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How to Compare Freight Quotes for Cross-Border Shipments – A Shipper’s Guide
Cross-border freight quotes often vary far more than domestic quotes, and the lowest number on the page is not always the lowest cost once the load is delivered. Shipments between the United States and Mexico or Canada involve border crossings, customs documentation, drayage and carrier requirements that domestic freight does not. This guide from Cargo Quotes explains the five factors that drive the differences so you can compare cross-border freight quotes with confidence. Factors 1 and 2: Border Crossing and Mode Selection The border crossing used for your shipment has a [...]
CTPAT Certification and Cross-Border Freight — What Shippers Should Know
If you're moving freight across the US-Mexico or US-Canada border with any regularity, you've likely encountered the term C-TPAT. But many shippers don't fully understand what C-TPAT certification means, why it matters for their freight, or what to look for when evaluating whether a freight broker or carrier is genuinely C-TPAT compliant. Here's what cross-border freight shippers need to know. What Is C-TPAT? C-TPAT stands for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a voluntary supply chain security program administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Established in the aftermath of September [...]
USMCA Guide for Cross-Border Shippers — What Importers and Exporters Need to Know
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been in effect since 2020, but many freight shippers — particularly smaller and mid-sized importers and exporters — still don't fully understand how USMCA affects their shipments, their costs, and their compliance obligations. If you're moving freight across any US-Mexico or US-Canada border crossing, understanding USMCA is not optional. Here's what matters for cross-border freight shippers. Why USMCA Matters for US-Mexico Freight Shippers USMCA replaced NAFTA in July 2020, and while many of the core trade framework concepts carried over, there are meaningful differences that affect [...]
How Cross-Border Warehousing Reduces Supply Chain Risk for Importers
Importers moving freight across the US-Mexico border face a unique set of risks that inland-only supply chains don't have to worry about nearly as much. Border crossing delays, customs timing, and carrier availability can all disrupt a supply chain that isn't built with any buffer or flexibility. Strategically located warehousing at the border changes that equation significantly, and it's worth understanding exactly how. Why Border Location Warehousing Changes the Economics of Cross-Border Trade Warehousing located directly at or near major border crossings- Laredo, Eagle Pass, El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville- gives importers [...]
A Beginner’s Guide to Shipping Freight Across the United States
Shipping goods across the country can seem overwhelming for business owners. At Cargo Quotes, we're here to make it easier. Our team guides you through the process, giving you the basics to manage your logistics well. Working with us means getting expert advice to save time. We offer tools to avoid common mistakes for new logistics managers. We aim to make the process simpler, so your team can focus on what matters most. We want your business to grow, not get bogged down in shipping details. By making shipping easier, we [...]
The Top Causes of Freight Claims and How to Prevent Them
Dealing with unexpected logistics issues can be frustrating for any business owner or manager. Your time is precious, and you expect your goods to arrive in perfect condition every time. When transit issues occur, it can disrupt your whole operation and hurt your profits. At Cargo Quotes, we aim to find the main causes of these problems to help you keep your supply chain smooth. Our team works hard to figure out why these errors happen. This way, you can avoid them in the future. We think that planning is the [...]
