Customs and compliance
Classification, valuation, ISF and entry paperwork — where a shipment stops and why.
Notes from the desk
Short, practical writing on clearance, trade terms and cargo handling. Not market commentary — the questions that arrive before a booking.
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01
DDP or DDU: who carries the risk at destination
Both terms put the cargo at the buyer's door. Only one makes you the importer of record — and that decides who pays duty, who is liable for a wrong entry, and how the price is built.
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02
What US import clearance actually asks for
Most US holds are not caused by missing cargo documents. They are caused by an invoice that does not describe the goods, an ISF filed late, or a bond nobody arranged.
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03
FCL or LCL: where the break-even really sits
The break-even between a container and a consolidated booking is not one number. It moves with weight, destination charges and how much a week of transit is worth to you.
New notes are added when the same question reaches the desk three times.
Topics
What we write about
Three themes cover most of the questions our operations desk answers by email.
Ocean and air operations
Booking cut-offs, roll-overs, demurrage and the practical difference between service strings.
Trade terms and e-commerce
DDP, DDU and DAP choices, plus replenishment flow to marketplaces and fulfilment centres.
Question not covered here?
Send it with the lane and the cargo type. If it needs a written answer, we will write one.