When you’re new to the world of freight exporting, all the technical and legal terminology, the mode of shipments, legal and customs issues and other such technicalities can make the shipping process very confusing. Unaware exporters may end up making the wrong decisions, which could cost thousands of dollars in costs if things go wrong.
Confused about what LCL is? Wondering whether your shipment requires FCL or a RORO container? Can’t figure out what the Bill of Lading is? You’ve come to the right place!
Bill of Lading (BOL)
The Bill of Lading is a contract between the manufacturer/owner of the goods to be shipped and the party shipping them. It provides details of the type of cargo being shipped, its quantity, the place of origin as well as its destination.
Consignee:
The consignee is usually the individual who is financially and physically responsible for receiving the shipment.
Consignor:
The consignor is the one who sends the shipment and is the legal owner until the consignee receives the shipment.
Containers:
The most popular form of shipping goods, containers are huge metal boxes typically shaped like truck trailers, except without the wheels. They come in a number of standard sizes, and are made to fit on top of trucks, rail cars and cargo ships.
Cubic Capacity:
The total capacity of any train, ship or truck, the cubic feet limit cannot be legally exceeded in any carrier without repercussions.
Full Container Load (FCL):
Full Container Loads or FCLs are sealed metal containers that are reusable and durable, and reduce the chance of packages getting damaged during the shipment process. Full containers are cheaper, safer and technically are fully loaded, often containing shipment of one single customer.
Less than Container Load (LCL)
Less than Container Loads or LCLs refer to shipments where a single party’s shipment does not fill up an entire container. In such a case, it is usually merged with other cargo that also does not fit into an entire container, which may be from one shipper or more. It can divide shipping charges between multiple consignees, and each consignee pays on a fixed dollar amount per cubic meter basis, depending upon how much space their packages consume.
Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO):
These kinds of ships are usually designed to carry wheeled cargo, including but not limited to motorcycles, cars, trucks and railroad cars. These ships usually have special facilities to get the cargo on and off-board.
About Quality One International Shipping Express
Quality One International Shipping Express is a general freight exporter that offers highly reliable and affordable commercial, local and international freight shipping to locations across the US and the Caribbean Islands. We are licensed and fully insured, and make your shipping experience worry and hassle-free. Contact us today to get a free quote.