Shipping containers are an essential part of global trade, allowing businesses to efficiently transport goods over long distances. However, if you are shipping containers for the first time, there are several important factors to consider to ensure a smooth and cost-effective process. This guide will help you understand the intricacies of container shipping, even if you're new to transportation.

1. What needs to be in the container?

The first step in shipping a container is to determine what you need to put inside it:

• Determine the type of goods you want to transport. Are they perishable, fragile, dangerous, or require special handling? This will affect the type of container you need.
• Make sure your goods are properly packaged to withstand the rigors of transportation? This may require the use of pallets, crates or specialized packing materials.
• Prepare the necessary documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates of origin to comply with customs regulations.

Choosing the right logistics provider to transport your goods is equally important. For example, some providers do not provide refrigerated containers or transport dangerous goods.

2. What are the quantity and dimensions of the shipment?

Knowing the quantity and dimensions of your cargo is critical to choosing the right container. Please consider the following points:

• total volume
• Total weight
• Number of boxes or pallets

Be sure to calculate the total volume and weight of your shipment; they will affect your cost charges.

Determine the number of containers required, standard container sizes include 20-foot and 40-foot containers.

Choose between FCL or LCL. When you do not have enough cargo to fill the entire container, choose LCL, which means that your cargo will be shipped with other people's cargo.

3. Where will your goods be shipped?

The most basic step to confirm the origin and destination of your goods will help you plan inland transportation and reduce additional costs.

Research the customs regulations of the exporting and importing countries and find out if you have insurance needs for these services depending on how you want to ship, inland or across the sea, etc., to ensure compliance and avoid delays. It's also important to be aware of transit times between ports, so you can effectively plan your shipment schedule.

If your shipment involves multiple modes of transportation (e.g., ocean, rail, and truck), to streamline the process, consider using an end-to-end logistics service provider, which ensures a seamless transition between modes and reduces the risk of delays.

4. Develop a time plan

Having a detailed time plan is essential to ensure your shipment arrives on time. There may be delays, why? When big e-commerce festivals (Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday) or important national holidays (Chinese New Year, Christmas) come, you need to wait longer, so prepare your time plan.

Another aspect is the mode of transportation, usually airfreight and ground transportation will take less time than sea freight, but sea freight can carry a large amount of goods, if you consider sea freight, please choose linktrans, we provide one-stop service to move your goods from port to port.

Special circumstances: possible delays caused by weather, customs clearance or port congestion.

5. What is the transportation cost of a container?

Do cost budgeting and financial planning, the cost of container transportation will some uncertainties:

• Ask for quotes from several transportation companies to compare freight rates. Rates will vary depending on the route, container type and shipping season.
• Pay attention to additional costs such as port charges, duties and handling fees.
• factor in the cost of transporting the container to and from the port.

Linktrans specializes in shipping from China to the U.S. Through expert guidance and comprehensive logistics solutions, we make container shipping simple and efficient.

Contact us today to begin your shipping journey.