The concept of dimensional weight (also known as "dim weight" or "volumetric weight") has been adopted worldwide by the transportation industry as a means of establishing a minimum charge for the cubic space a shipment occupies while in transit. By charging only for the actual weight, lightweight, low density freight would become unprofitable quickly for freight carriers. Carriers use the greater of the actual weight or dimensional weight to calculate shipping charges, based on the following formula: (Length x Width x Height) / (Dimensional Factor). The "dimensional factor" varies based on metric versus imperial measurement, as well as whether the shipment is domestic versus international. Contact our customer service department for a more detailed explanation.
No, you may not. Attempting to mix personal effects with a commercial shipment will often result in significant fines by customs officials and/or your shipment being impounded by the local authorities
Document requirements vary significantly from one country to another. However, nearly all shipments will require a minimum of (a) a Commercial Invoice on your company’s letterhead, (b) a Packing Slip, (c) a signed Power of Attorney form, (d) a properly completed Shipping Note. Additional documentation requirements may include a Certificate of Origin, document legalization and several others. Our trained customer service team can provide you with the requirements for your specific destination
Not at all. Our customer service team, in partnership with a number of affiliates, will do what it takes to get your shipment processed and released by customs as quickly as possible. Should any difficulties arise, such as customs exams or supplemental paperwork requests, we will smooth the way for you, providing daily updates.
A Carnet (also referred to as an ATA Carnet) is used to expedite the temporary import of freight into a country. Think of it as a passport for your freight. It tells customs officials that your freight is entering the country temporarily and that it will be returned to the country of origin within a fixed period of time. It allows you to avoid duties and taxes at the destination, as well as a second round of taxation when the freight returns home. Carnets are regularly used for trade shows, museum exhibits, touring performance groups and other temporary imports. Our customer service team can advise you on what it takes to obtain a Carnet.
Legalization is the process of certifying a document so a foreign country’s legal system will recognize it, thus allowing freight to be imported into the country. It is still required by approximately 80 countries around the world, but it is slowly being replaced by the apostile process. The legalization process generally consists of the validation of a signature on a document by an official of the destination country’s government, typically an embassy official. This process can take 5-7 working days and should be prepared for in advance to avoid customs delays and fines.
Duties and taxes on import shipments vary widely around the world from one country to another. Duty and tax amounts are also commodity specific and can range from duty free to 25% or more. Our customer service team can usually get an accurate estimate of charges by forwarding a copy of your Commercial Invoice to our partners in advance of the shipment. Final charges, however, are always subject to classification and ruling by customs officials at the time of entry, and cannot be guaranteed.
Yes, we always recommend that you take out cargo insurance. It is inexpensive and protects you from unforeseen hazards. We can insure your shipment upon request. Note that you may only insure your shipment for your replacement cost, not the amount that you are selling it to your customer for. You may not request insurance after-the-fact on a shipment that has already been tendered to us and is in transit.
Transit time obviously varies with the mode of service you select. When you request your quote or place your order, our customer service team will give you an estimate of the transit time. Service levels can range from very exact, date-specific delivery to low-cost common carrier trucking with a 2-3 day delivery window. Ask one of our team members for the specifics of your shipment.
It depends on the service level you request. We offer two types of LTL service: Expedited LTL (date-specific) and Common Carrier (not date-specific). We will always give you an estimated delivery date for Common Carrier service, but it can vary by 2-3 days based on weather, seasonal volume and other factors. Be sure to request Expedited LTL service for date-specific, mission-critical freight.
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Absolutely! Although we offer packing and crating services, we will gladly answer any questions you may have when you do it yourself. Our concern is that your freight gets where it needs to be safely and legally.
Your freight will be managed by a primary operations specialist who in turn is supported by a secondary operations specialist. The secondary operations specialist will be fully aware of your order and all freight-related communications. This way, if for some unforeseen reason the primary operations specialist is unavailable, the secondary specialist will be available to assist you without delay.
Dangerous cargo is articles or substances which can pose a significant risk to health, safety or property when transported by air. And remember that some seemingly innocent substances, safe on the ground, may become dangerous when subjected to the fluctuations of temperature and pressure during the flight. If you have any doubts about your cargo please contact your nearest SAA Golden Cargo Office. Because not only is it a criminal offence to ship or attempt to ship undeclared and incorrectly packaged dangerous cargo, it could also result in a fatal accident. Please make sure that all potentially dangerous cargo is declared, labelled and packed correctly.
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Yes, Air freight is based on both the actual weight and volumetric weight of the cargo.
This depends on the method of dispatch, the origin and the destination and can be advised upon request
It also depends on the air carrier, so please ask us.
Generally speaking, as the weight and size increase so will the cost. If your cargo is oversized or requires special handling, kindly ask us about special rates.
Yes, we have receiving warehouse near all major airports.
Please let us know your cargo location and we will advise you the closest receiving warehouse.
Yes, we have a lot of agents who we work with at different locations.
Please check with us, we will be able to help you for any destination services.
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