Use this library to find Foresmart’s published international freight guidance by customer task and subject. Articles explain shipping methods, documents, commercial terms, cargo handling, routes and delivery planning. Regulatory and customs information should always be verified against current official requirements before a shipment decision.
Browse Foresmart’s published freight guidance by topic. Each article identifies its author, publication date and current update information.
Air Freight
Practical air freight guidance for importers, including cargo acceptance, documentation, chargeable weight, transit planning, airline handling and delivery decisions.
- Air Freight Consolidation: Benefits, Services, and Use Cases
- Air Freight Shipping Cost: What Affects Your Final Quote?
- Air Freight Shipping Documents: What Importers Need
- Air Freight Shipping: A Beginner’s Guide for Importers
- Airport Reference Code
- Antonov An-225 Mriya: The Largest Freight Plane
- Can Lithium Batteries Be Shipped by Air in 2025?
- Cheapest Way to Ship to China: How to Save on International Freight
- How Much Does Air Freight Cost?
- How to Calculate Chargeable Weight for Air Freight: Your Ultimate Business Guide
- Sea Freight vs Air Freight: Cost, Time, and Best Use Cases
- The Complete Guide to Cargo Charter
- What Does “AOG” Mean in Aviation?
- What Is a Unit Load Device (ULD)?
- What Is Air Freight Forwarding?
- What Is an Air Waybill?
- Why Is Air Freight so Expensive?
Documents
Shipping-document guides covering bills of lading, air waybills, commercial invoices, manifests, certificates and the information importers should verify before release.
- A Practical Guide to CBP Form 5106
- Customs Bond: What It Is, When It’s Required, and How It Works
- Customs Clearance Meaning and Process: A Guide for Importers
- Letter of Indemnity (LOI) in Shipping | Usage, Risks, and Tips
- Master Bill of Lading vs. House Bill of Lading
- Proforma vs Commercial Invoice: Which Do You Need for Customs
- Standby Letter of Credit: A Brief Guide to SBLC
- Understand a Shipping Manifest
- Understand Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)
- Warehouse Receipt Explained
- What Are SDS (Safety Data Sheets) in Shipping?
- What Does International Shipment Release Mean for Your Cargo
- What Does POD Mean in shipping?
- What Is a Certificate of Origin (CO)?
- What Is a Commercial Invoice in Shipping?
- What Is a Dock Receipt? – Shipping Documents Explained
- What Is a Shipper’s Dangerous Goods Declaration?
- What Is a Telex Release and How Does it Simplify Shipping?
- What Is an Air Waybill?
- What Is an ECCN? A Complete Guide to Export Control Codes
- What Is Importer Security Filing (ISF)?
- Why Does the Canada Customs Invoice Matter?
Freight Insights
Practical international freight guidance covering routes, costs, cargo handling, compliance, warehousing and delivery decisions for importers.
- 1PL, 2PL, 3PL, 4PL, 5PL, and 6PL
- 20ft vs. 40ft Shipping Container
- A Complete Guide for Shipping a Container to Hawaii
- A Practical Guide to Industrial Warehousing
- All About FTZ Free Trade Zone
- All About the Double Drop Trailer
- All About Trade Show Shipping
- Amazon Holiday Shipping in 2026
- Best Freight Forwarders: 5 Companies to Consider in 2026
- Bill of Entry: Why Importers Need It?
- Bill of Lading: Meaning, Types, and Importer Risks
- Billing Address vs. Shipping Address
- Box Truck Dimensions
- Can a Freight Forwarder Be the Exporter of Record?
- Canton Fair Guide
- Carrier Facility in Shipping
- Carrier vs. Courier
- CFR Incoterms Explained: Meaning, Risks, and Best Uses
- Consignor vs Consignee on Shipping Documents: Differences and Release Risks
- Consolidated Freight: Meaning, Process, Pros and Cons
- Contract Manufacturer vs OEM Differences: For Overseas Buyers
- Data Center Logistics: How the Hardware Behind the Cloud Moves
- Delivery Appointment Scheduled
- Demurrage vs. Detention
- Denied Party Screening
- Do I Need a Freight Forwarder for Alibaba?
- Drayage Service Explanation
- Duty vs. Tariff
- Economy vs. Standard Shipping
- EORI Number: What EU and UK Importers Need When Shipping from China
- Expedited Freight: Speedy Cargo Delivery
- Fifo vs. Lifo
- Freight Charges in Shipping
- Freight Delays: Causes and Solutions
- Freight Forwarder vs Broker: What’s the Difference?
- Freight Forwarder vs Carrier: Main Differences for Importers
- Freight Forwarders vs. Freight Brokers
- Freight Packaging: A Practical Guide for China Export Shipments
- Freight Prepaid vs Freight Collect
- Golden Week in China: Impact on Shipping 2025
- Gross Weight vs Tare Weight: How They Impact Your Shipping Costs
- How a China Freight Forwarder Can Protect Your Amazon FBA Margins
- How Do You Measure Girth in Shipping?
- How Does a Climate-Controlled Warehouse Work?
- How Does Cross-Docking Work in Shipping?
- How Does Dropshipping Work? | A Simple Guide
- How Does First Come, First Served (FCFS) Work in Shipping?
- How Does Outsourced Logistics Work?
- How Does Reverse Logistics Work?
- How Does Supply Chain Logistics Work?
- How Does the Empty Container Return Work in Shipping?
- How Does the Port Congestion Impact Your Shipping?
- How Does the RFID Inventory System Work?
- How Long Does Alibaba Take to Ship?
- How Long Does Customs Take?
- How Long to Ship from China to the US? Transit Times Guide
- How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft/40ft Container?
- How Much Does a Shipping Container Weigh?
- How Much Does Alibaba Charge for Shipping to the US?
- How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Excavator from China?
- How Much Is a Shipping Container?
- How Much to Ship a Car Internationally?
- How Temperature-Controlled Shipping Protects Sensitive Goods?
- How to Calculate Cubic Feet for Shipping Boxes and Freight Quotes
- How to Calculate MPF Fee?
- How to Calculate Volumetric Weight?
- How to Define Your Customs Value?
- How to File a Freight Claim on a Brokered Load?
- How to Find a Freight Forwarder in China?
- How to Find My HS Tariff Code?
- How to Import from China in 7 Steps | 2025 Guide
- How to Print a Shipping Label? Process Explained
- How to Reduce Amazon Shipping Cost?
- How to Reduce Shipping Costs?
- How to Ship from Alibaba to Amazon FBA? An Ultimate Guide!
- How to Ship Loose Cargo?
- How to Ship on eBay?
- How to Ship the Project Cargo?
- HS Codes, HTS Codes, and Schedule B Codes: What’s the Difference
- Hub and Spoke Model | Distribution Strategy
- Inbound Logistics
- International Payment Methods
- Interstate vs Intrastate: Shipping Rules for Importers
- Inventory Planning Optimization Strategy
- IOR Shipping: What U.S. Importers Need for China Imports
- Is Alibaba a Scam: How Does Alibaba Work
- Is Cargo and Freight the Same Thing?
- Is It Worth Shipping Furniture Overseas?
- ISO Container
- Known Shipper Management System (KSMS) in Shipping
- Learn About Bobtail
- Limited Access Delivery: Why Final Delivery Costs More for Freight
- Locking in Cheap UK Imports With a Freight Forwarding Partner
- Net vs Gross Weight: Key Differences in Shipping Explained
- OEM vs. ODM – All You Need to Know!
- OS&D in Freight Shipping
- Pallet vs. Skid vs. Crate: Understanding the Key Differences
- Per Diem Charges in Shipping
- RFP vs. RFQ: Learn the Difference Between RFP and RFQ
- Shipping by Train vs. Truck
- Shipping Class 9 Hazardous Materials
- Shipping Lithium Batteries in 2025 | International Safe Tips
- Shipping to Alaska – Here’s What You Should Know!
- Should I Use Air Freight or Sea Freight to Get Goods out of China?
- Standard Pallet Dimensions: Sizes, Weight, and Container Fit for Shipping
- Tariff Tug of War: How U.S.-China Tariffs Shaped Business Choices
- The Largest Port in Southern China: A Complete Overview
- Trucking Driver Shortage | Industry Bottleneck
- U.S. Customs Examination: Understanding Holds and Clearance Delays
- Understand 3PL Warehouses: How Do They Work?
- Understand Beneficial Cargo Owner
- Understand Delivery Area Surcharge
- Understand Freight Forwarders: What Do They Do?
- Understand Last-Mile Logistics
- Understand Palletized Freight Shipping
- Understand the Linear Foot
- Understanding Liftgate Service
- Understanding Load Tender in Shipping
- Vendor Central vs Seller Central
- Warehouse Logistics: How Does It Work?
- Warehouse Receiving: The Complete Guide to an Efficient Receiving Process
- Warehouse Storage Systems: Types and Functions
- What Are APO/FPO/DPO Addresses in Shipping?
- What Are Business Days in Shipping?
- What Are Container Seals in Shipping?
- What Are ETA, ETD, ATD, and ATA in Shipping: The Beginner’s Guide to Key Timings
- What Are FMCG Goods?
- What Are International Equipment Logistics?
- What Are Pooling Services?
- What Are Preferential Trade Agreements?
- What Are Prepaid Shipping Labels?
- What Do Freight Consolidators Do?
- What Do Logistics Companies Do?
- What Does “Package In Transit” Mean?
- What Does a Sourcing Agent Do? | A Trade Guide
- What Does Backorder Mean? Backorder vs. Out of Stock
- What Does Domestic Shipping Mean? Definition, Carriers, and Delivery Times (2026)
- What Does ICD Mean? | Inland Container Depots
- What Does Inherent Vice Mean in Insurance?
- What Does Tare Weight Mean in Shipping and Logistics
- What Is a Blind Shipment?
- What Is a Bonded Warehouse?
- What Is a Chassis?
- What Is a Consignee?
- What Is a Destination Charge in Shipping? A Guide for Importers
- What Is a Disbursement Fee and How to Cut the Cost
- What Is a Dry Run? How to Stop Paying for It?
- What Is a Fulfillment Center?
- What Is a Nautical Mile?
- What Is a Stevedore? Inside the Business That Moves the World’s Cargo
- What Is a Terminal in Freight?
- What Is AMS in Shipping? A China to USA Import Guide
- What Is an Import General Manifest?
- What Is an Onboard Courier?
- What Is Break Bulk?
- What Is Carbon-Neutral Shipping?
- What Is CBM?
- What is CFS in shipping?
- What Is Commercial Merchandise for Customs?
- What Is Containerization?
- What Is Digital Freight Matching (DFM)? Key Stages, Benefits, and More…
- What Is Dunnage: A Complete Guide
- What Is Duty Drawback?
- What Is EDI Shipping?
- What is FAK (Freight All Kinds) in Shipping?
- What Is Fuel Surcharge in Shipping?
- What Is Golden Week in Japan?
- What Is Landed Cost?
- What Is Lead Time?
- What Is Lean Logistics?
- What Is LTL Freight?
- What Is MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)?
- What Is Omnichannel Fulfillment?
- What Is Residential Freight Shipping?
- What Is the Arrival Notice in Cargo Shipping?
- What Is the Difference Between Wholesale and Retail?
- What Is the Fumigation Process for Wood Packing?
- What Is the Last Free Day in Shipping?
- What Is Transloading?
- What Is Verified Gross Mass (VGM)?
- What Is White Glove Delivery?
- What You Should Know About Shipping Pallets
- What’s a Straight Truck?
- When a Pallet Breaks: A Damaged Pallet Rework Guide
- Why Are China to USA Shipping Rates Changing in 2026?
- Why Is Alibaba Shipping so Expensive?
- Why Is Amazon Shipping so Slow?
- Why VAT Number Matters and How to Get a VAT Number?
Sea Freight
Sea freight guidance for FCL and LCL importers, covering containers, ports, sailing schedules, documentation, charges, consolidation and destination handling.
- All about Alaska Ports
- Biggest Ports in the USA
- Cape Horn vs. Panama Canal: A Look at Two Maritime Routes
- Choose the Best Sailing Schedule for Your Business
- Definition of Transhipment: Meaning, Process, and Uses
- Different Kinds of Ships in Modern Shipping
- Get to Know the Suez Canal
- How Long Does Sea Freight Take?
- How Many Shipping Containers Are Lost at Sea?
- How Much Does a Cargo Ship Cost?
- How Much Is Sea Freight from China Alibaba?
- How Sea Freight Is Calculated?
- LCL Sea Freight Shipping: When Should You Use It?
- Learn About Berthing in Shipping
- Ocean Alliance: Key Activities and Benefits Explained
- PierPass: The Fee that Reshaped Truck Flows at LA & Long Beach ports
- Port Operations Explained: How Does Global Trade Move Efficiently?
- Protect Your Business with Smart Marine Cargo Insurance Choices
- Sea Freight Shipping Costs: What Importers Should Know
- Sea Freight vs Air Freight: Cost, Time, and Best Use Cases
- Seaport Code Explanation
- Shipping Container Dimensions
- What Are SOC Containers?
- What Is a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT)?
- What Is a Feeder Vessel in Shipping?
- What Is Dredging?
- What Is GRI on Freight Quotes?
- What Is LCL Sea Freight?
- What Is NVOCC? Understanding Its Importance in Shipping
- What Is Sea Freight Forwarding?
- What Is Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC)?
- What Is Verified Gross Mass (VGM)?
- What Is Wharfage?
- Why Is Sea Freight Going Down in July 2024?
- Why Sea Freight Is Increasing in May and June 2024?
- Wisely Choose China Seaports and Ocean Freight Companies
Trade Terms
Clear explanations of Incoterms and commercial shipping terms, including cost allocation, risk transfer, documents and responsibilities for buyers and sellers.
- A Complete Guide to FCA Incoterms and Shipping
- About CPT Incoterms: Costs, Rules and Best Uses
- Carriage Paid To (CPT) Meaning: Risks, Costs and Buyer Duties
- CIP Meaning in Shipping: Costs, Insurance, and Buyer Risks
- CNF Meaning: A Guide to Cost and Freight
- CPSC eFiling: What Must US Importers Do in 2026?
- DAP vs DDP: Key Differences and Which Incoterm to Choose
- DDU Incoterms: Meaning, Responsibilities, and Current Alternatives
- Dimensional Weight vs. Actual Weight: What Is the Difference?
- EXW Incoterms Explained
- EXW vs FCA: Loading, Export Clearance, Costs, and Risk
- EXW vs FOB: Costs, Risks, and Which Term Should Importers Choose?
- FAS Incoterms Explained: Responsibilities, Uses, and Differences
- FCA vs FOB Incoterms: Which is Better for Your Shipment
- FCL vs LCL Freight Forwarding: Cost, Capacity & When to Choose Each
- FOB Origin vs FOB Destination: Who Bears the Risk
- FOB vs DDP: Cost, Customs Control, and When to Use Each
- Intermodal Transportation Definition: How It Works and When to Use It
- TEU Shipping Term: Meaning, Calculation, and Uses
- Understanding DAP Incoterms
- Understanding DDP Shipping Terms and Rules
- Understanding FOB Incoterms for Smooth International Trade
- What Are CIF Incoterms?
- What Are Incoterms in Shipping?