News & Insights
Industry news, guides, and best practices from the CargoLinked team.
Trade Policy and Customs Update for Shippers, October 2026
As of 6 October 2026, the US-China truce has a new date in a Treasury statement, but the Section 301 port fee suspension still ends on 9 November in the only legal instrument that governs it. This update separates what officials have published from what has only been reported.
Dangerous Goods Training and Certification for Freight Forwarders
Any forwarder staff member who prepares, accepts or signs for dangerous goods needs function-specific training, refreshed on a fixed cycle and backed by records. Here is what IATA, the IMDG Code and 49 CFR require, and an internal control that stops untrained acceptance.
US Intermodal Rail Ramps, IPI and Container Moves Explained
An import container that is bound for Chicago or Dallas often lands at a West Coast port and finishes its journey on a train. This guide explains the routing terms, who controls the rail leg, what happens at the rail ramp, and where the charges and delays come from.
Phytosanitary Certificates and Plant Import Permits Explained
A phytosanitary certificate is an official plant health document issued by the exporting country's national plant protection organization, and the importing country decides when it is needed. This guide covers who issues it, how US import permits fit in, how ePhyto works and what happens to cargo that fails inspection.
Business Email Compromise and Bank Detail Fraud in Freight
Payment-diversion fraud does not steal cargo, it steals the invoice: a convincing email changes the bank account and your money, or your customer's, goes to a criminal. This guide covers how it works in freight, the controls that stop it and the first hours after a loss.
Panamax, Neopanamax and ULCV Container Ship Classes Explained
Container ships are grouped by size class (feeder, Panamax, Neopanamax, ULCV), and the class decides which canals and ports a ship can use. This guide gives the TEU ranges, the canal limits and what size means for a shipper in practice.
Mexican Pedimento, IMMEX and Customs Brokers Explained
The pedimento is the customs declaration behind every Mexican import or export, and IMMEX is the program that lets manufacturers import inputs without paying duty first. This guide explains both, who may file, what changed for 2026, and where the US entry takes over.
LCL Co-Loading and Consolidator Relationships for Forwarders
A smaller forwarder can sell LCL and air consolidation without running its own consol by co-loading with a consolidator. This guide covers who issues which bill, how rates and cut-offs work, how to protect your customer, and what to check in the agreement.
Blank Sailings and Void Sailings Explained for Shippers
A blank sailing, also called a void sailing, is a scheduled voyage that the carrier cancels. This guide explains why carriers do it, how it differs from rolled cargo and skipped ports, and what to do when your sailing is blanked.
UK Import Customs Declarations: CDS, EORI and Postponed VAT Explained
To import goods into Great Britain you need a GB EORI number, a customs declaration made on the Customs Declaration Service (yourself or through an agent), and a plan for paying duty and import VAT. This guide covers each step and what has changed at the border, as of 6 October 2026.
Job Costing, Accruals and Disbursements for Freight Forwarders
A freight forwarder only knows what a shipment earned once every cost has landed on the job file, and carrier invoices arrive weeks late. This guide covers estimates vs actuals, accruals, disbursements, month-end cut-off and where margin leaks.