Smaller shippers, with less-than-containerload shipments, can take advantage of the lower costs associated with being a big shipper. Non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) book space on steamships in large quantities at lower rates and sell space to shippers in smaller amounts. NVOCCs consolidate small shipments into containerloads that move under one bill of lading. More favorable rates are passed on to the shipper.
International Freight Forwarders and NVOCCs and customs brokers often charge a fee for transferring documents to another transportation company at destination. This fee is a part of the ocean freight charges, being paid by the importer at the port of discharge in the incoterm FOB (Free On Board) and by the exporter at the origin in the incoterms CFR (Cost and Freight), CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) there are many other incoterms, those are the most common. This fee is separate from documentation fees charged by steamship carriers and NVOCCs as part of the freight charges on a bill of lading and is separate from other fees for document preparation or for release of cargo. Some companies may call this an admin fee, doc fee, doc transfer or other name but it exists in some form in most destinations around the world and is well known to most importers and exporters. Steamship carriers do not have this fee.
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