Shipping & logistics guides
Plain-English guides for importers, exporters and freight forwarders — from LCL vs FCL economics to packing a 40HC efficiently.
Amazon FBA Carton & CBM Requirements: 2026 Checklist
Amazon FBA carton size, weight and label rules for 2026 — dimensional limits, pallet builds, LCL vs air, and how CBM affects your inbound plan.
Read article →July 22, 2026 · 6 min readChargeable Weight Explained: The One Number Carriers Actually Bill
Gross vs volumetric vs chargeable weight — which one carriers actually bill you on, with worked air, courier and sea LCL examples for 2026.
Read article →July 22, 2026 · 7 min readPacking List vs Commercial Invoice: A Practical Guide
How to read a packing list and commercial invoice line-by-line — CBM, gross vs net weight, HS code and the mistakes that hold up customs.
Read article →July 22, 2026 · 7 min readCase Study: Loading a 40HC With 1,000 Mixed Cartons
A walkthrough of loading a 40HC with 1,000 mixed cartons — CBM math, floor plan, weight distribution and the mistakes we avoided.
Read article →October 6, 2025 · 7 min readLCL vs FCL: Complete Guide for Importers
When to ship Less than Container Load vs Full Container Load — cost breakeven, transit time, risk and a CBM rule of thumb.
Read article →October 20, 2025 · 6 min readAir Freight Volumetric Weight Explained
The 6000 divisor, chargeable weight, and how to stop overpaying for light bulky air shipments.
Read article →November 3, 2025 · 8 min readHow to Pack a Shipping Container Efficiently
Floor plans, weight distribution, dunnage and the 85% rule — load a 40HC without leaving money on the dock.
Read article →November 18, 2025 · 8 min readIncoterms 2020: A Beginner's Guide
EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP — what each Incoterm means, who pays what, and which one to ask for as a new importer.
Read article →December 2, 2025 · 9 min readShipping from China: Complete Importer Checklist
Supplier checks, factory inspection, CBM consolidation, shipping line choice and customs clearance from Shenzhen, Ningbo and Shanghai.
Read article →December 16, 2025 · 6 min readEuro vs Standard vs US Pallet: What's the Difference?
EUR1, GMA, ISO, plastic and one-way pallets — dimensions, weight limits and which one fits your container.
Read article →January 27, 2026 · 8 min readCommon Mistakes When Booking a 40ft Container
Weight limits, payload vs volume, dunnage, port congestion and the ten booking mistakes we see importers make on 40ft and 40HC shipments.
Read article →February 10, 2026 · 8 min readWhat is a Bill of Lading? A Practical Guide for Importers
The three roles of a Bill of Lading, the difference between original, telex release and seaway bill, and how to read one without calling your forwarder.
Read article →March 10, 2026 · 9 min readHow to Read a Freight Invoice
Line-by-line guide to ocean, air and courier invoices — base freight, BAF, CAF, ISPS, THC, AMS, ENS and the surcharges that catch new importers.
Read article →March 24, 2026 · 8 min readWhat is FCL Detention and Demurrage?
Demurrage at the port, detention at your warehouse, free-day windows, per-diem rates and how to avoid the most expensive line on an FCL invoice.
Read article →