Have you ever bought something from overseas and thought why the whole thing is so complicated? The import carrier that you choose will either improve your shipping experience or make it worse.
Anyway, before we get much farther, let’s dispel one commonly held confusion: a carrier is not the same as a courier. A lot of importers confuse these two, and that little misunderstanding is capable of causing huge delays or additional costs.
Then, how can one pick the right carrier for his imports without being overwhelmed with the logistics jargon? Let’s take it step by step, in plain and simple terms.
What Is a Carrier?
Carriers are the ones whose responsibility is to move your stuff with them. They are the owners of a ship, an airplane, a truck, or a train that crosses the border and carries your things.
Carriers are basically similar to airlines, only their passengers are your goods. They are the ones who actually transport large shipments and usually have contracts with freight forwarders or import companies rather than with individuals having small parcels.
Now, as I have mentioned, carrier is different from courier.
Here is the difference: a courier picks and delivers small parcels or documents (like DHL or FedEx) within a location, while a carrier is in charge of big shipments, containers, and pallets.
The main focus of couriers is the delivery of packages from the sender’s to the recipient’s door, but carriers are all about large-scale cargo transportation for businesses.
Why Is It Important to Choose the Right Carrier?
Have you ever experienced a delivery going horrible? Perhaps your goods were delayed, damaged, or even lost on the way to you? That is what the consequence of choosing the wrong carrier is.
The right carrier will be the one who keeps your shipment arriving on time, safe, and at a reasonable price.
Choosing the wrong one may lead to unanticipated charges, problems at the customs clearance stage, or even poor customer service.
Therefore, let’s get down to how the right decision can be made.
1. Understand Your Shipping Needs
Before hopping from one carrier website to another, clarify your thoughts by examining the shipping requirements in your mind. Think about:
- What kind of products am I bringing in?
- Are they heavy and vulnerable?
- Would I stick to an air freight (that is fast and quite expensive) or a sea freight (that is slow and cheap)?
- How fast do I want the products to be delivered?
As an illustration, fruits or seafood that go bad easily might be better off being transported by air freight to benefit from the speed.
In the case, however, that you’re bringing in furniture or machinery, sea freight is more suitable and will save you a lot of money.
Knowing your needs gives you an idea of which carrier is the best fit for you.
2. Find Out the Carrier’s Trustworthiness
Would you simply hand your expensive things to anyone and trust them? Probably not. What applies to choosing a carrier, is the same rule here.
Try to work with companies that have positive reviews and long-term experience in the industry. Look if they have a clean record with the customs, few shipping delays, good customer service support.
Also, you can receive advice and recommendations from other importers or business owners.
But keep in mind that a carrier is not a courier, thus, don’t only rely on courier evaluations. A company great at small deliveries may not be reliable for large-scale international shipping.
3. Know the Costs and the Unseen Charges
Ever been caught off guard by “hidden fees”? That problem is faced by a great number of importers who have not been diligent with the questioning part in the beginning.
While calling out the comparisons between carriers, don’t forget to probe for that detailed list of expenses and always inquire about them:
- What is included in the freight charges?
- What about the fuel surcharges?
- Is there any cost for customs clearance?
- How about the money for handling and storage?
There are some carriers that offer a cheaper base price, only to add the hidden fees later.
Others might seem costly at the beginning, but they have everything included upfront, thus, keeping you away from stressing later.
Tip: Cheap do not always mean good. Be more attentive towards the carrier’s service and its trustworthiness.
4. Review Transit Times and Routes
How long the shipment will take is very important, especially if your business is inventory-based and you require the inventory to be always available.
Checking the transit schedule and route options of the carrier is a must of thought.
For an example, some carriers have direct shipping routes and some others can delay your shipment by making multiple stops.
In case the time is of the essence, take a direct or an express route by a carrier even if you have to pay more.
Moreover, if you are shipping by ocean, inquire about the frequency of their departures. It is because you will have more options if there is a problem, with weekly flyers rather than monthly ones.
5. Verify Licensing and Insurance
Similarly, you do not hand the steering to an unlicensed driver, right? Then what about giving your imports to an unlicensed carrier?
Make sure the carrier is the one that is registered and allowed to operate in both your export and import countries.
Besides, carriers that are trustworthy, provide insurance for the cargo that serves as a shield for the goods against any kind of damage, theft, or loss during the shipping.
Request a copy of the insurance policy and know what it comprises.
I can assure you that the comfort you get out of it is worth the inconvenience.
6. Customer Support and Communication
Have you ever tried to track your shipment and no one updated you? That is one of the most frustrating importers’ experiences.
Basically, good communication is an attribute of a good carrier. They offer tracking tools, they are always at hand and their customer service is dedicated and available to you.
If you call a carrier and they take days to answer you, it should indicate to you that this is not a good place.
Quick communication, which is also a sign of openness, is usually an indication that the company is reliable and professional.
7. Compare Service Networks
Each carrier has different coverage areas, some has regional focus, while others are broad enough to cover the entire globe.
Assuming you are buying from several countries, pick a carrier who has a wide network.
In this way, you can not only facilitate your logistics and free it from becoming a bottleneck but also you will have a smoother way of doing all with a single company at hand.
Moreover, you may also work with freight forwarders who can do the comparing work between carriers for you in addition to handling the customs paperwork.
8. Check for Additional Services
In addition, many carriers provide extra services such as warehousing, customs brokerage, or delivery tracking. These added advantages can help you have a smoother import process.
As an illustration, if your carrier is also providing you with the service of customs clearance, then you do not have to employ a separate agent. That is both time and money saved.
Never stop from asking what is included in their package and if they provide end-to-end logistics.
Final Thoughts
It is not only about the lowest price when choosing the right carrier for your imports but also about finding a reliable partner who understands your business needs.
Also, take note that a carrier is different from a courier. Carriers are the ones who handle the heavy lifting, while couriers are the people who deliver the smaller, faster packages.
Therefore, before your next shipment, allocate some time to compare the options, read reviews, and ask the necessary questions. It might require some effort now, but it will save you from a lot of troubles later.
After all, wouldn’t it be better to have your goods arriving safely and on time rather than risking delays and damage?