There are two types of weight, real weight and volumetric weight. The real weight is how much the shipment would register on a scale. The volumetric weight is calculated from the dimensions of the package. This matters because a package that is light but large will take up more space during transport, and that can increase costs for the shipper. Freight companies calculate a volumetric weight with the following formula: (Length x Width x Height) cm / 5000. The billable weight, used for pricing, is the greater of the real weight and the volumetric weight.
For example, let’s use a box with weight 15 kg and dimensions of: 54 x 75 x 35 cm. The estimate of the volumetric weight would be (54 x 75 x 35) = 141,750 / 5000: = 28.35 kg. The volumetric weight is typically roundedup to the next integer, so 28.35 kg rounds up to 29 kg. Even though it is not really a weight, the industry uses the units of kg for the volumetric weight. Because the billable weight is the greater of the volumetric and real weights, the billable weight for this 15 kg box is 29 kg because of its dimensions. For this reason, it is very important to measure the dimensions correctly. If our shipping partner collects the parcel and the dimensions are larger than described, they will invoice us for the difference, and you will be responsible for payment. And unfortunately, any discounts we have provided will not apply to this extra charge. So please make sure you measure the dimensions and weights of your packages accurately.
Before you ship your parcel, it is important to identify if the destination postal code is in the Extended Surcharge area list. Some destinations are more difficult for our partners to reach, so they need extra help from other partners in order to be able to deliver your parcel. For these destinations, an additional fee of £25.32 per consignment. Please review the price list carefully to make sure you understand the cost completely.
What you should know when shipping goods outside of the European Union:
When shipping outside of the European Union, you must complete the following steps:
• Obtain a commerical invoice with correct values.
• Upload the invoice when you book the consignment online or by email so that we can provide the information to customs.
• Attached five printed copies of the invoice to the outside of the package and next to the label for customs agents to access.
• Make sure the contact information is correct. Both an email and phone number are required. If we or customs cannot contact the correct person, your package may be delayed, returned to sender, or simply destroyed by customs. As the shipper, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information about the shipment is correct.
www.structuredfreight.com | April 2017 | BASICS ABOUT SHIPPING | 12-13