Freight services: sea, air, road and customs clearing

Sea freight, also called ocean freight, is cargo shipped by sea: coastal on domestic routes, or through international waters as an import or an export. Containerised consignments can be interchanged between ships, trucks and trains without repacking the contents, which is why containerisation is the most popular and cost-effective sea freight option.

• Full and part container loads

  FCL for a container of your own, LCL where a smaller consignment shares a container with other shipments. LCL is charged at a minimum of one cubic metre or one tonne, whichever is greater.

• Break bulk and non-containerised

  Loose or unpacked commodities carried in the hull, such as scrap steel, grain, coal or gravel, and cargo that will not containerise.

• Reefer and refrigerated

  Refrigerated containers and reefer services for commodities that have to be held at temperature for the voyage.

• Plant, machinery and vehicles

  Oversized consignments that exceed standard dimensions, including mining and agricultural equipment, plus RORO for wheeled cargo that drives on and off the vessel on its own ramps.

• Door to door, door to port, port to door

  We quote whichever leg combination you need, with GIT insurance arranged and all customs clearances handled.

Best suited to: consignments where time is not the primary consideration. For international cargo that is not urgent, sea freight is the obvious choice against air.

What moves the rate varies between carriers, and typically pivots on origin and destination, vessel availability and market saturation, fuel prices, port congestion, seasonal demand, cargo size and weight, the type of shipment and the commodity itself.

Air transport is relatively expensive, but it is often the fastest mode available over medium and long distances. Cargo travels in the belly of a passenger aircraft, on the main deck or in the belly of a freighter, or on a combi aircraft that carries passengers and cargo together. As the forwarder we compile the door to door chain around the airport to airport leg the airline operates.

• International and domestic

  Direct airfreight services where a routing exists, and trans-shipment through a hub where it does not.

• Break bulk and consolidation

  Consignments consolidated with other cargo, and third party airfreight where the booking sits with another party.

• Cold storage airfreight

  Temperature-controlled handling for cargo that will not survive an ambient journey.

• High value and time-critical

  Typical air cargo is goods with a high value, or with an operationally or commercially critical delivery time: express parcels, perishables, pharmaceuticals, technical supplies and luxury consumer goods.

• Restricted cargo, flagged early

  The quote form asks you to declare dangerous goods and lithium batteries, perishables, live animals, valuable or high-security cargo, out-of-gauge pieces and carnet cargo, because restrictions apply and not every consignment can fly.

Best suited to: shipments that must move door to door over a medium to long distance quickly, where the value of the goods or the deadline justifies the rate.

We provide collection and delivery on a direct, non-stop route to the destination, organised around what the load actually needs. Shipments are tracked throughout the journey and a proof of delivery is supplied.

• Full, part and dedicated loads

  FTL full truck loads, LTL less than truck loads, containers, and a dedicated driveaway vehicle charter for special deliveries.

• Cross-border and domestic

  Daily services to destinations throughout South Africa, with all import and export formalities handled on cross-border road freight.

• Specialised loads

  Abnormal loads, dangerous goods and hazardous materials, refrigerated and cold storage transport, break bulk road freight and vehicle transport.

• Urgent and scheduled collections

  Immediate collection for urgent shipments, routed the fastest way possible, and planned collection times where the traffic is regular.

• Permits and cover

  All permits arranged, GIT insurance arranged, and all customs clearances handled where the load crosses a border.

Best suited to: domestic movements inside South Africa and cross-border cargo by road, from a shared load through to a vehicle dedicated to your consignment alone.

All goods entering or departing South Africa need customs clearance, and which documents are required depends on the commodity. GlobeFreight has direct access to SARS customs clearance, and handles the complete process: the clearance itself, port dues, customs VAT, shipping line charges, and delivery to your door if you want it. We also clear shipments we did not forward.

• As your freight forwarder

  We store the cargo until it is ready to ship, arrange the forwarding on the routing you want, negotiate freight rates with the shipping line, book the cargo, prepare the bill of lading and the associated shipping and negotiating documents, and issue the house bill of lading where it applies.

• As your clearing agent

  We pass the relevant documents at customs, arrange customs inspections where they are called for, check and process duty and customs VAT payments, and apply for refunds where they apply.

• Storage and bond storage

  General cargo storage and bond storage services, including removal in bond and bonded warehousing.

• Duties and customs VAT

  Duties and customs VAT deferment, plus import and export documentation handled for general cargo clearance.

Best suited to: any import or export into or out of South Africa, whether we are moving the cargo or another forwarder is.