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Freight from the USA
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U.S. Sea freight Price Calculator
Shipping Boxes, Crates and Pallets (LCL)
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The above sea freight calculator provides a quick estimate of international shipping costs for boxes and crates sent from the USA to other countries.
Shared container shipping is designed to transport overseas goods in boxes and crates that do not fill an entire 40-foot container. It is the most economical way to manage US exports, as it eliminates the logistical hurdles of container pickup, stuffing, and return.
If you are new to ocean freight logistics, it is advisable to read the article in this link before starting your venture.
As an experienced exporter, you know that consolidated shipping procedures are generally the same regardless of your chosen freight forwarding partner. Here's how to get started using our online rate estimator.
Firstly, decide what the purpose is:
Exporting commercial cargo from the United States
E-commerce and remote order fulfillment
Moving personal belongings or household goods to overseas destinations.
All procedures follow standard maritime industry protocols. This 7-step guide outlines the procedure for utilizing our web-based shipping tool.
Please note that the first and essential step to initiate an export shipment with AMID Logistics is to schedule it using our shipping price calculator.
1. You can calculate a sea freight quote on our website. You can generate as many freight estimates as you wish for different business scenarios. It's free, with no obligations.
2. You email the pricing details that you like to yourself. Please keep it for your records. Emailed quotes will be entered into our system. Each rate request will have a unique quote reference number. The format of a quote reference is USL20011786. If you have the quote in an email, you can reply to the estimate with questions or call us during our business hours.
3. Book your consolidated shipment using the quote you like as soon as you are ready. Upon booking, you will receive an instant copy of your booking request. Each booking has a unique reference number. The format of a booking reference number is US200117BL.
Are you unsure about the number, dimensions, and weight of units you are exporting?
That's OK. When quoting and booking your sea freight, please provide a rough estimate.
The actual volume, weight, and number of your units will most likely differ from the numbers and measurements you provided when quoting or booking. Upon delivery of your cargo to the ocean carrier’s terminal (CFS - Container Freight Station), the CFS will calculate and reconfirm the actual number of units, overall volume, and weight. See Step #4.
Please note that, to avoid confusion, we do not provide manual price quotes and do not accept bookings by phone. The entire reservation process must be completed on our website.
You can read the calculations manual or watch this three-minute YouTube video.
As soon as you submit a booking request via quote, you will receive an email from us containing a unique Customer Reference Number for your outbound US shipment. The booking number format should be US200123CL. The email will include details about your load and a link to pay a deposit for your transportation costs.
For shipments with a total cost of up to US$750, we accept PayPal payments online.
We do NOT accept PayPal payments on shipments with a TOTAL cost above $750. You can pay by certified bank check, business check, or personal check. You can submit a draft of your check online. Then, it is not necessary to mail us the original check. Otherwise, you can transfer or wire funds to our U.S. Bank account. We also accept payments via Western Union.
Please review the Payment Options and our Return Policy.
Upon receipt of a deposit, we will notify you by email. Consider the email a receipt for your payment.
We will then email you our Shipping Instructions. As a general rule, we provide the instructions within 24 business hours; however, this may take longer in some cases. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you don't receive our logistics guidance within 24 hours. Before contacting us, please check your spam folder.
Your instructions are customized and generated specifically for your export load. These instructions will contain your Dock Receipt and provide the following:
1. CARRIER BOOKING NUMBER - The Steamship Line’s Booking Number is the KEY NUMBER for your shipment. You will need to provide the number for all parties involved.
2. AMID Logistics's Customer Reference Number. This is our internal reference number. Always offer our Reference Number when contacting us. Keep the number in the email subject line. The format looks like US200107DL.
3. The terminal's address and phone number, and:
If you self-deliver to a Container Freight Station, a web link to print your Dock Receipt will be provided.
If self-delivering to a Line-Haul terminal, then an inland Bill of Lading (LTL BOL) is attached.
If a pickup is requested, the pickup date is provided, and an LTL BOL is attached.
4. Vessel details on your shipment:
ETD - Estimated Time of Departure
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
The Vessel, Voyage, Routing
The latest cargo delivery day to depart on the scheduled vessel
5. A web link to print your shipping labels.
6. A web link to fill out and submit a Valued Packing List if you cannot provide us with a copy of your commercial invoice, OR ship household goods or personal items.
Read and follow these instructions. Reply and ask any questions. Submit your export documentation online. Print labels and label your cargo. Deliver your goods in boxes, crates, or pallets for overseas sea transport, or meet a pickup driver (if a pickup is requested).
Please note: You shouldn't pay anything at the terminal or the pickup driver. Please wait for our final invoice to be emailed to you.
Port terminals do not usually accept payments. The cost will be added to the carrier's invoice if boxes require palletizing. However, occasionally, if you self-deliver your boxes to a terminal and request palletization, you may be asked to pay for the skid preparation at the terminal. Depending on the terminal, the cost may vary from $35 to over $50 per pallet. Then please pay for it. Ensure a receipt is obtained.
Once your cargo is delivered to the shipping line for export from the USA and all documents are in order, we will confirm the carrier's cargo release and keep you updated.
After that, you should wait for our email with the final invoice. The invoice will reflect the actual shipping costs based on the verified weight and measurement of your cargo. The previously paid 75% deposit will be credited to the invoice.
If marine cargo insurance is requested when booking, it will be attached to the invoice.
The invoice will be generated based on the freight charges in the ocean bill of lading, a few days after the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD). Sometimes, we may generate the invoice earlier based on proof of the waybill from the ocean carrier.
Please note that the final invoice will be based on the actual volume or weight (w/m) of the cargo shipped, rather than the estimated dimensions at the time of quoting. The invoice may also reflect unaccounted-for carrier costs not included in the estimated transport price (if any). Additional charges may apply for palletizing, fumigation, dimensional weight verification, and GRI during transportation, among others.
In other words, you pay for what you shipped, not what you estimated to ship. If you overestimate your cargo volume, then you pay less. If you underestimate your mass ratio, you will pay more. That's why we request a 75% deposit rather than 100%.
Upon your final payment, if you fully or partially paid via PayPal, before issuing a Bill of Lading, we will always NEED YOUR REPLY email with your confirmation that you clearly understand that the BOL is our final document on your overseas shipment. It serves as the title of ownership for goods shipped overseas and serves as proof of ownership transfer to the consignee. This confirms that, upon receipt of the BOL, our service to you is complete as agreed. All parties involved in the payment(s) of the shipment paid by credit card(s) will consider the confirmation as receipt of payment(s), bearing the payer's signature. If, for any reason, you do not agree, then you may re-pay all your PayPal transactions by bank check or wire transfer. Please inform us by replying to this email. Upon receipt of repayment(s), we will notify you and issue a refund for your PayPal transactions.
Upon receipt of your final payment and any response to your PayPal transactions (if applicable), we will email you the carrier's Express Release Bill of Lading as a PDF. Consider the BOL as a legal title for shipping goods from the USA. Shipments on express releases do not require a set of physical original documents. You should be notified if you ship to a country that does not accept paperless releases.
The BOL will verify your international load information and provide the contact details for the destination agent, who handles your cargo recovery.
Several days before the ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival), the shipping agent should contact your consignee and issue a Notice of Arrival to notify them of your incoming freight. Typically, they contact the consignee using the email address listed on your bill of lading. Please keep your eyes on it. Do not miss it! Monitor the junk email folder.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Suppose you do not receive an Arrival Notice by the ETA. In that case, we strongly recommend contacting the agent listed on your BOL to confirm the status of your imported goods. Then, please provide them with a copy of your Express Release BOL, verify your contact details, and ask for the arrival notice.
Shipments with transshipments: If a port of discharge in your sea freight BOL is different from the final place of delivery, then, unless specified in your sailing detail, the ETA may not be the ETA to the final destination but to the transshipment hub. Transshipments/feeders will take additional transit time in your global shipping journey.
Please note that the destination agent may not receive information on your export cargo until a few days before arrival. If you contact them far in advance, do not be frustrated if they are unaware of your incoming cargo. Then fax or email them a copy of your BOL, confirm your contact details, and wait for an arrival notice.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! All imports worldwide are subject to destination charges (sometimes called 'local charges'). The charges are incurred at the destination and are not considered freight charges. You must be prepared to pay the charges if you ship goods overseas from the United States. No matter whether you are importing commercial goods or transporting household effects.
Local charges are not included in quotes obtained through our freight calculator or on the consignee's account. Typically, the charges include (but are not limited to):
Government (Customs) related charges, i.e., duty and taxes, harbor fees, fee on entry filing by a Customs Broker, etc.
Terminal Handling Charges (THC).
A service fee from the local agent for handling and delivering your international cargo (if you request a delivery to your door).
Destination charges vary by country, ocean carrier, and carrier agent. US freight forwarders do not control destination charges. As a licensed forwarder, AMID Logistics does not affect these fees. The overseas agent should assist your consignee in retrieving your import.
Please note that, as a rule, your consignee should not be present in person when your import is being recovered. Follow instructions from the destination logistics provider. Please provide them with all necessary information on your import remotely, pay the invoices for local charges, and take possession of the released goods.
Typically, destination terminals offer cargo delivery services. Then, if you wish, you may arrange for direct delivery of your import to your door with the terminal or hire a local trucking company of your choice.
If you would like to estimate local charges in advance, please use our online calculator to obtain a price quote or booking number, reply by email, and request the contact information for your prospective agent overseas. However, without a quote or booking reference number, we cannot identify the carrier for your shipment and therefore cannot assist you. For example, when contacting us, have the reference ready.
Destination charges vary by commodity when transporting commercial freight. If you ship personal items from the USA, remember that many countries do not charge duty on used household effects. However, such shipments are subject to all other applicable charges anyway. Based on our experience, when sending personal belongings LCL, if the goods are duty-exempt, local charges may range from $250 to $600, or higher. For shipments of 8-14+ cubic meters, these charges may be comparable to FCL (Full Container Load) rates, ranging from $600 to $1,000 or more.
You may need to check with your destination country's consulate or ask a customs broker in your country about the Government (Customs) regulations on your prospective shipment in advance.
Please note that some or all local charges may be payable at the port of entry, but not at the final destination. It all depends on the country's customs regulations. Then, the cargo will be transported to the terminal at the delivery location and cleared by customs. Otherwise, it may be transported to the final destination in bond. Your consignee will then clear the goods with customs at a bonded warehouse located in that area. Also, remember that local charges may be split across separate invoices from multiple parties involved in your import clearance.
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