BUSINESS-SHIP-LOGISTICS - 3

I. DHL, Fedex and UPS International Shipping Guide Comparison

We have reviewed the international shipping guides from DHL, Fedex and UPS for use by a novice shipper. We have evaluated these guides on the following points:
- Content Layout
- Ease of understanding for a novice shipper
- "How To" instructions provided
- Links to Shipping resources openly available without registration.

For the novice shipper international shipping guides can be a geat way to start to learn about the international shipping process. However writing a useful shipping guide for this audience can be a little tricky because it can become very confusing very quickly. In our estimation DHL provides the best How To Ship International Guide in the form of their "DHL Guide to Exporting" from all four standpoints. This is primarily because their document answers the following questions in a manner that is easy to understand and complete:
- What do you need to start?
- How do I distinguish between Document and Non Document item?
- What forms are the basic forms that I need?
- What kind of shipping resources are available to me?
- What services do you provide?

The "Fedex International Shipping Reference Guide" comes in a close second and the "UPS Navigate International Shipping With Confidence Guide" comes in at a distant third.

The "DHL guide to exporting" differentiation between Document and Non-document item is one of the aspects that push it over the top to first place. Fedex uses a flow chart to differentiate between Document and Non-Document packages that we believe would be confusing to a novice shipper. It is important for the novice international shipper that knowing whether a shipment is a document or not can ofen be the difference betwen a dutiable and non-dutiable shipment. In addtion, it is not always obviuos what is or is not considered a document. The definitions for this category vary from country to country.

Finally DHL won first place because of its inclusion of free shipping resource links that are avialable to the public without first registering. These include their "Trade Document Library" which is a treasure trove of additional country specific documents that may be needed to export to your country besides the basic general documents and "Interactive Classier" for finding Harmonized B and Schedule B numbers. The Fedex guide does not refer to their own classifier they point you to an external government site. UPS make referenced to a TradeAbility tools to find harmonized tariff codes but they do not provide a link to it.

II. The importance of freight forwarding services.

With today’s cutthroat economy every company needs to act quickly and professionally in order to succeed. Being able to ship goods from one country to another in an efficient manner is essential to staying above the competition. Freight forwarding services are dedicated to making the shipping process a lot easier and quicker for your company. A professional freight forwarder will act as an intermediary between your company and the transport companies, handling everything that is related to the shipping process. Kedan Logistics is the leading independent UK based freight forwarding and logistics company.

International freight forwarders are companies specialized in moving cargo to foreign destinations at the client’s request. The main advantage of collaborating with a professional freight forwarder is the agent’s extensive knowledge of all the overseas transport elements. Freight forwarding services are very familiar with import and export regulations, specific rules of foreign countries, shipping methods and all the documentation needed for foreign trade. Expert freight forwarders in the UK, such as Kedan Logistics, are licensed by the British International Freight Association and offer full logistics packages.

These days, shipping freight overseas is virtually impossible without the expertise and advice of an experienced freight forwarder. Freight forwarders practically assist exporters with everything related to the freight shipping process. Furthermore, freight forwarding services must keep you informed of all the potential costs involved in the shipping process. Therefore, a freight forwarding company must offer advisement on foreign costs, port charges, consular fees, special documentation costs, insurance costs and all of their handling fees. The forwarder may also recommend special packing methods that will protect your cargo during transit and make all the arrangements for the packing process. At kedan.co.uk you will receive professional advisement for all of our freight forwarding services.

Once you’ve agreed on the key elements such as price, date, packaging and shipping method, the freight forwarder will review all of the documents to make sure everything is in perfect order. This step is particularly important in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises in customs. The freight forwarding company is also required to prepare any required special documentation such as the bill of landing or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) documents. A forwarder can also make arrangements with foreign customs brokers to make sure the cargo fulfills the customs export documentation regulations. Warehousing, international payment methods and risk assessment are also provided by the freight forwarder as part of the service package.

Choosing a professional freight forwarding service can make the difference between your company and the competition. A good freight forwarder will save your company time, money and a lot of hassle. The main goal of a forwarding company is to provide reliable freight transportation to any destination at competitive rates. The right forwarding service will turn out to be an indispensable asset to your business and help you make smooth international transactions.