Ocean freight is the most convenient way to transport goods internationally. It is economical, and you can ship goods to any part of the world as water covers most of our planet. Major world cities are well connected with the water routes. About 80 to 90% of the items are transported globally through ocean freight. It is the popular choice of shipment for many shippers over other freight modes like rail, air, and the road because it –
- offers value to your money
- is flexible and can accommodate any requirement of yours
- efficiently delivers your products to the destination location
- is equipped with modern technology that allows the smooth flow of all the processes
- allows you to track your shipment at any point in time
- can carry goods of any size safely
A freight mode that offers so many advantages will surely be the first choice of shippers.
These days technology has evolved to such an extent that a shipper does not need to spend a lot of time getting quotes from the various shipping companies and choosing the most convenient one to book a consignment. The process has become easy. Every long haul freight transportation company has an online rate calculator on its web page that allows anyone to know the rates within minutes. Some of them even allow you to compare their rates with other reputed shipping companies. It gives you the idea of whether you are receiving the best rate for your shipment. Here are some basic steps that one needs to follow while booking a consignment through ocean freight online.
Entering your shipment details
The first details that these web pages will ask for are the details of your shipment. You will have to enter the origin location and the destination from the drop-down box. If the drop-down box does not show your preferred locations, then it’s understood that the company does not have trade routes in such areas.
Deciding whether to choose FCL or LCL
In most cases, you will be asked to choose between full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL). That would entirely depend on the quantity of the items you want to transport. If you are opting for FCL, you will have to select the type of container. If you are shipping LCL, you will have to mention the volume and weight of your goods.
Comparing rates and adding other services if required
When you opt to compare the rates, you will have the details of all the shipping rates of your preferred locations. You will have an idea about the different carriers, their usual routes, and the timings. Add the services that you would require (like pick up, delivery, port expenses). The shipping rates will automatically update depending on the services you have opted for. Choose the quote that you think would serve you the best.
Add additional services if needed
Your shipment might need some other additional services like cargo insurance (it’s optional in most cases), packing list completion, certificate of origin, export certificate documents, etc.
Confirm the departure date
The next step would be to confirm the departure date. It will also depend on the availability of carriers of your chosen shipping line.
Confirm whether you need warehouse storage
You will be asked to confirm whether your shipment needs to be stored at a warehouse (both at the origin or destination locations).
Entering billing details and payment
The last step will require you to provide your billing details. Once you are done with it, you can pay the amount, either by bank transfer or credit card.
Conclusion
Now, you only need to wait for the consultants to get in touch with you to begin the process of shipping your goods.