Cargo Shipping for Your Small Business

Do you run a small business? Are you looking for ways to expand your company’s reach without spending a lot of money? Do you want to provide your customers with different shipping options for receiving their orders? As a leader in the cargo shipping industry, Amerijet has helped small businesses from an array of industries get their goods to customers throughout the world since 1979.

When looking for a company to handle your small business’ cargo shipping, you want to find a company who offers a wide range of shipping options. This way, your customers can choose whether they want to overnight their order or spend less money to get it in a week or 2. Amerijet offers various cargo shipping options by air (express and standard), truck (standard in U.S., available by request in other countries), and ocean (through our sister company, I.T.N. Consolidators).

Of course, you never know where your next customer is going to come from, so you want to make sure the cargo shipping company you choose services a host of worldwide destinations. You should know that many of the larger shipping companies only ship to major ports throughout the world. Therefore, if you need to reach a customer in a remote destination, they might not be able to help you. Amerijet, on the other hand, is committed to providing flexible shipping solutions to meet your every demand.

Lastly, you want to make certain the cargo shipping provider allows you and your customers to track shipments easily. With Amerijet and I.T.N. Consolidators, you can easily track all shipments online, any time day or night.

Cargo Shipping—3 Common Packing Mistakes to Avoid

As a leader in the cargo shipping industry, Amerijet understands what it takes to get your packages to their destination quickly and safely. One of the most important factors to determining the safety and integrity of your shipment is the packaging of the goods. Packing your items properly will ensure they don’t get damaged or broken during transport.
Here are 3 common mistakes to avoid when packing items.

1. Using old boxes—This happens most often to people who are moving to new home. Instead of buying brand new moving boxes, you might be tempted to ask around at department stores for used cardboard boxes. While this might save you money in upfront costs, it sets you up for failure in the long run. See, old boxes just aren’t as strong as new cargo shipping containers. Used boxes don’t provide the protection your goods need to survive the trip intact.
2. Skimping on peanuts and bubble wrap—Packing peanuts, bubble wrap, tissues, newspaper, and other protective materials are your friends. Don’t skimp on them for fear of being wasteful. Here’s how you can make certain you put the right amount of packing materials in your box: the item should not be able to move around at all inside of the box. If the item still has room to shift, place more peanuts of bubble wrap inside the box. Remember, the slightest movement during shipping could severely damage your item.
3. Choosing the wrong size box—Boxes that are either too big or too small present serious issues for shippers. If the box is too big, your breakables will bounce around during shipping. If the box is too small, it won’t provide any protection for the items inside. If you need help choosing the right packaging for your goods, ask an Amerijet cargo shipping agent for help.

Air Freight Services: Getting a Quote

Before you pack up your shipment and take it to your local air freight services provider, you’ll probably want to do some shopping around to find the best shipping rates for the service you want. Today, getting a free quote is faster and easier than ever before.

Information to have ready

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you have all the information on hand required for obtaining your quote. This includes knowing what type of goods you’re shipping, where you’re shipping from and to, the type of air freight services desired (express, standard, small package, oversized, or charter), and the approximate dimensions and weight of the shipment.

How to get air freight services quote

Now that you have this information ready, you’re ready to get your quote. Amerijet offers free online quotes through our website. All you have to do is fill out the short form with the information listed above, and you’ll receive an estimate for shipping your goods.

If using the Internet to get a free quote isn’t your thing, you can always call an Amerijet customer service representative to receive your quote. Just make sure you have the necessary information on hand.

Understanding your quote

It’s important to note that your quote isn’t necessarily the exact amount it will cost you to ship your goods. It’s simply an estimate designed to give you a better idea of what you can expect. Once we can see your shipment and understand it better, we’ll be able to give you the exact rate for getting your goods to their destination. You should also be aware that all air cargo providers only quote the transportation charges. Most counties have local charges, which need to be paid to the local government or airport.

If you have any questions about our air freight services, contact an Amerijet customer service agent today!

Air Freight Services—Are They All the Same?

If you don’t have much experience shipping goods by air, you might think all air freight services are the same. At first glance, it does seem that way, doesn’t it? But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the quality and flexibility of air freight services varies greatly from company to company.

Here are some examples:

• Destinations—The first difference between many air freight services is the destinations served. The bigger air shipping companies usually only ship to major destinations across the world, because they operate large aircraft. Amerijet, on the other hand operates smaller and large Boeing aircraft and is committed to providing you with the best shipping solutions for your needs. If this means getting your goods to remote destinations, we’ll make it happen.
  
  
• Price—Even though you should never choose a shipping company on price alone, the truth is rates can vary greatly from one company to another. Most air freight services allow you to get a free instant quote from their website to get an idea of how much they’ll charge to ship your goods. Always make sure that the company you select can deliver as promised.
  
  
• Types of goods allowed—Another key difference between air shipping companies is the types of goods they will ship. For example, Amerijet is one of the few air cargo carriers qualified to ship hazardous materials. Most other companies can’t ship them. Amerijet also provides air services for perishables and live animals; most other companies don’t.

Air Cargo: How It Works

These days, you can send almost anything by air to destinations across the world. From small letters and packages to live animals and vehicles, Amerijet provides a wide range of air cargo shipping services to meet your every need. Whether your shipment requires a next day service or you have a few days, Amerijet’s flexibility has made us a leader in the air cargo industry.

So, how exactly does air freight work? Here’s a brief overview.

• How it gets there—Air cargo is typically shipped via one of the following three methods: 1) On a plane with passengers, 2) On a normal dedicated cargo plan, or 3) On a chartered aircraft for large loads. The type of goods you’re shipping and how quickly you need them to arrive at their destination determine which shipping method will be used.
  
  
• Types of goods shipped—You’d be surprised at how many different types of goods are shipped by air.. At Amerijet, we ship hazardous materials, live animals, vehicles, household goods, perishables, dry goods, antiques, and so much more to destinations throughout the globe by air. Of course, not every air cargo shipping service handles these types of goods, so always be sure you choose the right shipping company for your requirements.
  
  
• Other factors—Once the air cargo arrives at its international destination, it must clear customs. All required documentation must already be completed in advance. Taxes and other local fees can be paid by the consignee at the time of pickup. If you have any questions about customs fees or anything else, ask an Amerijet customer service agent for assistance.

3 More Tips for Choosing an Ocean Freight Company

In the past, we’ve offered guidelines for helping you find the right ocean freight company to handle your shipments. In this post, we’re going to share 3 more tips that will further help you in the buying process. Many of these tips are based on the changing economic climate facing the shipping industry right now.

1. Make sure the company is financially viable—The unfortunate reality is that today’s unstable economic climate has taken its toll on many ocean shipping companies. As a shipper, you want to make certain the ocean freight company you choose is going to be there for you now and in the future. Do plenty of research to determine if the ocean freight shipper is financially viable. After all, the last thing you want is for the shipping company to close down while your goods are still in transit.
   
   
2. Review the ocean freight company’s performance—As the saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding.” If the ocean freight company you choose routinely delays your shipments or just isn’t reliable, you need to take your business elsewhere. Also, read customer reviews of the ocean shipper online before you decide on which company to work with.
   
   
3. Test their customer service—It’s always a good idea to call around to several ocean freight companies to get a feel for the level of customer service they provide. Chances are, if the people you talk to on the phone now aren’t helpful, they’d be even less helpful in the future. Make sure you feel comfortable with the customer service agents before you choose to work with the provider.

Amerijet has an outstanding reputation as an Ocean Freight Company and can answer all of your questions regarding ocean freight shipping.

Ocean Freight—Factors that Influence Total Cost

Whether you’re moving overseas or you’re shipping your company’s goods internationally, you’ll likely use an ocean freight forwarding service. I.T.N. Consolidators, a sister company of Amerijet, has been providing reliable, affordable ocean shipping services since 1990.

To make the ocean freight process as simple and clear as possible, we’ve come up with a list of factors that influence the total cost of getting your goods from point A to point B. Keep these in mind as you prepare your shipment.

• Packaging and labeling—Of course, you need to have the right supplies to properly pack your goods to ship them across the world. Make sure all of your goods are packed properly to protect against any breakage or damage during transport. For large shipments, your goods will probably be shipped in a container. Always consider the cost of packaging when preparing your shipment.

• Inland transportation—Do you need help transporting your shipment to the port of origin? If so, there are inland shipping services available upon request. However, you should know this will increase the total cost of shipping your goods to their final destination.

• Ocean freight price—This is the actual price for shipping your goods by sea to their destination. Most ocean freight services allow you to receive free quotes on their website. Always keep in mind that these online quotes are typically estimates and not necessarily the exact cost of shipping your goods.

• Customs and other taxes—Lastly, there are additional customs fees and other taxes that must be paid for international ocean freight shipping. To determine how much these fees will cost, speak to a customer service representative at I.T.N. Consolidators or Amerijet.

Forwarding Logistics: The Importance of Cargo Insurance

At Amerijet, one of our most important forwarding logistics services is cargo insurance. We always recommend you take out insurance every time you send a shipment. This is the best way to protect yourself should a loss or damage occur during shipping.

Amerijet’s air cargo shipping insurance covers you for 100% of the insured value plus 20%. Whether you’re shipping a computer or fresh fruit, insurance is available to cover your shipment from the time it leaves your place of business or home. It’s important to note that insurance on perishables remains in effect for 24 hours after delivery. For other non-perishable cargo, the insurance remains in effect for 15 days after discharge or delivery.

Commercial merchandise, new goods, perishables (with the exception of breadfruit), vehicles less than 8 years old, boats less than 5 years old are just a few of the items that can be insured.

Amerijet also allows you to get a free insurance quote for your shipment online. Simply enter the invoice amount, and you’ll get a fast insurance quote.

The benefits of our forwarding logistics cargo insurance service include:

• Peace of mind

• Financial protection

• Prompt attention to all insurance claims

• You deal with a well known entity

If you have any questions about forwarding logistics services or the details of cargo insurance policies, let an Amerijet customer service representative help you.

Shipping Animals: How to Prepare Your Shipment

At Amerijet, we understand that preparation plays a key role in successfully shipping animals internationally. For this reason, we’ve come up with a list of guidelines to follow when preparing your animal for shipping. This will make the process stress-free and mistake-free.

• Find the right cargo shipping company—Not all cargo shipping companies offer animal shipping services. And of the few that do offer these services, many have strict restrictions on which types of animals you’re allowed to ship. As a leader in the animal shipping field, Amerijet accepts the widest range of animals. From thoroughbred racehorses, exotic zoo animals to domesticated animals, the experts at Amerijet know what it takes to get your animal there safely and comfortably.

• Obtain medical records—Always have copies of vaccination records and other medical documents on hand. The health of the animal is crucial for clearing the various governmental regulations on animal shipping. It also lets the crew know of any special attention your animal needs to receive during shipping.

• Complete all required documentation—When shipping animals—whether domestically or internationally—you’re going to have to complete quite a bit of documentation. If you don’t know which documentation is required for your shipment, contact an Amerijet shipping agent today. Amerijet’s representatives are happy to walk you through this process.

Shipping animals should be a stress0free experience. At Amerijet, you can rest easy knowing your animal will always receive the attention and care it needs for a safe and comfortable trip.

Ocean Freight Company—Are They All the Same?

Whether you’re getting ready to move to a new country or you just want to ship your company’s goods to worldwide customers, you’ll need to find an ocean freight company who’s up to the task. At first glance, you might think that all ocean freight services are the same. And you’d be wrong. See, not only do the rates vary from one ocean freight company to another, but also the types of goods you can ship and the destinations served are also different with each provider.

• Rates—Everyone has a budget to consider, and you always want to make sure you’re getting good value for your dollar. Most ocean freight shipping companies allow you to obtain a free quote from their website. Simply input some basic information about your shipment, and you’ll get an estimate shortly thereafter. The key word here is “estimate.” Remember, these are not exact prices. Use the free quotes as a general guideline only.

• Goods—The type of goods you’re shipping will directly influence which ocean freight company you should choose. For example, some ocean shipping companies don’t allow you to ship hazardous materials or live animals. Some can’t handle perishables. Make sure the ocean freight company you choose has experience successfully transporting the goods you’re sending.

• Destinations—Many of the larger ocean shipping providers only service the major ports of the world. So, if you need to reach a remote destination, you could be out of luck. I.T.N. Consolidators, an Amerijet sister company, is proud to offer flexible shipping options that let you reach destinations throughout the world. Ask a shipping agent for service to your destination of choice, and they’ll customize a solution just for you.

Air Freight Services: Getting a Quote

Before you pack up your shipment and take it to your local air freight services provider, you’ll probably want to do some shopping around to find the best shipping rates for the service you want. Today, getting a free quote is faster and easier than ever before.

Information to have ready

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you have all the information on hand required for obtaining your quote. This includes knowing what type of goods you’re shipping, where you’re shipping from and to, the type of air freight services desired (express, standard, small package, oversized, or charter), and the approximate dimensions and weight of the shipment.

How to get air freight services quote

Now that you have this information ready, you’re ready to get your quote. Amerijet offers free online quotes through our website. All you have to do is fill out the short form with the information listed above, and you’ll receive an estimate for shipping your goods.

If using the Internet to get a free quote isn’t your thing, you can always call an Amerijet customer service representative to receive your quote. Just make sure you have the necessary information on hand.

Understanding your quote

It’s important to note that your quote isn’t necessarily the exact amount it will cost you to ship your goods. It’s simply an estimate designed to give you a better idea of what you can expect. Once we can see your shipment and understand it better, we’ll be able to give you the exact rate for getting your goods to their destination. You should also be aware that all air cargo providers only quote the transportation charges. Most counties have local charges, which need to be paid to the local government or airport.

If you have any questions about our air freight services, contact an Amerijet customer service agent today!

Air Freight Services—Are They All the Same?

If you don’t have much experience shipping goods by air, you might think all air freight services are the same. At first glance, it does seem that way, doesn’t it? But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the quality and flexibility of air freight services varies greatly from company to company.
Here are some examples:

• Destinations—The first difference between many air freight services is the destinations served. The bigger air shipping companies usually only ship to major destinations across the world, because they operate large aircraft. Amerijet, on the other hand operates smaller and large Boeing aircraft and is committed to providing you with the best shipping solutions for your needs. If this means getting your goods to remote destinations, we’ll make it happen.

• Price—Even though you should never choose a shipping company on price alone, the truth is rates can vary greatly from one company to another. Most air freight services allow you to get a free instant quote from their website to get an idea of how much they’ll charge to ship your goods. Always make sure that the company you select can deliver as promised.

• Types of goods allowed—Another key difference between air shipping companies is the types of goods they will ship. For example, Amerijet is one of the few air cargo carriers qualified to ship hazardous materials. Most other companies can’t ship them. Amerijet also provides air services for perishables and live animals; most other companies don’t.