Export: arranging goods transport

You contract an expedition company

If you let an expedition company (Fenex, in Dutch) arrange the transport, they will arrange everything for you: transport documents, insurance and customs procedures. An expedition company (also called forwarder) does not transport the goods themselves, the transporting company, or carrier does that. The expedition company will arrange a transporting company and conclude a transport agreement with them. The expedition company concludes this transport agreement in its own name or in your name.

You hire a transporting company

You choose a mode of transport, and find a transporting company (Holland Transport, in Dutch) that can execute the transport for you. The transporting company will see to procuring the correct transport documents. They possess the relevant licences for road hauliers. You will remain responsible for the customs procedure and any transport insurance you want to take out.

You transport the goods yourself

You will have to arrange everything yourself.

• You must have the correct transport documents. It depends on the mode of transport (by road, air, rail, or water) what they are.
• You must have the correct licence(s) for road hauliers.
• You may have to invest in a means of transport.
• If you are exporting goods outside the EU, you will have to deal with Customs procedures yourself.

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. If you are exporting inside the EU, you must comply with EU legislation as well as the 2014 Packaging Management Decree.

ICC Incoterms® - international delivery conditions

For international transport, make use of the ICC Incoterms®. 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.

N.B.: The most recent version of the Incoterms is Incoterms® 2020. If you have been using the ICC Incoterms® 2010, you can continue to do so. They remain valid.

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.

Brexit

As of 1 January 2021 you most likely need to use different documents to import or export goods to and from the UK. If you import or export agricultural goods, plants or use wooden packaging, you will need extra certificates and undergo inspections. Find more information on the rules on our Brexitloket pages.