| Below is an overview of the most important information that you need to take account
of when moving goods around the world. |
| In order to provide you with the best rate, it is important for us to know which agreements
you have made and which delivery terms apply. |
| Under the following links you will find information about road freight, sea freight and air freight and
additional information about dangerous goods. |
Transport info
Make sure to agree on appropriate terms beforehand!
Transport info
Road freight
Cooperation: There are many ways to transport freight by road. Van Thiel Transport B.V. is specialised in the international transport of part loads, groupage and full loads from the Netherlands and Belgium to destinations all over Europe. No transport company in the world has the capacity to carry absolutely every freight itself, and this applies to us too. Transport companies often cooperate to ensure that your goods are brought to their destination as economically as possible. You need to be aware of certain special conditions that may apply so that you can agree on the appropriate terms beforehand.
Conditions: For example, freight transport within the Netherlands is subject to the General Conditions of Transport (AVC), while cross-border transport is subject to the CMR convention. These conditions more or less cover all possible eventualities involved in freight transport, including the consequences if goods are lost or stolen. As standard, your goods are insured under the CMR convention up to 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per kg, which is equivalent to about €10.00 per kg, depending on the SDR exchange rate.
Alongside these conventions, your freight may also be subject to the FENEX conditions. These are the conditions applied by the official forwarding agents. However, the accountability of a forwarding agent under the FENEX conditions can have disadvantages for you as customer.
Make sure you find out which conditions apply to your freight! Van Thiel Transport B.V. is an official forwarding agent, but we are subject to the conditions of the CMR convention for most of our customers.
If your goods are more valuable than approximately €10 per kg then we advise you to obtain extra insurance! Your transport company can often arrange this insurance for you, but if you regularly need to transport valuable goods then we advise you to take out an annual policy with your insurance company.
You can find the latest transport conditions that apply to your freight under the following links:
CMR convention AVC Conditions Fenex conditions
Drivers’ hours: All drivers in Europe are required to abide by the Driving Hours Decree, which sets out driving and rest periods, among others. Operating hours, driving hours and working hours are registered with a tachograph. Violations are detected after the fact by the ILT and the fines for spending too long behind the wheel, for example, are enormous.
The lorry is not allowed to move at all after a driver has set their tachograph to rest mode. If it is moved, the rest taken up to that point is invalidated and the driver has to take the entire rest period again. We kindly ask you to take account of this at the driver’s destination by allowing them to park in the appropriate bay immediately, so that they can take an uninterrupted rest period.
The procedure in port.
Import: If your goods arrive per ship, for example in Rotterdam, we will ensure that the container is collected from the port after it has been unloaded. There are then two alternatives: the container is transported directly to its final destination to be unloaded, or the goods are transferred to a lorry in our warehouse in Bergschenhoek and transported to their final destination.
This will depend on the type of goods and the distance. Containers received in Rotterdam that are destined for Spain, for example, will usually be transferred to a Spanish transport company’s lorry. We also receive many containers in Felixstowe (UK), most of which are transshipped for further transportation to the rest of Europe, including Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland.
We calculate the most affordable solution for each container we receive (direct transport or transshipment). We will ensure that your goods are cleared when they enter Europe or stored in our AEO-certified customs warehouse (bonded warehouse) to await your further instructions.
As long as your goods are stored in our customs warehouse, you do not yet have to pay import duties or VAT, as these fees are only applied after the goods that have been cleared.
Export: Once you have prepared your consignment, we will collect it from your premises and transport it to Rotterdam. We may arrive with an empty container or collect your freight with a standard lorry and transfer it to a container later on. In the meantime, your goods will have already been booked on a ship to their destination. If you ask your customer to share their agent’s contact details with us, we will inform this agent when the goods arrive at their destination.
Useful information
Fees: All sea freight is charged by the tonne. The international agreement is that 1 m3 is equivalent to 1000 kg of chargeable weight, unless the actual weight is higher, in which case this weight will be applied.
Documents: Always ensure that you supply the correct invoices and packing lists so that no delays will occur in the event of a customs inspection. Physical customs inspections of incoming containers always begin with a gas measurement to ensure that no hazardous gases have formed in the container during the transport. If your goods could potentially form hazardous gases, please report this to us so that we can take it into account.
INCOTERMS
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) is an international standard that describes the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers involved in the international transport of goods. The standard is developed and published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- EXW (Ex Works) terms
The buyer is responsible for collecting the goods from the seller. The transport costs are for the account of the buyer. - FOB (Free On Board) terms
The seller delivers the goods to the port of departure and organises the export documents. The buyer pays for the sea freight and the clearance fees in the country of destination. - CIF (Costs Insurance Freight) terms
The seller ensures that the goods are delivered to the port of destination. The buyer is responsible for clearing the goods and collecting them from the port.
As you can see, it is important for us to know which terms you have agreed with the seller so that we can calculate the appropriate transport fee.
If you agree to apply FOB terms, then we will invoice you for all fees from the port of departure to the destination of your goods. If you have agreed EXW terms, you will be charged for all transport and costs from the seller’s warehouse.
Complete overview of all current incoterms: INCOTERMS
The procedure at Schiphol Airport.
Import: As soon as your goods have been dispatched, an AWB (Airway Bill) will be prepared with a unique AWB code. This code can be used to track & trace 95% of consignments and determine when they will arrive at Schiphol Airport.
As soon as the aircraft has landed, the goods are offloaded and kept in what is known as the ‘first line’. The goods can be collected from the first line by certified transport companies with a special pass. This procedure may take up to a full day, because the consignment first needs to be inspected and counted.
Once the goods have been released, we will ensure they are collected from the first line and delivered to your premises.
Export: Once you have prepared your consignment, we will collect it from your premises and transport it to Schiphol Airport. In the meantime, your goods will have already been booked on a flight to their destination. We will then draw up an Airway Bill which will be provided to you together with a track & trace code, so that you will always know exactly where your goods are. If you ask your customer to share their agent’s contact details with us, we will inform this agent when the goods arrive at their destination.
Useful information
Fees: All fees for air freight are calculated per kilogram. The international agreement is that 1 m3 is equivalent to 167 kg of chargeable weight, unless the actual weight is higher, in which case this weight will be applied.
Packaging: Make sure that your pallets are never stacked higher than 1.60 m (including the pallet) so that these can be carried by charter flights, which is often a lot cheaper.
INCOTERMS
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) is an international standard that describes the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers involved in the international transport of goods. The standard is developed and published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- EXW (Ex Works) terms
The buyer is responsible for collecting the goods from the seller. The transport costs are for the account of the buyer. - FOB (Free On Board) terms
The seller delivers the goods to the airport of departure and organises the export documents. The buyer pays for the air freight and the clearance fees in the country of destination. - CIF (Costs Insurance Freight) terms
The seller ensures that the goods are delivered to the airport of destination. The buyer is responsible for clearing the goods and collecting them from the airport.
As you can see, it is important for us to know which terms you have agreed with the seller so that we can calculate the appropriate transport fee. If you agree to apply FOB terms, then we will invoice you for all fees from the airport of departure to the destination of your goods. If you have agreed EXW terms, you will be charged for all transport and costs from the seller’s warehouse.
Complete overview of all current incoterms: INCOTERMS