What essential qualifications does a freight forwarding company need?

When selecting a freight forwarding company, be sure to confirm the following qualification documents:

• Business license scopeThe translation must include "international freight forwarding."
• Valid Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Business Operation Qualification Registration Certificate
• China Customs AEO certification qualification (new requirement for 2025)
• IATA accreditation (involvingair transportbusiness operations)

What hidden fees might be lurking in the quotation?

According to the latest industry research in 2025, 68% of customers have encountered hidden charges. Key focus areas:

• The FuelAdditional feesAdjustment mechanism (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
• Specific trigger conditions for Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)
• Billing standards for Terminal Handling Charges (THC)
• Coordination service fees during customs inspection

How to verify a freight forwardersCustoms clearancecapability?

It is recommended to request typical cases from the past three years:

• Customs clearance records for special commodities (such as lithium batteries, chemical products)
• Application cases for Free Trade Agreements (RCEP/CPTPP)
• Customs clearance time data for AEO mutual recognition countries
• Customs credit management system integration capability

How should cargo transportation insurance be purchased?

New changes in international transportation insurance regulations for 2025:

• Require the insurance policy to explicitly cover cargo losses caused by cyber attacks
• Extend war risk coverage to the Red Sea area
• Recommended selectionWarehouse to warehouse clauseRather than port to port
• Verify the electronic policys filing number with Lloyds

How to handle transportation delays?

Legitimate freight forwarders should provide a three-tier response mechanism:

• 24-hour emergency teamReal-time tracking
• Alternative transportation solution database (recommended to verify in advance)
• Legal team support for claim documentation preparation
• Third-party notarization agency intervention process

What to pay attention to when transporting special goods?

Taking lithium battery exports as an example:

• Must provide UN38.3 test report
• Packaging must comply with the latest revision of IMDG
• Shipping documents must include bilingual (Chinese-English) MSDS
• Recommended to select carriers with DG Cargo qualification

How to avoid the risk of cargo abandonment at the destination port?

For 2025, dual protection is recommended:

• Collect 20% from customers asAbandoned cargo deposit
• Add cargo disposal rights clause when signing CIF terms
• Require freight forwarders to provide destination country port demurrage fee cap agreement
• Purchase abandoned cargo insurance (requires additional clauses)

Note: The customs policies and industry data mentioned in this article are based on the latest public information for 2025. For specific operations, please refer to the real-time policy interpretations provided by freight forwarding companies. It is recommended to prioritize service teams with Certified International Trade Compliance Specialist (CTCS) certification.