What kind of freight forwarding company can be considered legally qualified?

To verify an agent's qualifications, focus on three key documents:Registration Certificate of Customs Declaration Entity issued by the General Administration of CustomsandInternational Freight Forwarding Enterprise Registration FormandCertificate of Qualification for Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Business OperatorIt is recommended to verify the company's filing status through the China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform, with special attention to checking for any administrative penalty records during the period from 2019 to 2024.

How to identify hidden fees in quotations?

Be wary of these five common fee traps:

• Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) Calculation Basis
• Allocation ratio of destination port unpacking fee (D&D)
• The starting point for calculating container demurrage (Demurrage) fees.
• The floating mechanism of the Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)
• Special document handling fee (e.g., expedited fee for certificate of origin)

The 2025 revised INCOTERMS explicitly stipulate that under FOB terms, the pre-shipment inspection costs shall be borne by the buyer, though some agents may still shift this expense.

How to claim compensation for lost goods without suffering losses?

It is recommended to implement a three-step safeguard measure:

• Clearly specify the compensation standard (based on CIF value or unit limit) when signing the contract.
• Request the agent to provide a full-process cargo tracking system interface.
• Insurance coverageAloneThe MaritimeDangerRather than relying on vicarious liability insurance.
  • Case: In 2024, an electronics exporter accepted an agent's promise of "all risks" coverage but actually received only $2 per kilogram in compensation.

How to choose between small and medium-sized freight forwarders and international giants?

According to the 2025 data from the General Administration of Customs, a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of agents of different scales:

• Enterprises with an annual handling volume of less than 500 TEUs.: The advantage lies in customized services, but 43% suffer from insufficient route coverage.
• Leading multinational freight forwarder: 76% offer digital customs clearance systems, but the average response time for small and medium-sized customer orders is delayed by 12 hours.

For enterprises with a recommended monthly export volume of fewer than 20 containers, priority should be given to selecting regional specialized agents.

How to verify an agents overseas customs clearance capability?

Request the agent to provide three supporting documents:

• AEO certification qualification of the destination country's customs
• HS Code Classification Accuracy Report for the Last 6 Months
• Authorization letters of contact from at least 3 cooperating destination port agents.

You may request the agent to simulate the declaration of sensitive goods (such as products containing lithium batteries) to observe the professionalism of their response plan to customs inquiries.

Is a digital management system really necessary?

By 2025, the Customs Single Window has achieved data connectivity with 85% of cargo transportation systems. It is imperative to confirm that the agency system possesses:

• Real-time cabin visualization feature
• Intelligent Customs Declaration Error Warning
• Blockchain-based electronic bill of lading (eBL) certification

Beware of traditional agents who still use email to transmit scanned copies of bills of lading.

How to evaluate the emergency response capability of an agent?

The following scenarios can be tested by simulation:

• Shipping company temporarily skips port (how to arrange transshipment)
• Port of Destination Strike (Alternative Port Scheme)
• Document information error (correction time limit)

High-quality agents should provide an emergency plan including cost estimation within 2 hours.

What details should be paid attention to in long-term cooperation?

It is recommended to evaluate three key indicators on a quarterly basis:

• Booking fulfillment rate fluctuation range
• Trend of Document Error Rate Variation
• Timeliness of proactive notification for abnormal situations

Establish a proxy service scorecard system, linking 20% of the freight cost to KPI assessments.

How to prevent the risk of freight forwarders absconding with funds?

Four safeguard measures can be taken:

• Request to view the most recent annual audit report.
• Confirmation of the Custody Agreement for the Special Account for Collecting Freight Charges
• Purchase credit insurance to cover prepaid freight.
• Monthly settlement replaces full prepayment

What are the hidden costs of switching agents?

The following three aspects of impact require key evaluation:

• Historical transportation data inheritance cost
• Error costs during the new agent learning curve
• Maintenance cost of customer-designated freight forwarder relationships

It is recommended to retain the old agent for 3-6 months as a backup service provider.