What is a Freight Forwarder
... ?
The best description of a freight forwarder is a "travel agent for
freight". We take the information you give us on your time frames and
equipment needs and we arrange for the gear to be at the place you
need it to be, when you need it to be there. We try to take all the
guess work and headache out of the transport side of it for you. We
make all the necessary arrangements with all of the appropriate
government documentation and paperwork as required. We set up the
pickup and delivery of your equipment to meet the time frames of use.
Basically all you, the client, have to to do be sure the gear is
packed and ready to go, we do the rest. Whether is is one keyboard or
50,000 kilos of equipment, we do it all.
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What is
Cargo Insurance and why would I need it ... ?
Most people are under the impression that if they put their goods on a
truck/boat/plane/train... that carrier is responsible for that
merchandise. Unfortunately, that is very far from being true. All
carriers have in very fine print on their paperwork stating exactly
what they are liable for. If you took the time to read that fine print
you would likely find that what they are responsible for is very
limited.
In most cases, the carriers limits of
liability for:
Domestic freight = 50¢ cents per pound or $40.00 per piece, whichever
is less.
The International limits are higher: Air = $9.07 per pound,
Truck = 50¢ cents per pound or $40.00 per package whichever is less.
Not what you expected? Imagine your surprise when you file a damage
claim!
Backstage Cargo will explain the limits and will also make you aware
of the availability of cargo insurance. In most cases it is less
expensive to purchase that insurance direct from your normal insurance
carrier, but in those cases where that option is not available, Cargo
insurance is highly recommended. Based on the dollar value of your
goods, the rate is determined by
1. Where you are going.
2. Value of Goods.
3. Type of Merchandise/Equipment.
4. Mode of transportation.
There may be a deductible for the insurance as well.
There is also Carnet insurance to cover those cases where merchandise
on a Carnet had been destroyed and will not be returned to the country
it came from. Please ask your agent for more information on this
subject!
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What is an ATA Carnet ... ?
ATA Carnet is a document issued by the US Council for International
Business. This document is issued for a specific list of equipment and
time frame and cannot be altered in any way once issued. It is
essentially a "passport" for your freight. The Carnet Holder is issued
a bond against the value of the freight (Total value of goods x 40% x
1% = Bond cost. Example: value=100,000.00 x 40% = $40,000.00 x 1% =
$400.00 would be the cost of the bond) The U.S. Council then issues
the Carnet, allowing you to take your gear into many different foreign
countries (any on the list of countries participating in Carnet use)
without paying duty or taxes. The carnet and the bond associated with
it, are essentially a guarantee by the US Council that you are taking
the gear into the country for a specified time and you will remove all
of the gear as imported by the timeframe set out.
The Carnet MUST be returned to the US Council prior to it's expiration
and, once returned, the governments of the countries visited have up
to one year to make any "claim" against the carnet bond. The foreign
countries visited may claim that all or part of the gear on the list
was not re-exported. In the event that such a claim occurs, you would
need accurate documentation of the freight's departure from that
country as well as proof of it's re-entry into the US. At Fast
Forward, we go through all carnets we issue prior to their return to
the US Council and we keep a copy of each and every Carnet we handle
on file for three years, just in case.
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What is Carnet Duty
insurance ... ?
Carnet Duty Insurance is designed to cover you against duty and taxes
resulting from the loss of equipment while in a foreign country.
Should equipment listed on the ATA Carnet be lost stolen or destroyed
while out of the country, you are still liable for the duty and taxes
that would normally be paid without the issuance of a Carnet. This
should not be confused with Cargo Insurance, which is explained more
fully in another section.
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What countries participate in the ATA Carnet program ... ?
The following list of countries and their acceptance status. Please
note that this list is provided for your convenience and we cannot
guarantee this be be current, complete, or accurate. Please call the
Backstage Cargo Corporate Headquarters in Los Angeles at (310) 242
1696 or New York (732) 316 0592 to confirm which countries are still
active prior to planning your trip.
United States Council For International Business:
Member Countries Alphabetically
A - Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Austria
B - Balearic Islands, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria
C - Canada, Canary Islands, Ceuta, China, Corsica, Crete,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D - Denmark
E - Estonia, European Union
F - Finland, France, French Guiana
G - Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey
H - Hong Kong, Hungary
I - Iceland, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory
Coast
J - Japan, Jersey
K - Korea
L - Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg
M - Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius,
Mayotte, Melilla, Miquelon, Monaco, Morocco
N - Nambia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway
P - Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico
R - Reunion Island, Romania, Russia
S - Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin: French Side, St. Pierre,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland
T - Tahiti, Taiwan (*), Tasmania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey
U - United Kingdom, United States
W - Wallis & Futuna Islands
* TECRO/AIT Carnets are accepted for goods traveling between Taiwan
and the U.S. only.
NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES: ATA Carnets *MAY* be accepted in these
and other countries. However, the U.S.C.I.B. will not guarantee their
acceptance as a temporary importation.
Caribbean Islands: Anguilla, Aruba, Antigua/Barbuda, Bahamas,
Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica,
Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, UK Virgin
Islands of Tortola and Roadtown, US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St.
John, and St. Thomas
South and Central American Nations:
Faroe Islands, Fiji Islands, Greenland, Indonesia,
Philippines
U. S. Customs Territories: Puerto
Rico, a customs territory, from which a U.S. Carnet Holder may depart
and into which a foreign Carnet may enter.
Guam, at this writing, it is unclear as to whether Carnets may be used
in this territory
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Where do I go for information on using my equipment in a foreign
country ... ?
The following links will give you access to information required by
foreign countries prior to your taking equipment into them. Please
feel free to call any of the Fast Forward offices and speak to one of
our agents. They will be happy to answer any questions or address any
concerns you may have. If we can't answer the question, we'll find out
where you need to go!
The Central Intelligence World Book
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
US State Department- Foreign Entry Requirements by Country
http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html
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How do I bring
my equipment into the USA...?
Depending on how long you will be in the USA will determine how to
import your equipment. There are several things to consider, such as
time frame, cost, whether the goods are to be returned to another
country or whether they are staying permanently in the US. The USA
participates in the ATA Carnet program and in most cases where the
goods are to be in the US on a temporary basis, the Carnet is the best
way to go. If you do not have time to generate a carnet for the import
then you will need specific paperwork for the goods upon arrival in
the US.
Please refer to the following link to the US Customs Site for item
specific requirements.
"US Customs Import/Export Guidelines
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