Scope facts
| Channel confirmation | The channel decides who can clear at destination; if you specify a carrier or broker we confirm it works with the consignee acting as importer before quoting. |
What does this cover?
The delivery scope decides who is responsible for what. Each scope below states the steps included, the steps that remain with you, the charges that can arise and the point at which responsibility transfers.
Who is this for?
- Importers who have an entity and want to pay duty and tax themselves
- Buyers whose accountant or broker handles the tax settlement
- Customers who want delivery arranged but prefer to keep the duty position in their own name
What is included in the service?
- Pickup, export and main transport
- Import clearance coordination where the quotation states it
- Delivery to the agreed address
What do you need from us to quote?
- Commodity, declared value and country of origin of the goods
- Consignee details, including the importing entity where required
- Destination address and postcode
- Confirmation that the consignee will settle duty and tax
Who is responsible for what?
| Scope | Company | Customer | Responsibility transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDU |
|
| Responsibility for duty and tax stays with the consignee; delivery responsibility passes on signature. |
What does the quotation cover?
The quotation states the total for the scope described in it. It is built from the cargo data, the origin and destination, the transport mode and the delivery scope agreed at that time.
What is included?
- Pickup, export and main transport
- Import clearance coordination where the quotation states it
- Delivery to the agreed address
What is not included?
- Duty, tax and import charges, which remain with the consignee
- Charges arising from delayed duty settlement
- Remote-area delivery beyond the quoted area
What might cost extra?
- Remote or difficult-access delivery beyond the standard service area
- Customs inspection, holds or revaluation at either end
- Storage where cargo cannot be dispatched inside the agreed free period
- Detention and demurrage when a container or vehicle is held beyond free time
- Oversized, overweight or special loading equipment
- Cargo that arrives without the documents required for the confirmed route
- Special cargo approved after review but requiring extra handling or documentation
- Address change, re-delivery or a failed delivery appointment after dispatch
- Peak-season or fuel surcharges applied by the carrier
- Duty or tax reassessment where customs does not accept the declared value
Freight rates and space change with the market, so each quotation carries its own validity period. Once it expires, or if the rate or space changes before booking, the price is reconfirmed before dispatch.
Cargo is weighed and measured after it reaches the warehouse. If the piece count, weight, volume, packing, cargo attributes or delivery address differ from the original inquiry, the charge is recalculated and sent to you for confirmation before payment and dispatch.
How long does each stage take?
- Pickup and receiving: 1-3 days for collection, plus 2-5 days at origin if consolidating
- Export declaration: 1-2 days
- International transit: 25-35 days by sea to the Gulf and the Americas, 4-12 days by air
- Import clearance and duty: The consignee side: allow 2-5 days once the documents reach their broker
- Final delivery: 1-3 days after release, once duty and tax are settled
Typical ranges, not commitments. Each one is reconfirmed when the booking is placed.
What must be confirmed before booking?
- Duties, taxes and import charges remain payable by the consignee.
- The destination may require the consignee to hold a valid importing entity.
- Any charge arising from delayed duty settlement is outside the quoted scope.
What mistakes should we avoid?
- Confusing DDU with DDP and expecting the price to include duty
- Failing to tell the consignee that a duty payment request is coming
- Not confirming that the consignee can act as importer in that country