The goods transportation service is now a demanded industry. Consolidation of goods in logistics has a connection with prefabricated structures. The terms assume the collection and storage of goods from several senders, after which they are transported under a single transport document.
The concept of "combined cargo"
If you need to order goods in another country or city, then 2 options can be followed. The first is to contact the transport company to rent a car or container. Then you have to pay for the entire container, no matter how full it is.
You can choose 2 option - groupage. Then it will be with other goods placed in one container. As a result, the shipping cost is shared with other people. Groupage cargo can come from any country. Goods from the USA, Europe, China go in one container, on a single route. They also have one documentation. In order for such a load to be collected, time is needed, and for the period of picking it is placed in a warehouse. This procedure is called consolidation.
Cargo Consolidation Definition
Consolidation of goods - the collection of goods in one place and their storage until the container is dispatched. When it is completely filled, it goes on a pre-established route. It turns out that cargo consolidation is the formation of a groupage cargo.
The procedure has an important function - the assembly of prefabricated goods. During this stage, the goods are weighed, inspected, distributed according to various parameters, as well as clearance. This work is carried out as the products arrive, which reduces the preparation time before shipping.
How is consolidation carried out?
Consolidation of shipments is carried out according to a special scheme. A warehouse is needed to store goods. It can be located in the city of the sender, and not far from a major transport hub. The goods delivered to the warehouse are:
- to wrap up;
- weigh and issue;
- sort
- place in a specially designed department of the room.
During sorting, the goods are sent to that part of the warehouse where there are similar products. Then it is placed with other goods in a container, then everything is sent to its destination. Consolidation of goods is necessary to simplify and accelerate the creation of groupage cargoes. Thanks to this procedure, the transportation of goods from the USA, China takes a little time, as well as financial costs.
Company selection
Delivery of cargoes in Russia and other countries is carried out by specialized companies. There are no universal firms, because by law you can get a license for only one type of storage and transportation of goods. For example, a document is provided for the transportation of perishable goods. It turns out that the company can store and deliver goods of the same category. It should only be taken into account that the carrier and the owner of the warehouse are a single legal entity.
If the owner of the premises has many bilateral agreements concluded with transport companies, then he can be a consolidating party. He has the right to work with various goods, with the exception of explosive substances, chemical waste, medical preparations. These products have a single license. They are stored in separate rooms and packaged in special containers. Such a company should have security.
How to choose the right company? It is necessary to focus on the following criteria:
- you need to choose companies that have extensive experience in their field;
- the company should be able to deliver goods from the starting point to the warehouse;
- when consolidating small goods, they should be packaged in a quality manner and in accordance with generally accepted standards.
When the goods are handed over to the transport company, the customer is not responsible for the delivery and damage to the goods. This is the responsibility of the company.
Consolidation Features
Each consolidated cargo is considered to be combined. You should not choose this transportation option if you plan to transport valuable works of art. The duties of the carrier and warehouse workers include the safety of the cargo.
When the product is calibrated, the customer must be present at this procedure. At this time, weighing, packaging and labeling of products. It should be borne in mind that there are no specific time periods for the delivery of products. In international law, there are only agreements that state that “reasonable deadlines” must be respected.
Benefits
When ordering a service in a transport company, the customer receives the following benefits:
- it is necessary to pay for the service based on distance, cargo weight and number of customers;
- the transport company is responsible for the safety of the cargo and the collection of documentation.
The client only needs to order the service, to control the dispatch of goods. And delivery to the destination takes place without his participation.