Freight Insights
Industry news, guides, and best practices from the CargoLinked team.
Container and Air Freight Market Update, Early November 2026
As of 4 November 2026, transpacific container rates have started to slip on Drewry's index while Asia-Europe holds, Suez traffic keeps growing, and air rates from China are close to last December's peak. This update covers only what changed since 27 October, with every source named.
OFAC 50 Percent Rule and Sanctions Screening Tools for Freight Forwarders
A company can be blocked without appearing on any sanctions list if blocked persons own half or more of it. This guide covers the 50 Percent Rule, the free and paid screening tools, when to screen, and reporting timelines, as of November 2026.
Air Freight Pallet Build-Up and Breakdown: What Shippers Need to Know
Most air cargo is built up into a unit load device (ULD) before it flies and broken down again at destination. This guide explains who does each step, what airlines require of a shipper-built unit, and the 14-day and 21-day clocks that start when the cargo is delivered.
TSCA Chemical Import Certification for US Importers, Explained
Every US entry of chemical substances needs a TSCA certification filed with CBP before release: positive if the goods are subject to TSCA, negative if they are not. This guide covers who signs, what it promises, the Inventory check and what happens when it is wrong.
FIATA Diploma and Training Paths for Freight Forwarding Staff
The FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding is delivered through national associations, not by FIATA itself. This guide sets out the main qualifications, the training the rules may require, and a 30/60/90 day plan for new hires.
Shipping Furniture Internationally: Moisture, Fumigation and Damage
Furniture is bulky, easily scuffed and made of wood, so it is exposed to three separate problems at once: volume-based freight pricing, moisture damage in the container, and plant-health and timber rules at the destination. This guide separates them and shows what to check before loading.
CPSC eFiling and Children's Product Certificates for US Importers Explained
Since 8 July 2026, importers of most CPSC-regulated consumer products have had to send certificate data to CBP at entry. This guide explains the CPC and GCC, who issues them, the lab rules and what your broker needs.
Container Tracking APIs and DCSA Standards for Freight Forwarders
A forwarder can get container status from carrier APIs, EDI, a visibility platform or scraping, and the DCSA Track and Trace standard is making the first of these more uniform. This guide covers what tracking really returns, where the data goes wrong, how to build exception alerts and what to ask a vendor.
Shipping Fresh Seafood by Air and Sea: Rules and Cold Chain
Fresh and frozen seafood travels under two separate sets of rules: the physical cold chain (temperature, packing, handling) and the paperwork (health and catch documents). This guide covers both, by air and by reefer container.
Importing into Thailand: e-Customs, Import Permits, Duty and VAT Explained
Importing into Thailand means an electronic import declaration through the Customs Department's e-Customs system, any agency permits obtained before the goods arrive, and duty plus VAT calculated on the CIF value. This guide walks through each step, with as-of dates.
Managing Drayage Carriers as a Freight Forwarder
A drayage carrier is the one supplier that touches your customer's container at the terminal gate, and most of its risk is not on a general trucking checklist. This guide covers the intermodal-specific checks, rate terms, appointment costs and a scorecard for managing drayage carriers.