Eastern Europe Shipping Blog

If you’re new to the world of freight transportation, you may be wondering what exactly a freight forwarder is, what they do, what they’re responsible for, what you as the shipper have to handle, and how forwarders differ from freight brokers and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs). Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to answer the basic question of what a freight forwarder does compared to other service providers, so you can make an informed decision about purchasing freight and choosing a reliable partner.

If you are a small or medium-sized business (SMB) who is buying from an overseas supplier, there's a good chance you're buying under either Free On Board (FOB) or Ex Works (EXW) terms of sale. These are the two most commonly used international shipping standards – known as Incoterms – in global trade. In this article, we'll explore the distinctions between EXW vs FOB shipping and how they can positively or negatively impact how you manage logistics.

A major reshuffling of ocean carrier alliances that went into effect in February 2025, while providing benefits for both carriers and shippers, is causing some temporary hiccups as everyone adjusts to the new network structures. So what changes are taking place, and how will shippers be impacted? Let’s unpack the topic a bit.

If you’re new to international shipping, you might be confused by the various terms used by service providers. For example: what’s the difference between an NVOCC and a freight forwarder? What does each do, and how do you know which to use for your shipment?

Here’s a quick rundown:

With pallets such an indispensable supply chain tool, determining how many pallets can fit in a container or trailer is critical for shippers when developing a transportation plan, calculating freight costs and booking carriers.

An Importer of Record (IOR) is the party to a transaction responsible for ensuring that imported goods meet the legal and regulatory requirements of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is hugely important because non-compliance with customs regulations carries serious consequences, including legal liability, fees and even seizure of cargo or suspension of an import license.

If you’re shipping containers to Europe from the US, there are a number of factors that affect the cost of freight – from the type of container used, to the shipping lane and distance, to whether you’re shipping a full container load (FCL) or less-than-container load (LCL). So, if you’re looking for ways to save on the logistics of Trans-Atlantic container shipping, read on.

Companies that ship a lot of ocean freight do a pretty good job of insuring themselves against workman’s comp claims and office building fires. But most of them fail to protect the full value of their import or export cargo with marine cargo insurance, despite potential losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars per shipment.

For anyone importing goods into the US, there are two main types of companies providing services to help you bring them in: freight forwarders and customs brokers. Forwarders focus on the cargo transport, from origin to destination, whereas customs brokers focus on efficient, compliant clearance of your imports through customs. While there may be some overlap in duties, the roles of brokers and forwarders are more complementary.

If you’re soon to be an expat from US shores with plans to live in the UK, there are a lot of details to keep track of, what with planning, packing and paperwork. Among the many considerations, of course, is the shipping cost of moving from the US to the UK. Let’s explore strategies you can use to make your transition as smooth as possible, but keep the total cost down.