Some freight forwarders offer packing services. These may be in-house or outsourced to an external company. Other freight forwarders may not, which means it’ll be up to the shipper to pack the cargo.

You can get your own professional helper to pack your cargo. But if you’re doing it on your own, make sure to read up on how to properly pack your cargo and load your container to reduce risks of damage.

If you have urgent cargo, let your freight forwarder know immediately so they can plan for it. Keep in mind that getting your cargo onto the first-available sail date and vessel as that may sometimes mean higher prices.

Sometimes, it may be worth it to pay a little bit more to get a faster transit or a direct service for better reliability. Some shippers prefer to get their cargo to destination as soon as possible, while others prefer a more affordable option. Make sure to let your freight forwarder know what your priorities are.

Use our service area transit time tool to learn more.