. However, International moving companies will charge you for the labor, materials etc on top of actual international shipping cost.
   
• By using LCL ocean freight service in international shipping you can ship cargo of any sizes and forms as long as it fits into a 40' ocean freight container with internal dimensions as follows:
   
  Length - 39'5" = 12 meters
  Width - 7'5" = 2.35 meters
  Height - 7'10" = 2.39 meters

*NO FOOD STUFF, WINE & DRUGS* Shipping of Food Stuffs including wine and drugs (any item that is edible), including food items, edible animal byproducts, supplements, etc using international ocean freight services are subject to detailed regulations. Violations to these regulations can result in detention, confiscation, or destruction of cargo, as well as fines and criminal charges. Responsibility for proper documents, permits, and incurred charges are for the account of the shipper/consignee.

IMPORTANT NOTE!: MOTOR VEHICLES CANNOT BE SHIPPED USING INTERNATIONAL LCL OCEAN FREIGHT SERVICE

Any motorized vehicle that requires DMV (U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles) registration (auto, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, ATV’s) will not be permitted to an international shipment from US as LCL freight. This is due to US Customs Regulations that will not recognize any ocean freight carrier's warehouse as an exam site for inspection.

You can ship motorized vehicle using our sea freight service for shipping vehicles in containers or Ro-Ro, but LCL. Freight cost per a motorized vehicle should be equal to freight cost of shipping a mid-size car, but always must be re-confirmed upon a booking request.

FYI: If ship motorcycles as FCL freight, it may approximately fit up to: 8 motorcycles per 20' FCL sea freight container and 18 per 40'.
 
Motor parts can be shipped using LCL sea freight, however:
 
International shipments, export of motors and/or parts from the USA that may contain any fluids (such engines, tanks, batteries etc) are subject to the following requirement: ALL FLUIDS MUST BE COMPLETELY DRAINED.

However, even drained motor parts may be considered dangerous goods by the steamship line (VOCC) when cargo is delivered to the origin shipping terminal for the international shipment from US.

If motor parts are considered dangerous goods by the steamship line then additional documents related to shipping dangerous goods must be provided and hazardous surcharges apply. International transportation company (freight forwarder, NVOCC, international moving company) or shipping line (SSL, VOCC) will inform consigner of the additional requirements and charges (if any) once the cargo has been accepted by the carrier’s terminal (CFS) for the international shipment from US. 

International shippers of auto parts must be aware and accept the general conditions for exporting dangerous goods by sea from the USA detailed in the following linked document

IMPORTANT: It is the consigner’s responsibility to submit motor parts to the international shipment by sea in the proper condition. International transportation company (freight forwarder, NVOCC, international moving company) or shipping line (SSL, VOCC)  will not be held responsible for any delays or difficulties resulting from the failure to properly drain fluids or arrange proper packing prior to shipping, nor for additional charges incurred as a result thereof.

HELPFUL HINTS. READING INTERNATIONAL LCL OCEAN FREIGHT RATES

International ocean freight shipping rates may be ALL-IN (all-inclusive) or to be subject to surcharges related to a particular origin-destination country. Surcharges in international shipping can be a percentage of ocean rates on top of ocean freight rates itself and/or lump sums added to the international ocean freight rate.

Important!: Do not confuse total shipping cost on your international shipment with an ocean freight rate obtained from an international shipping company in an ocean freight quote provided. Refer to samples of calculations of total shipping costs on Export and Import cargo to and from the USA below.

• Typically international LCL sea freight rates offered by international shipping companies on EXPORT cargo from the USA include origin charges, but do not include destination charges.
  
  
• International ocean freight shipping rates offered by international shipping companies on IMPORT to the USA may not include charges at origin as well.

Notice: These regulations may not apply if you use service from an international moving company.

OCEAN FREIGHT CHARGES. SAMPLE OF LCL SHIPPING COST RATE CALCULATION ON EXPORT FROM THE USA:

ORIGIN: CFS Los Angeles, CA, USA (CFS - Container Freight Station, i.e. an international shipping company's shipping or receiving bonded warehouse)

DESTINATION: CFS Rome, Italy

ETT: 33 DAYS (ETT - Estimated Transit Time. The expected arrival time once the cargo has been shipped by sea. Notice: Even though, typically, international shipments depart and arrive as scheduled, in ocean freight Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) cannot guarantee a specific transit time.

OCEAN FREIGHT RATE PER CUBIC METER: USD130 w/m; MINIMUM 1 CUB.M or USD130

BAF 17% (BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor, i.e. fuel surcharge, a sample of "percentage" surcharge, which must be added to the ocean freight rate)

CAF 3% (CAF – Currency Adjustment Factor)

BOL FEE - INTERNATIONAL SEA FREIGHT BILL OF LADING FEE USD15 per shipment - a sample of "lump sum" surcharge, which may be added to the international ocean freight rate itself.

As a rule, origin charges at CFS are included in the international ocean freight rate.

!!!*** As a rule, destination charges are not included in international ocean freight rates ***!!!

Then your ALL-IN CFS-CFS international ocean freight rate will be $156 per cubic meters + $15 l/sum to the total ocean freight rate.

Now, let's assume that you are shipping from the USA 3.25 cubic meters of your boxed or crated cargo. You self-deliver it to a CFS (an international shipping company's warehouse) that locates in Los Angeles, CA.

Then your total international ocean freight shipping cost excluding destination charges will be:

$(130 + 130 X 0.17 + 130 X 0.03) X 3.25  + 15 = $522

IMPORTANT: International ocean freight rates always have minimums. Always compare international ocean freight rate to the minimum in the initial ocean freight freight rate. You will pay the ocean freight OR the minimum, whichever is greater.

Be prepared to pay destination charges at the destination upon arrival of your ocean freight to the destination.

A SAMPLE OF DESTINATION CHARGES WHEN IMPORTING GOODS TO THE USA:

Please refer tp the list of destination charges in international shipping using ocean freight that most commonly apply on IMPORT to the USA:

1. ENTRY FILING AND U.S. CUSTOMS. U.S. GOVERNMENT RELATED CHARGES - These charges include, but not limited to: (1) U.S. Customs Duties and taxes assigned by the U.S. Government; (2) U.S. Customs brokers' fees for filing entry and entry summary in the United States; (3) Other U.S. Government-related charges, which in general consist of a Customs Bond, Merchandise fee, and Harbor Maintenance Fee. These charges are payable by the consignee (recipient) directly to U.S. Customs or to his/her U.S. Customs Broker.

Example of destination charges per entry, related to U.S. Customs clearance that should be added to total shipping cost of international shipment being imported into the USA and paid at a time of recovery of the international shipment at a time of entering into the U.S. Commerce Zone:

• Entry filing for international ocean freight Commercial Shipments - $125.
• Entry filing for intrnational ocean freight Personal Shipments depends on the complexity of shipping documents submitted to a shipment and may vary from $195 to $350 or more. However, as long as it is an informal entry, it will not require Customs Bond.
• Single entry Customs Bond (for formal entries. Apply to international ocean freight Commercial Shipments) - $75 or $7.00 per $1,000 of value + duty. Applies if the importer does not have a Continuous Bond on file with US Customs. (+250% when entry is processed thru another government agency, FDA, USDA, EPA, etc).
• U.S. Customs Duty depending on commodity if not exempt from paying duty.
• Filing additional tariffs (Harmonized codes) - $7 per HTS tariff after two.
• Merchandise processing fee – 0.21% of value. Minimum $25; Maximum $485. Applies to all imports except temporary imports.
• Harbor Maintenance Fee – 0.125% of value. Applies to all international ocean freight imports.
• Disbursement Fee - 25 min / 6% on amount paid on behalf of importer of records (consignee)

2. THC - TERMINAL HANDLING CHARGES ON INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FREIGHT SHIPPED TO THE USA:

These charges vary depending on commodity, weight and volume. These charges are payable to the destination station (CFS - Container Freight Station, international ocean freight carrier's receiving terminal).

Example of U.S. destination shipping terminal(s) charges for international LCL ocean freight of total volume around 3 CBM / weight 300 kilos:

• Staffing fee - $18
• CFS docs fee - $25
• Handling charge - $75
• Pier pass - $5
• Storage (if any)
• Port of entry CFS release - $75

3. CHARGES RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT RELEASES:

• International ocean freight carrier's destination agent release fee - $55-95. If the destination agent is a CFS itself, then this charge can be included in a Port of entry CFS release.
• Messenger fee - $25-55. Covers express mail for payments and shipping documents transfers in order to get an entry and entry summary within a time slot allowed by U.S. Customs – no longer than in 15 working days.
• Place of Delivery warehouse release fee (if Immediate Transportation. I.e. port of entry is NOT a final destination. As a rule applies on cargo transfers to landlocked cities) - $55-105.

4. FREIGHT DELIVERY (IF A DELIVERY IS REQUIRED)

A SAMPLE OF TOTAL SHIPPING COST RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL LCL OCEAN FREIGHT SHIPMENTS IMPORTED INTO THE USA (In USD.):

Very important to understand that, typically, international ocean freight shipping price quots received from an international shipping company contains just a part of total shipping cost of your ocean freight shipment. Consider this example below for an import freight to the USA. Notice that this rule may not apply if you are using shipping service from an international moving company.

Note: In EXPORT from the USA, origin charges, as a rule, are INCLUDED in the ocean freight price quote offered by an international shipping company.

Some statistics on the LCL international shipping by AMID Logistics, LLC:

During the 2009 year we had completed 1489 international LCL ocean freight shipments.

This chart provides the total international ocean freight shipping volume divided by countries in percents from the total (100%):

Shipping to India 14.17%
Shipping to Australia 12.29%
Shipping to United Kingdom 6.18%
Shipping to China 4.97 %
Shipping to New Zealand 2.82%
Shipping to Saudi Arabia 2.82%
Shipping to Germany 2.69%
Shipping to Malaysia 2.35%
Shipping to Taiwan 2.01%
Shipping to Ireland 1.95%
Shipping to Singapore 1.88%
Shipping to USA 1.68%
Shipping to Brazil 1.61%
Shipping to South Africa 1.54%
Shipping to Italy 1.54%
Shipping to France 1.48%
Shipping to Spain 1.28%
Shipping to Sweden 1.14%
Shipping to Japan 1.07%
Shipping to Thailand 1.01%
Shipping to Costa Rica 1.01%
Shipping to Turkey 1.01%
Shipping to Netherlands 0.94%
Shipping to Norway 0.87%
Shipping to Venezuela 0.87%
Shipping to Israel 0.81%
Shipping to Czech Republic 0.81%
Shipping to Tanzania 0.81%
Shipping to UAE 0.81%
Shipping to Switzerland 0.74%
Shipping to Pakistan 0.74%
Shipping to Finland 0.74%
Shipping to Philippines 0.74%
Shipping to Indonesia 0.74%
Shipping to Egypt 0.67%
Shipping to Belgium 0.60%
Shipping to Lebanon 0.60%
Shipping to Poland 0.60%
Shipping to Cyprus 0.60%
Shipping to Sri Lanka 0.60%
Shipping to Kenya 0.54%
Shipping to Morocco 0.54%
Shipping to Peru 0.54%
Shipping to Denmark 0.54%
Shipping to Chile 0.47%
Shipping to Panama 0.47%
Shipping to Albania 0.47%
Shipping to Hawaii (USA) 0.47%
Shipping to Kuwait 0.47%
Shipping to Romania 0.40%
Shipping to Portugal 0.40%
Shipping to Hungary 0.40%
Shipping to Vietnam 0.40%
Shipping to Scotland 0.34%
Shipping to Mozambique 0.34%
Shipping to Russia 0.34%
Shipping to Jordan 0.34%
Shipping to Ecuador 0.34%
Shipping to Ghana 0.34%
Shipping to Croatia 0.34%
Shipping to Colombia 0.34%
Shipping to Bulgaria 0.34%
Shipping to Greece 0.34%
Shipping to Estonia 0.34%
Shipping to Jamaica 0.34%
Shipping to South Korea 0.27%
Shipping to Argentina 0.27%
Shipping to Mauritius 0.27%
Shipping to Korea 0.27%
Shipping to Algeria 0.27%
Shipping to Zambia 0.27%
Shipping to Grenada0.20
Shipping to Barbados W.I. 0.20%
Shipping to Madagascar 0.20%
Shipping to Ukraine 0.20%
Shipping to St. Maarten 0.20%
Shipping to Austria 0.20%
Shipping to Uganda 0.20%
Shipping to Zimbabwe 0.20%
Shipping to Trinidad 0.20%
Shipping to Latvia 0.20%
Shipping to Slovenia 0.20%
Shipping to Tunisia 0.13%
Shipping to Martinique 0.13%
Shipping to Tortola B.V.I. 0.13%
Shipping to Congo 0.13%
Shipping to Paraguay 0.13%
Shipping to Nigeria 0.13%
Shipping to Yugoslavia 0.13%
Shipping to Slovakia 0.13%
Shipping to Bahrain 0.13%
Shipping to El Salvador 0.13%
Shipping to Cambodia 0.13%
Shipping to Cameroon 0.13%
Shipping to Uruguay 0.07%
Shipping to Botswana 0.07%
Shipping to Yemen 0.07%
Shipping to Guinea 0.07%
Shipping to Malta 0.07%
Shipping to New Caledonia 0.07%
Shipping to Dominica 0.07%
Shipping to Curacao N.A.0.07%
Shipping to Fiji 0.07%
Shipping to Guatemala 0.07%
Shipping to Guyana 0.07%
Shipping to Canary Islands 0.07%
Shipping to Bosnia 0.07%
Shipping to Bahamas 0.07%
Shipping to American Samoa 0.07%
Shipping to Bangladesh 0.07%
Shipping to Belarus 0.07%
Shipping to Bolivia 0.07%
Shipping to Haiti 0.07%
Shipping to Lithuania 0.07%
Shipping to St. Kitts 0.07%
Shipping to Sierra Leone 0.07%
Shipping to St. Lucia 0.07%
Shipping to St. Thomas U.S.V.I. 0.07%
Shipping to Syria 0.07%
Shipping to Serbia 0.07%
Shipping to Qatar 0.07%
Shipping to Nevis 0.07%
Shipping to Mexico 0.07%
Shipping to Nicaragua 0.07%
Shipping to Oman 0.07%
Shipping to Puerto Rico 0.07%
Shipping to Tahiti 0.07%

AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES IN INTERNATIONAL LCL OCEAN FREIGHT SHIPPING:

A. Do not confuse a parcel service with international LCL ocean freight shipping service

International LCL shipments with international shipping companies are always subject to origin* and destination charges and have a minimum charge on the ocean freight rate. Usually that minimum is equal to shipping cost of at least of one cubic meter. I.e. if you ship 0.5 cubic meters you will be charged for shipping of one cubic meter anyway. (For certain origins-destinations the minimum can be much higher. Always pay attention to the minimum in international ocean freight.)

*Notice: in export of international ocean freight from the USA, origin THC - Terminal Handling Charges, Customs formalities and shipping documents turnover fees, as a rule, are included in international ocean freight rates.

If you are shipping small cargo less than 0.3 cubic meters of total volume, possible using an international parcel service would be more cost-effective than a service provided by an international shipping company (freight forwarder, NVOCC or VOCC).

B. Do not confuse international LCL ocean freight service with international moving company's service

Yes, most of the time you can use international LCL ocean freight service from an international shipping company, i.e. service offered by an international freight forwarder, NVOCC or VOCC for shipping household goods or personal belongings from and to the USA by sea.

However, in order to use the international LCL ocean freight service all your shipping items must be properly boxed or crated and labeled for shipping purpose.

If you are moving overseas you may consider services from international moving companies. Services offered by international moving companies may be extremely expensive. However, an international moving company may send to you a surveyor, estimate packing cost and provide total pricing for your international shipment. International moving companies may provide to you all-in service for a shipping cost including all charges related to your international shipment. But always ask the international moving company either all charges included in their shipping cost offered or not. You may try http://www.123movers.com

C. Shipper's responsibilities on commodity and shipping documents submitted to an international ocean freight Import or Export shipment

When wotking with an international freight forwarder, shipper should clearly understand that he/she is responsible for description and legality of commodity and sufficiency of shipping documentats submitted to the international ocean freight shipment.

Ocean freight carrier's bill of lading in international shipping using an ocean freight service is the final shipping document that acts as the title on shipped goods, as a rule states 'SHIPPER LOAD AND COUNT' and 'SAID BY SHIPPER TO CONTAIN'. That means that the ocean freight carrier (and the international freight forwarder who represents the carrier) is NOT responsible for information provided by shipper on his/her commodity being imported to or exported to or from the USA.

An international ocean freight freight forwarder should guide shipper in complexity of international shipment's procedures. However, it is shipper's responsibility to provide all necessary shipping documents related to his international ocean freight shipment that required by origin and destination countries officials.

Below is the list of common used shipping documents required to be submitted to an international ocean freight shipment:

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS:

A. International ocean freight Bill of Lading – Ocean carriers' (international shipping company's) transport document. Title on shipped goods. Shows cargo routing, consigner, consignee, cargo description, etc.

B.1. For commercial international ocean freight shipments - Commercial Invoice. Complete description of commodity being shipped with the value in USD while using ocean freight service provided by an international ocean freight shipping company or an international moving company.

B.2. For international shipping of household goods and personal belongings overseas – Valued Packing List. An inventory list with value in USD assigned to each item being shipped by an international ocean freight shipping company or an international moving company.

Notice: some countriers require proforma commercial invoices for international personal shipments as well. However, having a complete Valued Packing List submitted at origin, upon destination customs request, you will be able easy to transfer your Valued Packing List into a proforma commercial invoice required by the customs.

In respect of U.S. Customs, all Commercial Invoices (and Valued Packing Lists) must be in English and show:

• Value of cargo in US Dollars (exchange rate = date of export);
• Shippers full name and address (M.I.D. – manufacturer’s identification);
• Consignee full name and address;
• Detailed description of cargo/freight;
• Quantity of cargo shipped;
• Weight of cargo shipped;
• Cargo’s Country of Origin

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS DEPENDING ON COMMODITY AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN USED IN THE OCEAN FREIGHT INDUSTRY:

D. Packing List – Breakdown description: pieces, weights and packing materials. (Examples - Wood Pallets, Skids, Crates, Boxes, Dunnage, Straw Packing, etc.)

E. Fumigation Certificate– Certification that cargo and packing materials were fumigated after cargo had been containerized and is free of infestation.

F. Special Shipping Documents – Dependent on commodity and country of origin.

Visa
Quota
Visa/Quota
Certificate of Origin
North American Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin (N.A.F.T.A.)
Packing Declaration
Dangerous Goods Declaration – hazardous materials
Fish and Wildlife Declaration
Consular Legalized documents
F.D.A.
U.S.D.A.
Anti-Dumping

D. Storage/demurrage at destinations in international shipping using ocean freight services

Within several days of the arrival of your international ocean freight shipment arriving to the destination port of entry, your consignee (recipient) should receive a notification (arrival notice). As a rule it will be an arrival notice faxed or e-mailed to the consignee by the agent of international ocean freight shipping company used on your sea freight shipment. Otherwise it can be a phone call or mail from the international shipping company's destination agent. Make sure that contact information of consignee initially provided in your booking request and transffered to your international ocean freight bill of lading is correct and valid.

Act promptly. Your free storage time at a destination warehouse is limited. Depending on destination ocean freight carrier's station policy it varies between 7 to 14 days. Thereafter storage/demurrage may increase total shipping cost for your international ocean freight shipment dramatically.

Laws allow to your consignee working on the cargo recovery directly with your destination county's customs and other parties related to your international ocean freight shipment.

However, if the consignee is not familiar with import procedures on sea freight imprt or export, we recommend him immediately request the international shipping company's destination agent to complete the cargo release on your behalf or forward the notice of arrival along with other documents required by destination authorities to a freight forwarder or destination customs broker. They will charge a reasonable fee for its service. However, they should obtain customs and warehouse releases with no (or minimum) storage/demurrage charges on your international ocean freight shipment.

E. Other services in International shipping by sea

Use our free 24/7 real-time international ocean freight price calculators starting by selecting your destination country:

1. LCL ocean freight (Less than Container Load): International shipping of boxed, crated and/or palletized cargo by sea. Consolidated ocean freight. The related link is http://internationalshippingusa.com/

2. FCL ocean freight (Full Container Load): International Shipping of entire seafreight containers with Household Goods and Personal effects (No motor vehicles). The related link is http://householdgoods.internationalshippingusa.com/

3. Commercial FCL freight. IMPORTANT!: Shipping rates and procedures are different from international shipping of Household Goods and Personal effects. You must NOT use this pricing schedule on international shipping of Household Goods and Personal effects. The related link is http://containers.internationalshippingusa.com/

4. International shipping of cars and other types of motor vehicles (small boats, motorcycles, jets etc) consolidated in multimodal ocean freight containers. The related link is http://cars.internationalshippingusa.com/

5. International shipping RO-RO: Shipping cars, trucks, trailers, boats, heavy equipment etc from the USA overseas. The related link is http://ro-ro.internationalshippingusa.com/

No cars in LCL shipments| Reading LCL Rate | Destination Charges | Sample of Total Charges | Avoiding Common Mistakes