We have reviewed the international shipping guides fro DHL, Fedex and UPS for use by a novice shipper. We have evaluated these guides on the following points:
Content Layout
Ease of understanding for a novice shipper
“How To” instructions provided
Links to Shipping resources openly available without registration.
In our estimation DHL provides the best How To Ship International Guide in the form of their “DHL Guide to Exporting” from all four standpoints. This is primarily because their document answers the following questions in a manner that is easy to understand and complete:
What do you need to start?
How do I distinguish between Document and Non Document item?
What forms are the basic forms that I need?
What kind of shipping resources are available to me?
What services do you provide?
The “Fedex International Shipping Reference Guide” comes in second and the “UPS Navigate International Shipping With Confidence Guide” comes in at a distant third.
The “DHL guide to exporting” differentiation between Document and Non-document item helped push it over the top. Fedex uses a flow chart to differentiate between Document and Non-Document packages that we believe would be confusing to a novice shipper.
Finally DHL won first place because of its inclusion of shipping resource links that are avialable to the public without first registering. These include their “Trade Document Library” which is a treasure trove of additional document that may be needed to export to your country besides the basic documents and “Interactive Classier” for finding Harmonized B and Schedule B numbers. The Fedex guide does not have their own classifier they refer you to an external government site. UPS make referenced to a TradeAbility tools to find harmonized tariff codes but they do not provide a link to it.
From the table below it is easy to see that there are full range of services including standout services that can be available to any small business with multiple shipping accounts. Taking advantage of this full range through a company shipping policy can help reduced shipping costs and maximize efficiency.
Use of Multiple Carriers
Small businesses shippers should have accounts with multiple carriers in order to take advantage of the different service types. Sometimes businesses are under the impression that they must use only one shipping account or that they have to close an account with one shipper after opening up an account with another shipper. It is in the best interest of the business to have account with multiple carriers in order to take advantage of full range of services outlined in the table below.
Standout Services
Two good examples of stand out services are the Hundredweight service offered by UPS and ShipReady offered by DHL. UPS many years ago had a specialty in transporting heavy weight ground packages. Although they have gained market share in the overnight business the Hundredweight category speaks to this specialty. Anyone planning on shipping a one-off heavyweight item would be better served by using a company that has a specialty in that service. DHL ShipReady is a shipping product by DHL that is often under recognized and therefore under utilized. For a fixed price, you can send as much weight overnight as can be fit into their envelope with no pickup charge or residential charge. These ShipReady envelopes come in several sizes.
Does it absolutely have to get there by 8:30AM?
One rule that should be included in any company shipping policy is for the shipper to check with the package recipient regarding urgency. For example, Fedex First Overnight and UPS Next Early AM will arrive the next day before 8:30. This 8:30 service is not offered by DHL. However, as a shipper you should be perfectly clear on whether the recipient is expecting and will open that package at 8:30AM. Sending a package, DHL Next Day 10:30, FEDEX Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air, all of which will arrive by 10:30AM might be all that the recipient needs. Who knows…maybe your recipient will not even be at the office until 3:00PM and then DHL Next Day 3:00PM, FEDEX Standard Overnight or UPS Next Day Air Saver would provide the needed quality of service at significantly reduced cost. The same is true for 2nd day service. UPS provides a second day service that arrives by 10:30. However all three carriers provide a second day service that will arrive by end of day. You never know about urgency if you do not ask and the savings can be significant over time.
One final point that we want to make is on the matter of airway bill preparation. Many office workers do not fill out the waybill completely especially when sending overnight letters. If you leave any portion of the waybill empty the carrier will default to the most expensive option. Make sure that anyone filling out waybills knows how to fill them out correctly. For example, if you fail to indicate that the package may be left without a signature (if this is the case) then a signature will be acquired for an extra fee.
These instructions are meant to be a guide to understanding how to
determine what paperwork is needed to get your commodity into
your destination country of interest and thus empower you. DHL, FEDEX
and UPS all have customs clearance departments. The necessary
commodity research for your shipment can always be performed by them.
The Most Important Part of Shipping Internationally is The Paperwork.
1. Find out if your shipment a document or a commodity.
This is not as obvious as you may think at first glance.
Mexico has 9 classifications for documents and Brazil has over 25 (including CDs, Photographs, Diskettes,
Microfilm, Microfiche, Sepia portraits).
Once you know if your shipment is a document or commodity you begin to assemble the necessary paperwork.
2. If your shipment is a commodity check to see if there are any prohibitions or restrictions associated with your commodity.
This step will help you determine if your commodity can enter the country (2a), your commodity requires a special transportation method or paperwork (2b), your commodity requires import licenses or special declarations on the invoice (2c).
9. Fill out a shipper’s export declaration using the harmonized tariff code previously obtained.
10. Prepare package according to country specific size and weight limitations. Make sure that package
contents are consistent with prepared paperwork.
11. Prepare a packing list.
12. Assemble all paperwork:
Commercial or Proforma Invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin (if needed)
Shipper’s Export Declaration (if needed)
Export Permits (if needed)
13. Find out from your previous research of you have a choice between air shipment or freight. Some commodities need to be sent by freight (i.e. perfume).
14. Choose a carrier.
15. Prepare an Airway bill for air shipments or a Bill of Lading for freight.
16. Indicate to carrier when preparing airway bill or bill of lading whether duties and taxes will be paid by the shipper or the consignee (shipment recipient).
Note: This is the most common cause of customs delay of international shipments by inexperienced shippers.
17. Have carrier pick up package with paperwork.
18. Track package and wait to hear from your consignee of its arrival.
France is a member of the European Union and the world trade organization. As a result France enjoys normal trading relations with the United States.
Quotas The French government imposes quotas on some commodities.
Basic Documents
Certificates of Origin - Textile products with a CIF over 45 Euros require a Certificate of Origin with some exceptions.
Certificate of Origin Form A - Goods under claiming reduced duty or exemption of duty may require A Certificate of Origin Form A.
Commercial Invoices - All dutiable commodities relating to commercial transactions between companies and companies; companies and individuals, regardless of the value must show commercial invoices with a translated copy.
Dangerous goods certification may apply.
Airway Bill or Bill of Lading
Import permits - Permits may be required from Service des Titres du Commerce Exterieur (SETICE).
Import Duties
Customs Valuation Non-document commercial goods must be declared according to proper description.
Import Duties- Customs duties are, generally, an ad valorem rate (a percentage), which is applied to the transaction value (EUR Euro) or CIF of the imported goods based on the cost of the goods, insurance, and freight charges.
Excise Duties-There are excise taxes.
Import Taxes-In addition to duties , goods imported into France are also subject to a value-added Tax (VAT) which is generally charged at one of two rates:
The standard rate of 19.6% applicable to most manufactured goods
The reduced rate of 5.5%, applicable mostly to agricultural products and foodstuffs, original artworks and certain medicines.
Weight and Size Limits:
Maximum weight: 70.0 kg (150.0 lbs.) per package
Maximum length: 270.0 cm (108.0 in.) per package
Maximum dimensions: 419.0 cm (165.0 in.) per package, length and girth combined
Fedex International Shipping Reference Guide
