Export: arranging goods transport
When exporting goods, you can have them transported by a forwarding company or a transport company. Or you can transport the goods yourself. Transporting abroad involves transport documents, supply conditions, packaging requirements, and insurance.
Transport goods yourself or have it done
You can arrange the transport of your export goods in 3 ways.
- A forwarding company arranges the transport. A forwarder will arrange everything for you. Apart from transporting the products this includes transport documents, insurance, and customs procedures.
- A carrier transports the goods. First choose one or more means of transport. Then look for a transporter (carrier). You arrange transport insurance yourself if required.
- You transport the goods yourself. Self-transport is useful, for example, if you install your product at the customer's premises. You do not need a permit for self-transportation. Youwill have to arrange everything yourself:
- proof that you are the owner of the goods.
- a means of transport.
Check the packaging requirements
The transporting or expedition company may have special packaging requirements, depending on the mode of transport. Discuss this beforehand.
Also check the packaging requirements for your product in the destination country. These requirements may differ per country.
International delivery conditions
Make clear agreements about the transport of your goods. You can use ICC Incoterms® for this. These are international standards for goods transport, to cover for instance:
- Who arranges the transport from where to where;
- Who is responsible for transport insurance, licences, documents and cutoms procedures;
- At what point the transport liability transfers from seller to buyer.
Insure your goods
Check who is responsible for the goods before, during and after transport. Cover your risks, for instance by taking out transport insurance.