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Freight knowledge for global trade
Authoritative guides on Incoterms, customs clearance, shipping modes, and freight documentation, structured for search engines and AI assistants, written for shippers and forwarders.
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Pillar guides organised by subject
Incoterms
Who pays for transport, insurance, and customs under each International Commercial Term — EXW through DDP, FOB, CIF, and more.
Customs & Compliance
Step-by-step customs clearance, HS codes, import documentation, and how to avoid delays at the border.
Freight Forwarding
What forwarders do, how to vet partners, NVOCC vs forwarder, and how digital marketplaces change procurement.
Shipping Modes
FCL vs LCL, air freight pricing, transit times, rail freight, and dangerous goods — choose the right mode.
Freight Costs
How rates are built, BAF/CAF/PSS explained, cargo insurance, and getting comparable forwarder quotes.
Documentation
Commercial invoices, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and the paperwork customs expects.
Featured guides
Cold Chain Logistics: How to Ship Temperature-Sensitive Cargo Internationally
Cold chain logistics is the specialised movement of temperature-sensitive cargo — pharmaceuticals, food, and perishables — under controlled conditions throughout the supply chain. This guide covers reefer containers, temperature requirements, regulations, and how to find verified cold chain freight forwarders.
Air Freight from Southeast Asia to Europe: Complete Shipper's Guide 2026
Air freight from Southeast Asia to Europe is one of the world's most active air cargo corridors. This guide covers transit times, rates, chargeable weight, key airports, documentation, and how to find the right forwarder for your Europe-bound air shipment.
Supplier Cargo Readiness Checklist: Prevent Pickup and Booking Delays
A practical checklist for shippers confirming supplier cargo readiness, packaging, labels, documents, pickup windows, export handoffs, and booking cutoffs.
Multimodal Freight Planning: When to Combine Ocean, Air, and Trucking
A shipper guide to multimodal freight planning, including when to combine ocean, air, trucking, warehousing, and customs handoffs for cost and reliability.
Freight Invoice Dispute Process: How Shippers Control Billing Variance
A practical guide for shippers handling freight invoice disputes, quote-to-invoice checks, accessorial charges, backup documents, approvals, and credit notes.
Delivery Appointment Scheduling: Shipper Guide to Fewer Failed Deliveries
A shipper guide to reducing failed deliveries by coordinating consignee rules, warehouse receiving windows, carrier appointments, documents, and escalation paths.
Freight glossary
A–Z definitions for bills of lading, Incoterms, customs terms, and logistics jargon
Common freight questions
What is a freight forwarder?
A freight forwarder is a licensed intermediary that arranges international transport on your behalf — booking carriers, preparing documentation, managing customs clearance, and coordinating door-to-door delivery. They typically do not own vessels or aircraft; they use their carrier relationships to move your cargo.
What are Incoterms and why do they matter?
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are ICC rules that define who pays for shipping, insurance, and customs, and when risk transfers from seller to buyer. Using the wrong Incoterm — or none at all — is a leading cause of unexpected freight bills and border delays.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book an entire container for your cargo alone. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods share a container with other shippers. FCL is usually cheaper per unit for larger volumes; LCL suits smaller shipments that do not fill a container.
How long does international ocean freight take?
Port-to-port ocean transit varies by trade lane — for example roughly 14–18 days Asia to US West Coast, 28–35 days Asia to Europe. Door-to-door time adds export preparation, port handling, customs clearance, and final delivery — often 2–3 weeks beyond sailing time.
What documents are required for customs clearance?
Most imports require a commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (bill of lading or air waybill), and customs declaration. Depending on the product and country you may also need a certificate of origin, import licence, or product-specific certificates.
How can I compare freight forwarder quotes fairly?
Request the same Incoterm, origin/destination points, cargo dimensions, and service scope (port-to-port vs door-to-door) from each forwarder. Compare line-item charges including local fees, surcharges, and currency — not headline ocean or air rates alone.
Is cargo insurance included in freight quotes?
Usually not. Carrier liability is limited by international conventions to a fraction of cargo value. All-risk cargo insurance is typically arranged separately — confirm coverage, exclusions, and insured value before shipping high-value goods.
What is CargoLinked?
CargoLinked is a global freight marketplace where shippers post structured quote requests and verified freight forwarders respond with comparable quotes — replacing opaque email chains with transparent, in-platform procurement and shipment visibility.
Still need help?
Post a freight request for live forwarder quotes, browse the directory, or contact our team.