My experiences in the international transport of the goods

I have decided to make also English version of my blog. There were some visitors from other countries on my blog and I am afraid that they can’t understand Slovak language. I would like to share my experiences also with the English speaking readers of my blog. I am working in international transport nearly 20 years and I gather that there is always something to learn. I realized that my experiences could help some other people.

How some wise man said: “The best way how to learn is to learn on the mistakes of somebody else” I can add only: that everybody can better remember the advice from his own mistakes although this advice is very expensive for him sometimes.  

I would like to save these yours wasted expenditure, so please watch this blog. I believe that some other people working in international transport will want to share their experiences on this blog too. We will build up step by step one valuable source of information that will be useful for every one person working in field of transport of the goods. It does not matter on that if he will be in the position of customer or in the position of haulier.

What should know everybody participating on the international transport of the goods?

 

First of all he should have overview of international and multilateral conventions and agreements valid in international transport of the goods. These conventions are important for the reason that they unify the rules in transport and are over the national law and standards valid in particular countries that are signatory of the conventions. I would like rivet your attention to these most important conventions and agreements valid in international road transport:

1. Convention CMR from French title of the convention, Convention relative au contrat de transport international de Marchandises par Route. Convention on the Contact for the International Carriage of Goods by Road
2. Agreement AETR from French words Accord européen sûr les transports routiers or from English words European Road Transport Agreement – Agreement ERTA this agreement is about operation of truck crew in international road transport
3. Agreement ADR from the French abbreviation Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route, The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
4. Agreement ATP –   L’Accord relatif aux Transports internationaux de denrées Périssables et aux engins spéciaux à The Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage (ATP)
5.  Terms of delivery INCOTERMS 2010
6. Customs clearance processes in international carriage of the goods by road. There are included agreements:  Convention TIR - from the French abbreviation  Transports Internationaux Routiers , Convention ATA combination of French and English phrases "Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission.", Convention on a common transit procedure
7.  International oversize and overweight transport by the road – unfortunately this field is not cowered by multinational agreement. It means that all the procedures are made by the national law and standards

If you know some important agreement or convention valid for international road transport, and it is not mentioned above, please tell me about it by notice on this Blog.

I will analyze the most important part of every convention of agreement mentioned above step by step at this place

I will bring some more information about airfreight and sea freight later on.

There are some practical things in realization of the transport.

8 questions you need to know the answer that you can responsibly  prepare realization of the transport:

1. Who is the customer, contact details and contact person?

2. Where to where should be goods transported from?

3. When will be the date of loading and requested date of unloading?

4. Where will be export and import customs clearance? (if it will be needed to transport the goods under customs control)

5. What kind of goods, what is the packaging and number of peaces?  (weight and dimensions of the goods , HS code)?

6. What kind of transport we should use for transportation (truck, train, vessel or airplane)?

7. What kind of truck will be needed (tilt, refrigerator, some special equipment, van..)?

8. What price, currency, maturity and payment conditions could be accepted by both sides?