Land Transport from China

What is land transport from China?

Land transport refers to shipping goods using trucks as their primary transportation tool. The shipping occurs through the roads, ruling out air or sea port usage.

The origin country often connects with the destination country through the road. The open road track allows instant shipping from one country to another.

Brief overview of land transport's role in importing from China

Land transport provides a seamless experience to the destination point.
Land transport occurs in the following stages.

• Pre-carriage. Product shipping occurs through the trucks from the suppliers. The transportation occurs till the destination port.
• Onward carriage. The final delivery occurs from the destination port. The shipping company will transport products to the consumer's doorstep.

When do you choose land transport for your imports?

You might have considered all the above shipping options, but when is your land transport better than other options?
The following scenarios make land transport a better choice.

• Domestic shipping. Land transport is the best option if you are shipping locally from one region to another in the respective country.
• Looking for affordability. For affordable international shipping, it can present a better cost structure. The reduced prices and easy shipping provide better rates.
• Last mile delivery. Do you want your products to get delivered to your doorstep? Make the land transport your ultimate choice.
• Short to Medium Distances. Air or rail freight can be expensive and unsuitable for smaller distances. In that case, land transport is the fastest and most reliable choice only.

Bill of Lading

Bill of lading is a crucial document that highlights three essential functions:

• It confirms the carrier has received products in good condition.
• Tells about the delivery details.
• Forecasts the ownership of the products.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Like the LCL, some consumers have a small number of items to ship. They can't fill the whole truck. As a result, they have to use less than a truckload.

Full Truckload (FTL)

If the consumers can fill the whole truck, they can use the FTL shipping service and pay for it.

Freight Forwarder

A freight forwarder is a shipping company or an individual that arranges the shipments from manufacturers to the destination points.

Consignee

The seller or buyer who orders the products from the manufacturers and will receive them is the consignee of the shipment.

Consignor

The supplier is a consignor. You can often call it a seller. The buyer will be the consignee in that case.

Customs Broker

A Customs broker is a professional individual or service that deals with customs documents. It helps with document preparation and speeds up customs clearance from import and export borders.

Delivery Receipt

A delivery receipt is a document verifying that the consignee has received the products. Tracking status updates to be delivered once the delivery receipt is generated.

Detention

Detention charges are applicable only in particular conditions. For example, the delivery truck remains at the pickup or delivery point after the free allowed time. Such a time is chargeable depending on the overall duration.

Dock Receipt

A Dock receipt is like a delivery receipt. It shows the local carrier has transferred products to the export airport or seaport and is now with the international carrier. This receipt transfers the accountability from local to international carriers.

Drayage

Drayage is a small voyage of the overall shipping distance. For instance, the carrier ships products from the port to the warehouse. It is drayage but part of the overall shipping journey.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

The truck's overall weight, including its cargo, is the gross weight.

Intermodal

When a shipping company uses multiple modes of shipping, it falls under the category of intermodal. Some shipments use air, sea, and truck shipments, depending on their overall journey.

Pallet

The pallet is a flat structure that stacks the product bundles and enables bulk transport. It is often present in warehouses that integrate with forklifts. Working with a forklift helps transport products from one location to another in the warehouse.

Pro Number

The pro number is the tracking number. You can use it on various apps such as Order Tracker and ParcelApp. They can help track the orders.

Proof of Delivery (POD)

Proof of delivery is a document that serves as evidence for the delivery to the intended person.

Tariff

Tariff has the necessary details about the various services. It concludes the rate lists and charges for shipping, warehousing, and all such services. Consumers can also learn about customs duties and taxes by looking at the tariff.

Transit Time

Transit time refers to the whole time spent on the shipments. From pickup of delivery by the shipping company to the delivery of products, the whole time is the transit time for the delivery. It can be a week or less for air shipping and more than a week for truck shipping.

Waybill

The shipping company issues a waybill that discloses all the details and instructions related to the shipment.

Weight Break

Weight break is the shipment volume where LTL charges are almost equal to the FTL charges. LTL becomes a less cost-saving shipping method in this case.

Major Trucking Companies

Sinotrans Limited

Sinotrans is a famous trucking solution in China. It not only ships products but also provides warehousing solutions. From being a state-owned shipping company, it has grown into a trucking giant. The positive points include:

• Reduced shipping price
• Extensive shipping solutions

SF Express

SF Express has been working for more than 30 years. Headquartered in Shenzhen, it has built a legacy over the years. Its land transport is famous for extensive domestic shipping. It is equally effective for both B2B and B2C shipping. The pros include:

• Reliable shipping solutions
• Decades of experience

YTO Express

YTO Express is a known name in full truckload and less than truckload shipping. It offers small parcel shipping to bulk shipping through land transport. Guess what? It features the following benefits.

• Reduced prices
• Easy shipping solutions

STO Express

STO Express has grown from a small company into a reliable shipping giant. You get various shipping solutions from this company and enjoy flawless shipping support. The top features include:

• Multiple shipping options
• Famous shipping service.

DEPPON Logistics

Are you a small to medium business owner? Don't forget the Deppon logistics. It has achieved milestones focusing on less-than-truckload (LTL) and full-truckload (FTL) services. The benefits include:

• Wide range of shipping options
• Quality logistics services

Freight Forwarders

Kerry Logistics

Kerry Logistics is a Hong Kong-based freight forwarder that deals with shipping and forwarding them in Asia and other regions. It handles supply chain solutions with the following top products, such as fashion, electronics, and automotive.

DB Schenker China

DB Schenker China is a leading freight forwarder that specializes in tracking solutions. For cross-border shipments, it offers end-to-end shipping solutions. Consumers can explore a wide range of customized solutions.

DHL Global Forwarding

Who doesn't know the giant DHL? Known for its dependable shipping solutions, DHL nurtures an excellent forwarding opportunity for users. It delivers specialized trucking opportunities for local and global shipping facilities.

Kuehne + Nagel China

Kuehne + Nagel China is a global freight forwarder enabling easy forwarding at the borders. With its extensive solutions, you can dig up various shipping solutions. It features tracking services for local and international shipping. It serves consumers in the industry of healthcare, consumer goods, and technology.

CEVA Logistics China

CEVA logistics helps streamline shipping by contracting with the major shipping companies. It forwards freight for domestic and international shipping and ensures smooth and timely deliveries.

Digital Freight Platforms

It is time for the digitalization of shipping solutions including trucking. Various associations and tech apps have connected this case with efficient results. Consider them.

Full Truck Alliance (also known as Manbang Group)

Manbang Group is a digital platform that harnesses big data and AI to connect drivers and shippers. It provides real-time data and reduces the costs by cutting the empty miles. It is a cost-effective solution for both truck owners and shipping consumers.

Huochebang

Huochebang is a subsidiary of a Full Truck Alliance group that features services like:

• Vehicle maintenance
• Cargo matching
• Financing truck drivers

Yunmanman

Like Houchebang, Yunmanman is also a platform for matching and connecting consumers with truck owners. It offers real-time shipping solutions and streamlines the shipping process.

Government Bodies

The freight and logistical sector has many government bodies involved in the shipping processes.

Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China

The Ministry of Transport controls the road and traffic flow through the region. It governs and maintains the shipping industry.

General Administration of Customs of China

Customs authorities and rules definition also depend on the local government bodies. They define and regulate the shipping solutions providing shippers with a sigh of relief with their policies.

Industry Associations

There are many logistical associations regulating the shipping process. Let's scroll them.

China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP)

It manages the land transport and other logistics options. Apart from managing, it also promotes best purchasing practices and cost-efficiency for the users. The detailed data provision helps the local trucking specialists to stay competitive in their pricing.

China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA)

It is a freight forwarder association that promises regulatory governance of the shipping companies. The international compliance of the rules and regulations occurs through this company.

Key Manufacturing Hubs

China has many regions and cities that are a manufacturing hub. Each region is famous for its different types of products. Let's discuss various types of regions serving as manufacturing hubs.

Pearl River Delta (including Shenzhen and Guangzhou)

Pearl River Delta has connected manufacturing regions such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Many airports and seaports connect with the Pearl River Delta, which makes it a perfect place for shipping. Whether local or international shipping, it is famous for electronics, textiles, and machinery.

Yangtze River Delta (including Shanghai and Suzhou)

Yangtze River Delta links the Shanghai and Suzhou airports and seaports to the globe. The extensive manufacturing of products, like automotive, technology, and chemicals is the source of shipping.

Bohai Economic Rim (including Beijing and Tianjin)

Beijing and Tianjin like manufacturing regions lie at the Bohai economic rim and ship products effortlessly. It is a high-tech manufacturing area that is famous for international shipping due to the availability of airports and seaports.

Major Ports (intermodal connections)

Port of Shanghai

The Port of Shanghai is not a new market player. It has been centuries since it has been here, serving the region in the Yangtze River Delta. Being a prominent place, it can handle millions of tons of cargo.

Port of Shenzhen

The Port of Shenzhen links the Pearl River Delta which is a manufacturing hub. It serves cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Guangzhou and connects the various manufacturing sectors. It is a global attractive point with a shipping capacity of 30 million TEUs.

Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

Ningbo port history relates it to the 1000. But in 2006, the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan was founded by merging the two ports in Ningbo and Zhoushan. It is located in the manufacturing hub of the Yangtze River Delta. With a capacity of 33 million TEUs, it ships products globally.

Port of Guangzhou

Guangzhou port is more than 2000 years old. It serves vital countries such as Guangzhou, Foshan, and Dongguan. The connected manufacturing hub is the Pearl River Delta. With 24 million TEUs annually, it handles products like automobiles, electronics, machinery, steel, chemicals, and agricultural products.

Popular domestic routes

Domestic routes in China connect various cities.

• Beijing – Shanghai – Guangzhou
• Chengdu – Chongqing – Xi'an
• Shenzhen – Guangzhou – Hong Kong
• Ningbo – Hangzhou – Suzhou – Shanghai

Popular international routes

International routes also pass through various cities in China. However, it is seamless and easy with the following cities and countries.

• China – Kazakhstan (via Xinjiang)
• China – Mongolia (via Erenhot)
• China – Russia (via Heilongjiang/Xinjiang)
• China – Vietnam (via Guangxi/Yunnan)

Cross-border trucking options (e.g., to Central Asia, and Southeast Asia)

Whether you are shipping electronic products or some textile items from China, cross-border trucking saves costs.

Common truck types used in Chinese freight

Shipments from China come in various types of trucks. These are:

• Box Truck. It has an enclosed structure that protects the parcels from adverse weather conditions.
• Flatbed Truck. Unlike box trucks, it doesn't have a close structure. Instead, it features an open structure and carrier products.
• Refrigerated truck. Do you have food or perishable items? These trucks are the topmost choice for the trucking.
• Curtain Side Trucks come in handy with the side curtains for loading and unloading products.
• Tanker Trucks. Sometimes, consumers have to ship the oil or petrol. Tanker Trucks come with extensive capabilities and provide easy shipping.

Load capacities and dimensions

Choosing the right truck for your cargo

Before you opt for any truck type, you must look for the following points.

• Cargo size and weight. How many products are you shipping? The weight and dimensions of the cargo must be under your radar. Based on your needs, you can opt for the cargo size.
• Protection needs. Enclosed trucks offer complete protection to products. However, they often have limited spaces. On the other hand, open-space trucks provide extended storage. Opt for any type you want.
• Loading and unloading. Loading and unloading from trucks is a climax point. So, get a side curtain truck with specialized loading and unloading jobs.

Step 1: Assess your shipping needs.

First of all, measure your overall shipping needs. You can calculate it by assessing:

• What type of goods do you want to ship?
• How much is the total quantity of products?
• What are your deadlines?
• How much of your budget do you have to ship products?

Highlighting and understanding each aspect can define your shipping method and route. However, trucking is often suitable for almost all shippers looking for affordable options.

Step 2: Research and select a freight forwarder or logistics provider.

One of the most significant mistakes is contracting with a BAD freight forwarder.

How do you avoid that? Make it happen by:

• Look at the experience. A reputed and reliable shipping company has 10+ years of experience. A 5+ years of shipping experience is still a good choice.
• Check services. What services do your service provider offer? Packaging, clearance, and warehousing are common points. You must add them to your checklist.
• Online and offline feedback. Filter out the crap from the diamond companies. Work only with top-class shipping solutions.

Step 3: Request and compare quotes.

Don't stay with a single company. It can shrink your thinking and reduce the number of options available to you.

Instead, get quotes from multiple companies. Compare:

• Pricing
• Shipping methods
• Speed
• Reliability
• Tracking
• Any extra service included in the shipping costs

Based on these options, you can decide which shipping company stands out as the best among them.

Step 4: Prepare your goods for shipment.

Be ready on your end by preparing your shipping packages. All you have to do is to:

• Package your inventory. Ensure safer packaging. Try to add an additional safety layer and add necessary handling tips for better care. Make it weather and waterproof.
• Label them. You should consider the top-quality labels. They must be intact in every condition and contain necessary information. Include product details at the buyer's address.
• Make their pallets. Reduce the risks of damage by pelletizing your products safely.

Step 5: Complete the necessary documentation.

Start collecting following following documents for the export and import:

• Commercial invoice. It comprises detailed aspects of the product values and quantity.
• Bill of lading. It serves as an agreement between the shipper and the service provider.
• The packing list digs up all the products enclosed in each package.
• A certificate of origin is often necessary for customs clearance.
• Customs declaration. It proves you have all the necessary documents for customs clearance.

Step 6: Book your shipment.

Have you followed all the steps till now? It is time to hit the book shipment button now.

Recheck the documentation and packaging of your products. Assess the company's capabilities and its trucks. Ship only with reliable shipping services.

Step 7: Arrange for pickup and loading.

Where does your shipping company arrive to load the packages? Any warehouse location or other address.

• Add a detailed address of your warehouses.
• Keep the loading equipment ready.
• Supervise the loading process to avoid any mishap.

Step 8: Monitor your shipment.

The transportation of products starts from here. You can track your shipments by grabbing the real-time tracking ID. Do you have that?

If not, don't worry. Contact your shipment provider and get the ID. Sometimes, labels and online platforms like Taobao and 1688 have order sections featuring the tracking ID.

Step 9: Prepare for customs clearance.

Got all the documents discussed above? It is time to buckle up and get yourself out of import clearance hassles.

You can follow:

• Pre-clearance. Get your customs documents ready and submit them to the customs authorities.
• Duties and taxes. Sum up your taxes and keep them handy to avoid expense surprises.
• Compliance. Does your shipment comply with all the rules and regulations? That is better for the clearance. Otherwise, you can amend it and make it more favorable to the regulations.

Step 10: Coordinate delivery and unloading.

Contact the shipping company. Receive your products.

• Arrival of products. Products arrive at your doorstep. The truck will reach and be ready for the unloading.
• Deploy workers and unload the pellets.
• Reception. Confirm the delivery so the company updates the tracking status to delivered.

Step 11: Conduct post-shipment review and documentation.

After the shipment, you can review the following aspects.

• Overall expenses. Assess all the aspects and confirm the overall costs.
• Check product integrity. Not 100% of the products arrive intact. Some have the seals broken while others can come with minor defects. Check them all.
• Performance review. How good was your shipping provider? Mark as a favorite if the company has been outstanding in dealing with shipping.

Required paperwork for land transport in China.

Land transport also requires extensive paperwork for clearance. The standard documents you must have in your bag should be:

• Bill of lading
• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin
• Export license
• Custom declaration form
• Transport insurance policy

Customs clearance process.

The Customs clearance process follows the below steps.

• Submission of documents. Buckle up your documents and submit them to the customs authorities.
• Customs authorities see the products and confirm if they are allowed. Plus, they test the quality and allow only the safe inventory.
• Duties and taxes. Assess and calculate taxes. Submit them to the customs.
• Customs release. Once you get a clean chit from customs, receive your cleared products and move to the next station for shipping.

Tips for smooth documentation handling

Do you want to avoid the surprises and hassles? Follow the below tips when handling the documentation.

• Understand what documents you need. Before you prepare the papers, know the documents. Assess all the invoices, certificates, and licenses for the products.
• Pre-clearance document submission. Submit your documents to customs before the clearance. Enjoy the timely clearance from customs.
• Hire custom brokers. Customs brokers can iron out the complexities of clearance. Involve them to get instant clearance.
• Avoid shipping prohibited products. Learn about the prohibited product lists from China or importing countries. Abandon them and ship only allowed items.

Breakdown of typical costs

• Base Rate. It is the standard price calculated from the overall product weight or shipping method you have chosen.
• Fuel Surcharges are the variable fuel prices depending on the international fuel costs.
• Accessories charges. Handling oversized cargo or inside delivery comes with the charges.
• Tolls and permits. Additional permits and submitting the toll taxes also require the cost.
• Insurance fees. Some users have to purchase insurance for their products. Different insurance policies have different insurance prices.

Factors affecting pricing

Various factors impact the overall cost structures and pricing. Following points you should know:

• Weight. Increasing weight is directly proportional to the costs. Higher weight can fill up a truck, leading to high rates.
• Distance. Distant addresses require more money as fuel consumption is more. So, distance can decide the overall shipping fees.
• In peak season, prices jump many percent. In the off-season, you get reduced shipping prices. Define the season and enjoy the shipping rates.
• Route. The short route is like a short distance. If your shipping team opts for a longer route, the charges are higher than the shorter one.

Tips for cost optimization

Reducing the upper-end prices and optimizing your rates can be a shortcut toward the costs.

Follow the below tips to optimize your shipping costs.

• Consolidate Shipments. Instead of shipping multiple shipments individually, avoid it and combine your shipments. It will slash the costs and make them one.
• Plan. Make plans before the time as it can get you a variety of options. So, you'll explore better options and prices.
• Negotiate with carriers. Talk to carriers and get reduced quotes for your products.

Average transit times for popular routes.

China has many shipping routes. They vary as per location and have different shipping times. Let's divide the estimated shipping time for each.

Factors affecting delivery schedules.

Various factors can impact the delivery schedules. These include:

• Longer distances often invite lousy weather if the sea or mountains are around such a location.
• Customs processing can sometimes be delayed due to customs staff unavailability.
• Weather conditions can potentially delay the delivery.
• Traffic and infrastructure. Traffic congestion in cities and high-traffic regions can impact the overall delivery.

How do you plan your shipments effectively?

Shipping too early or late can result in disappointment. Know your shipping route, distance, and seasonal impacts and implement the following strategies.

• Define the right estimated delivery time. Understand your shipping window and define your delivery time accordingly.
• Consider the off-peak season. Think of the seasonal variation and prefer the off-peak season as your shipping time.
• Deploy technology. Don't forget the technology. Harness it in every possible way and track your orders effectively.

Available tracking technologies and systems.

There are diverse tracking technologies.

• GPS tracking is one of the widely known tracking options. It provides real-time tracking facilities.
• With RFID technology, it is easier to track orders in warehouses and other locations.

How to monitor your shipments in real-time?

If you want to monitor your shipments, use the RFID or GPS. Consider:

• Use a freight forwarder. Ask your freight forwarder about the GPS or RFID technology.
• Set up alerts. Check the notification system and set the alert on. Make it automated alerting based on the location change of products.
• Track orders. Get your tracking ID and then go on the tracking products.

Communicating with freight forwarders.

Talk to your freight forwarders about the following:

• Shipping plans
• Arrival date
• Tracking updates
• Expected delivery date
• Route changes
• Unexpected delays
• Tracking ID

Get your tracking ID and start tracking orders.

Types of insurance available for land transport.

Land transport comes with various types of insurance depending on your truck's worth and other expenses. The following types of costs include:

• Cargo insurance is one of the most common methods being used for insurance. It covers various types of damages, losses, and product theft in transit.
• All-risk insurance. This insurance type covers comprehensive shipping risks, such as accidents, weather-related damages, and theft.
• Named perils insurance is related more to the coverage for fire or collision.

Understanding liability limits and coverage.

Insurance policy has some limitations based on the cost coverage. Consumers must know all the aspects and be ready to purchase additional policy for more coverage.

Cross-border shipments get comprehensive insurance services for elevated risks and custom complications.

Tips for protecting your cargo.

Know the following tips to protect your cargo from damages or cover the costs of damages.

• Assess goods value. Check the product prices. Go for the insurance options based on your product value.
• Know the insurance policy. Insurance policy varies from one suitable type to another. Consider all aspects of the insurance policy.
• Bring in a quality service provider. Avoid the ineffective service provider and go for the quality ones.

Common issues in Chinese land transport.

• Traffic congestion or extreme weather conditions are the game turning points for shipping.
• Regulatory compliance. Preparing customs documents and submission is another significant problem.
• Language barriers. In the domestic shipping phases, the Chinese language is a significant problem. Shipping services have to break to get past China.

Strategies to mitigate risks.

• Plan ahead of time. Sudden preparation can cause potential delays. Have your strategy ready and avoid time wastage.
• Choose experienced forwarders. Work with the experienced forwarders. It will help save your time and get the right documentation.
• Learn and prepare proper documentation. Learn about bills of lading, packing lists, and relevant necessary documents. Prepare them to avoid emergency hassles.

Key factors to consider when selecting a provider.

When choosing a service provider, look at the factors.

• Experience and reputation. Only a reputed supplier with good experience can handle the shipments effortlessly. You must dig out all such suppliers and handle complex logistic systems.
• Service range. Don't go only the trucking specialist companies. Having multiple shipping options is a better choice. Expect a company that features a diversity of shipping options.
• Tracking facilities. Real-time tracking can boost your belief in product shipping. Get it with your shipping partner.
• Customer Support. An elegant customer team is a savior for you. Choose a company that has 24/7 available support and readily solves your problems.

Questions to ask potential partners

When choosing a shipping partner, you must ask the following questions.

• What type of services does the shipping company offer?
• How many years of experience does the company have?
• How is the consumer's feedback about the company?
• Do you handle customs clearance in the event of shipping or not?
• Do you provide additional services and insurance facilities?

Red flags to watch out for.

Whenever you see the red flags, you must do one thing— run away.
A few shipping partners are nothing more than a fake company. Sometimes, they are inefficient in resolving your issues.

Look for the following flags.

• Tracking facilities are not available.
• Shipping companies don't negotiate costs well.
• Communication doesn't go as planned.
• Consumers have negative reviews about the company.