Weights, measures and the movement of goods

The costs you'll incur when shipping your goods will depend on which form of transport and route you choose. Quotes can vary from operator to operator and from freight forwarder to freight forwarder.

Sea transport

Sea transport tariffs may include ocean rates, terminal charges and a range of surcharges. Ocean rates are normally quoted in US dollars, so the price you pay will be calculated on the day of your consignment’s departure, based on the current exchange rate.

Airfreight

Airfreight prices are set by the Official Rates Policy, which is published in The Air Cargo Tariff (TACT).

Airfreight is charged at a per-kilo rate, with discounts for higher volumes. It's usually carried by either regular (scheduled) or charter flights. Consignments may be spread over a number of charter flights.

Express operators offer door-to-door services, providing transportation systems in which the location and progress of packages is constantly tracked. They also provide cross-border clearance and collection of payments from customers. Shipments are usually charged by their weight, and door-to-door rates include all additional charges that may become due. Express operators specialise in delivering time-sensitive and/or smaller consignments.

Box rates

You may be quoted a price based on "box" or "freight all kinds" rates. These rates are a lump sum based on a full container, irrespective of the goods you’re shipping. Prices for less-than-full containers are usually quoted as a rate-per-weight measure of 1,000 kgs/1M3. Some cargoes will have particular rates based on the goods shipped (also known as commodity rates). These can include dangerous goods, goods requiring refrigeration - reefer cargoes - and waste paper.

Weights and measurements in other countries

It's important to understand how a weight or measure will be interpreted in other countries before you wrap/pack and ship your consignments because some measurements are different, depending on which country you’re shipping to. Read an overview of the units of measurement you must use on the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) website.

Finished goods

If you're transporting finished goods, including their packaging, you must be aware of the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006. You can download guidance on the regulations from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) website (PDF).