Export documents are documents (customs documents) that are required to transport goods from the EU to countries outside the EU. This is always an export document (EX-A) but can also be a document that proves origin, such as a Certificate of Origin.

When importing goods to the EU, customs formalities must be completed upon entry into the EU. Depending on the product and where it comes from, import duties may apply. Trade agreements between countries may result in preference, meaning that no or reduced import duties have to be paid.

AEO stands for Authorized Economic Operator. This is a customs permit that has existed since 2008 where certified companies demonstrably have their (customs) processes in order and are therefore a reliable partner for customs.
The advantages of the AEO permit are that there are substantially fewer customs checks if you are AEO certified, you can move a possible customs inspection to another location and a reduced security deposit at customs.
Customs imposes very strict requirements on the permit.

To prepare export documents, a commercial invoice is always required that proves the export. The customs agent requires authorization from the customer to prepare export documents.
Depending on the destination the goods are going to, additional certificates may be required, such as Certificate of Origin, ATR or EUR1. This may be required for imports into the country in question or may provide a preferential reduction in import duties.

A 4PL (fourth party logistics service provider) ensures the integration of logistics services and is responsible for designing, implementing, managing and improving the supply chain (the entire logistics process) for its clients. This not only concerns the transport of the goods, but the entire process, from production to delivery to the end user.

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are standard terms and conditions for international freight transport, developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). It is intended to prevent misunderstandings and ambiguities when selling products between trading parties from different countries.

Logistic engineering is the application of engineering principles and techniques for the design, analysis and improvement of logistics systems. This includes optimization of goods flows, information and resources in a supply chain, but also the design and improvement of transport, storage and distribution. Logistic engineering aims to develop effective and cost-efficient logistics solutions that meet the needs of the business and customers.

If you work with logistics service providers, such as transport companies, warehouse managers or forwarders (or a logistics service provider that offers all of these), the relevant party will be able to help you set up your supply chain.

If you work with logistics service providers, such as transport companies, warehouse managers or forwarders (or a logistics service provider that offers all of these), the relevant party will be able to help you effectively organize your supply chain.

A logistics service provider can help you analyze and optimize your supply chain. They can provide advice on improving your inventory management, transport and distribution, and cost efficiency.

A supply chain in logistics is the network of companies and organizations that work together to deliver goods and services to end customers. It includes all intermediate steps involved in producing, transporting and distributing products, from raw materials to delivery to the end customer.

FTL means Full Truck Load and LTL means Less Than Truck Load. FTL refers to the transport of the entire truck load of one customer. The entire capacity of a truck is used to transport the goods of this one customer.

Groupage is a term used for the loading of goods from different customers together on one means of transport. This is a form of Less Than Truck Load (LTL) transport, in which the space on a means of transport is used as efficiently as possible by loading different goods together.

An experienced transport or logistics service provider can help you optimize your transport. A logistics service provider can assess your transport processes and make recommendations. They can also use their expertise and resources to make your transport more effective.

A number of factors that must be taken into account when transporting on the road are possession of a driver's license, maximum permitted mass, speed, load securing, driving and rest times, environmental requirements and documents.

The number of pallets you can transport per transport depends on various factors, such as the size of the pallets, the dimensions of the vehicle and the legal regulations in the country in which you operate.

A bonded warehouse is a storage facility where goods are kept without being subject to customs duties and taxes. It is a type of temporary storage space that is recognized by the government. Customs duties and taxes are deferred until the goods are transported from the warehouse to their final destination.

There are various European directives that relate to the storage of hazardous substances. One of the most important directives is the Directive on the Classification, Packaging and Labeling of Substances (CLP Directive, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008). This directive determines how substances should be categorized based on their potential hazard and how they should be packaged and labelled. This way, safety for people and the environment can be guaranteed.

There are several requirements for storing dangerous goods:

• Hazardous substances must be stored in an area that is properly closed and well ventilated.
• The storage area must be equipped with fire extinguishing equipment and there must be an emergency plan in case of fire or leakage.
• Hazardous substances must be stored on a dry and stable surface and must not be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Substances must be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and warning signs and labels must be placed in the storage area to indicate which hazardous substances are stored.
• Hazardous substances must be stored in special containers or compartments that comply with the regulations for the substances in question.
• Storage areas for different types of hazardous substances must be separated from each other to prevent cross-contamination.

Furthermore, there must be various procedures for handling hazardous substances:

• Limiting employee exposure
• Preventing leaks
• The safe disposal of waste.

A bill of lading (B/L) is a document that serves as a contract between a carrier and a principal of goods. It confirms receipt of the goods by the carrier and determines the responsibilities and obligations of both parties during transportation.

Freight forwarding is a logistics service in which the carrier (freight forwarder) is responsible for organizing, coordinating and managing the (international) shipment of goods for a client

A freight forwarder is a logistics professional responsible for organizing, coordinating, and managing shipments and monitoring their progress. He or she works on behalf of the client and is responsible for finding a means of transport, obtaining permits and insurance, arranging customs paperwork and communicating with the carrier and client about shipment progress.

Various types of containers are available for the transportation of goods by sea, land and air. Some of the most common types of containers are: Standard containers, high-cube containers, open top containers, reefer containers, flat rack containers, tank containers and bulk containers.

Unaccompanied ferry transport is a form of transport in which vehicles are transported unaccompanied over water via a ferry boat. The vehicles are loaded and unloaded onto the ferry boat and the driver remains on board (generally) the truck during the crossing. This is in contrast to guided ferry transport, where vehicles are accompanied by a truck driver and the vehicles are transported separately on the ferry boat.

If you are transporting goods from England to Europe, there may be customs clearance fees, import duties and VAT costs that you will need to pay on arrival in the destination country. These costs can amount to several hundred euros, depending on the value and nature of the goods.

Is the product you want to import subject to import restrictions or special permits? Is the import of the product allowed from the country of origin? Do import taxes and customs duties have to be paid? Are there any customs declaration and documentation requirements? In addition, possible delays are something to take into account.