252439 - Handle cargo for Import and Export

Welcome to the

Handle cargo for Import & Export

252439

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Calculate volume of cargo for import and
export

Cargo is analysed on request according to workplace
practices.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Analyse Cargo

The volume of any solid, liquid, plasma, vacuum or theoretical object is how much
three dimensional space it occupies. This is fundamental physics and in the freight
forwarding industry we use simple arithmetic to determine the volume of an object.
The three dimensions used to determine the Volume are the Length, the Width and
the Height. Always quote measurements in this order as it is the Air and Maritime
standard. The method of calculating the volume applies to both Import and Export
cargo.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Airfreight

The method of calculating the volume for airfreight shipments is very different.
The greater of Actual Mass and Volumetric weight is referred to as the
“Chargeable Mass”.
The cubic volume of a consignment is established by applying the greatest length,
the greatest width and the greatest height of the consignment or its packages.
The chargeable mass is established by dividing the cubic volume in cubic
centimetres by 6,000 and consignments which result in an average of more than
6,000 cubic centimetres per kilogram will be charged on the volume weight.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Mass & Volumetric Weight

LENGTH (cm) x BREADTH (cm) x HEIGHT (cm) = No of KG’S
6000 (VOLUME CONVERSION FACTOR)
45cm x 50cm x 42cm = 15.75 KG’S (Remember to round up)
6000
The actual mass is 15 kg’s and the volumetric weight is 16 kg’s, therefore the
chargeable mass is 16 kg’s.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Airfreight contd.

Kilograms are rounded up to the next higher full or half
kilogram.
Round up a half or larger fraction of a centimetre to the next
highest centimetre; a fraction less than half, round down to
the next lower whole centimetre.
For the term Breadth also read Width.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Seafreight

Always use the metric system of measurement (South
African Standard)

In this diagram we have a square package where each side is
of equal length.

To calculate the Volume (Cube) we multiply the length x
width x height
If each side measures 1 meter then the volume will be 1 x 1 x
1 = 1.000 cubic meter.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

SEA FREIGHT
For international shipping purposes the
volume is always declared to the third

decimal place.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Seafreight

To calculate the Volume (Cube) we multiply the length x
width x height.
If the length is 1.50 m, the width 1.0 m and height 1.0 m then
the volume will be 1.5 x 1 x 1 = 1.500 cubic meters.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Road Freight contd.

The standard ratio for break bulk cargo conveyed by road is as follows:

2.000 cubic meter = One Road Ton

Example: A shipment weighs 5 tons but measures 15 cubic meters. The
formula is to divide the cubic meters by 2 resulting in 7, 5 Road Tons. As
this is higher than the mass of 5 tons the cartage charge would be levied
on 7, 5 tons.

For full truck loads the haulier will offer a rate “per load” and for LCL or
Break bulk shipments they will charge a rate “per kilogram” subject to a
minimum charge, and factor in the volume of the cargo when
determining the cost.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Calculate volume of cargo for import and
export

Study documentation for the handling of
cargo is explained with examples.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Documentation

The documentation for handling cargo it will always be
product specific, mode of transport specific, authority body
specific, and would cover the items of information below but
not limited to this list:-
ØRelevant cargo information – description, quantity
ØVolume
ØPacking details

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Calculate volume of cargo for import and
export

Cargo is identified according to category and
sub-category requirements.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cargo categorisation

Once the cargo has been physically seen it is easier to categorise the
cargo, aligned to the mode of transport that is going to be used and how
economical the importer/exporter wants to be.

It is therefore important that you have the correct volume and weight of
the cargo for charging purposes and ensuring it can go per the transport
mode decided upon.

Deciding on what category the cargo fits into is easy when looking at
some categories because it is obvious, but other categories it is not so
easy and it would be wise in these instances to do cost comparisons and
look at the risk factor as well.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
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Bulk Cargo

Cargo that is not containerised or unitized
Dry bulk = grains / sugar / sand / coal
Liquid = fuel
Mode of transport - Sea or Road

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Breakbulk Cargo

Cargo that is packed or unitized but not containerised
Mode of transport – Air or sea

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Containerised (FCL) Full Container Load

Cargo that is packed and sealed into a container
Mode of transport – Air, Sea, Road, rail (Different size
containers for different modes of transport)

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

LCL (Less than Container load)

Cargo the is too small to fill a container – the line will
containerize small consignments in consolidation with similar
cargo going the same route
Mode of transport – Sea freight

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Groupage cargo

Cargo that is small will be grouped and containerized by a freight
forwarder to NVOCC for economic reasons.
Mode of transport – Sea freight

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Calculate volume of cargo for import and
export

Cargo is visually inspected according to
worksite practices

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Needs of Exporters

When inspecting cargo, what then are web looking for or inspecting?

This list may include but is not limited to:-
– Packing - How is the cargo packed – carton, pallet, drum, hazardous packing specific
– Condition - Is the packing damaged / wet / sealed / not sealed / tampered with
– Specifics - Is the cargo hazardous / fragile / perishable
– Authority bodies - Is the cargo packing aligned to relevant authority body requirements
– Transport - Is the cargo packing aligned to the mode of transport requested
– Journey environment - Is the cargo packed suitably for its entire journey
– Labelling - Is the cargo labelled correctly aligned to authority body requirements and standard
good shipping practice – consignee full details / consignor full details / quantity / dimensions
– Marking - Is the cargo marked correctly – fragile / dangerous goods specifics
– Documentation
• Does the volume and weight align to the documentation on hand
• Does the number of packages align to the documentation on hand

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Pack cargo for import and export purposes

Methods of packing for import and export of
cargo are identified with examples.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Basic Labelling Rules

The first part of Rule 2.3.1 (TACT) on the “Packing and Marking of Packages”
states that:

The shipper is responsible for packing cargo in an appropriate way so as to ensure
that it can be air freighted safely with ordinary care in handling and that it will not
injure or damage any persons, goods or property.

As far as the cargo handler is concerned, all cargo received for airfreight carriage
should be inspected prior to acceptance or loading to verify, at least from an
external perspective, that the shipper has met his obligations. An example of this
would be to check that the strapping used to hold a heavy article to a wooden
pallet or skid was strong enough for the purpose and properly secured.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Needs of Exporters contd.

The second part of Rule 2.3.1 states that each package must be legibly
and durably marked with the name and full address of the shipper and
consignee.
Rule 2.3.2, under the heading of “Consignments ready for Carriage”,
requires further that all packages in a consignment should be marked
with the same consignee’s name, street and city address as recorded on
the air waybill, or this information is shown on one or more packages
with an appropriate reference thereto on all other packages in the
consignment.
Labels must be fully visible and all old labels and markings must be
obliterated.
In terms of Rule 2.3.4.A, an identification label must be attached to each
package and it is mandatory to record on the label the airline name, the
air waybill number, destination and the total number of pieces.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Needs of Exporters contd.

Both bar coded or non-bar coded labels are generally acceptable. In the
case of SEA, British Airways and Lufthansa, for example, their
requirement is for each package to be bar coded.

When there is a need to indicate the upper side of a package i.e. for
liquids, live animals, machines etc. the “This Side Up” label shall be
affixed on all vertical sides.

It is noted that if consignments are not delivered by the forwarder in a
state “ready for carriage” (i.e. for immediate transportation) the airline
may undertake itself to carry out the necessary steps to make the goods
ready for carriage and is allowed to raise an additional charge for doing
so.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cautionary Labels/Symbols

The following labels must be used as described and, where space permits, attached
next to the consignee’s address.

Package Orientation (This Way Up)
Colour: Red or black on a contrasting background
Position: Front and Rear

Fragile
Colour: Red with white symbol and printing
Position: to be fixed on all sides

Perishable
Colour: White with blue symbol and white printing
Position: On all four sides

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cautionary Labels/Symbols contd.

Shippers must ensure that un-crated machinery is securely attached to
a support such as a pallet, or skid so that loading and anchoring is
facilitated. The use of a forklift must be possible. If the supports for
loading are not readily apparent then they should be identified by clear
markings.

Fragile parts must be protected. Anchoring points, if not obvious, must
be indicated by means of a label. Articles which do not have built-in
anchoring points must be properly packed. Sharp edges or points must
be protected to prevent damage to aircraft or injury to persons. A
warning placard/label should also be attached to the machine.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Human Remains – Packing, Marking &
Labelling

Human remains cannot be consolidated with other goods. However, a
consolidated shipment may consist of individual shipments of human
remains.

In addition, corpses in coffins may be shipped only in freighters or in
passenger aircraft having separate cargo compartments Human remains
may be carried by air in one of three forms - cremated, embalmed or
not embalmed.

The TACT Rules stipulate certain requirements in respect of this type of
cargo but, for specific airlines, Section 8 of the TACT needs to be
consulted.

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distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cremated

The IATA Regulations (TACT Rules) state that cremated human
remains must be shipped in funeral urns which are protected
against breakage by suitable cushioning material.

SAA are more specific and require that the cremated remains be
first placed in a plastic bag. The funeral urn or casket should be
suitably sealed and packed in a wooden or strong fibre board
outer packaging. “This Side Up” labels must be attached on
opposite sides. As far as security is concerned, cremated remains
should be treated in the same way as valuable goods.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Remains not Embalmed / not Cremated

The TACT Rules require human remains which have not been cremated or embalmed to
be contained in a soldered inner coffin of lead or zinc which must then be packed into a
wooden coffin. The wooden coffin may itself be packed to provide protection from
damage.

SAA are more stringent in their requirements in that they require all human remains to
be embalmed. Special permission must be obtained before SAA will entertain the
carriage of human remains which are not embalmed. The wooden coffin must either be
enclosed in secondary outer packaging of wood or wrapped in a material such as hessian.
“This Side Up” labels are required on opposite sides of the unit, but identification details
must be limited to those required to complete the normal package label.

Human remains should not be loaded on or in the same ULD as foodstuffs, and should be
segregated from live animals when located in the same aircraft cargo hold or
compartment.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Remains not Embalmed / not Cremated

Together with the air waybill, the shipper of non-cremated
human remains must present a “Removal” certificate issued by
the Department of Health and a certificate (import permit)
from the foreign authority approving the importation into the
country of destination.

With cremated remains a cremation certificate should be
produced by the shipper, and, if required by the country of
importation, some form of written authority from the
appropriate official body in that country.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Live Animals – Packing, Marking &
Labelling

• A “container” referred to in the context of live animals is not the same as a ULD
container.

• The container requirements for every kind of animal, deals with issues such as
container construction (including materials, design, size, frame, sides, handling spacer
bars, handles, ventilation, floor, doors and roof), floor dimensions and stocking
density, feeding and watering, preparations before despatch, and general care and
loading.
Certain species require reinforced containers while other animals must be loaded into
lined containers because of their destructive capabilities.
Packing used to contain live animals must be clean, leak-proof and escape-proof.

• Ventilation is required on the upper part of at least three sides of the container.
• Containers should have adequate handholds/lifting devices to prevent the handler

from coming into close contact with the animals.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Pack cargo for import and export purposes

Various packing material for cargo is
demonstrated according to workplace

procedures.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Packing material for cargo

It is essential to make the cargo in a container or vehicle secure against any reasonably
foreseeable movement. At the same time the method of securing the cargo should not itself
cause damage or deterioration either to the cargo or the container or vehicle.

Where goods of regular shape and size are concerned, a tight stow from wall to wall should be
sought. However, in many instances some void spaces will occur. These can be tolerated if
security is obtained by the frictional effect between adjacent packages. If there is an insufficient
frictional effect, or if the spaces between the packages are too large, then the stow should be
completed by using dunnage, folded cardboard, air bags or other suitable means.

If air bags are used, the manufacturer’s instructions as to filling pressure should be scrupulously
observed. Allowance should be made for the possibility of a considerable rise in the internal
temperature of the container above the temperature at the time of packing which might cause
the bags to expand and burst, thereby making them ineffectual as a means of securing the cargo.
Air bags should not be used as a means of filling space at the doorway unless precautions are
taken to ensure that they cannot cause the door to open violently when the locking bars are
released.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cargo Weight

The cargo weight should be evenly distributed over the floor of a container or vehicle. Where cargo
items of a varying weight are to be packed into a container or vehicle or where a container or vehicle
will not be full (either because of insufficient cargo or because the maximum weight allowed will be
reached before the container or vehicle is full), the stow should be so arranged and secured that the
approximate centre of the weight of the cargo is close to the mid-length of the container or vehicle. In
no case should more than 60 per cent of the load be concentrated in less than half of the length of a
container measured from one end.

Heavy goods should not be placed on top of lighter goods and liquids should not be placed on top of
solids. The centre of gravity should be below the half-height of a container.

In order to avoid cargo damage from moisture, wet cargoes, moisture inherent cargoes or cargoes
liable to leak should not be packed with goods susceptible to damage by moisture. Wet dunnage,
pallets or packaging should not be used. In certain cases, damage to equipment and cargo can be
prevented by the use of protective material such as polythene sheeting.

Damaged packages should not be packed into a container or vehicle unless precautions have been
taken against harm from spillage or leakage.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Securing Equipment

Permanent securing equipment incorporated in the design of a container should be
used wherever necessary to prevent cargo movement.

Where open-sided vehicles are concerned, particular care should be taken to secure
cargo against the forces likely to arise from the rolling of the ship. In other words, a
check should be made to ensure that all side battens are fitted or other adequate
precautions are taken.

Special packing instructions shown on packages, or otherwise available, should be
followed, e.g.:

Goods marked protect from frost should be packed away from the walls of a
container;
Goods marked this way up should be packed accordingly.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Pack cargo for import and export purposes

Qualities of packing are assessed according to
international standard requirements.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Quality of Packing

• Modal choice
• Type of shipment
• Cargo types, especially specialised cargoes-

abnormal, perishable, perishable, dangerous,
human remains
• Statutory packing specifications and guidelines,
especially dangerous and perishables
• Packaging materials- environmental criteria
• Choice of packing – the balance between cost
and security

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Identify modes of transportation

The selection of transport mode for cargo is
identified in terms of price, speed and
customer requirements.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Mode of Transport

When selecting the mode of transport to move cargo three fundamental criteria affect
the choice made:-
Price
The most cost effective way of transporting cargo needs to be determined
This can be done by getting comparison estimates per mode of transport for instance;
Speed
The quickest method of moving the cargo, considering risk and cost management;
Customer requirements
What the customer needs to complete a successful import/export transaction.
Deadlines to be met
Safety and security of shipment / Compliance with authority body requirements.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Identify modes of transportation

Different modes of transport for cargo are
compared to determine which should be used.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Modes of Transport compared

The mode of transport is related to the type of product
being shipped, the cost, the time and the risk management
aspect of cargo movement:
§Air
§Sea
§Road
§Rail

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Identify modes of transportation

Consequences of non-compliance of
transport modes for cargo are explained with

examples.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Non-compliance

• Generic consequences of non-compliance of transport
modes for cargo are as listed below but not limited to this
list:-

• Cost implications
• Risk implications
• Time delays
• Penalties from authority bodies
• Safety hazards – people and environment
• Integrity takes a hit

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Mark cargo for import and export purposes
Marking methods are applied according to

workplace procedures

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Generic Rules

• Generically, there are a few rules that need to be followed
when marking/labelling cargo for shipment:-

• The markings need to be legible
• The markings need to be durable – accommodating all weather conditions along

the route
• The markings must be fully visible
• The markings must include the name and full address of the shipper
• The markings must include the name and full address of the consignee
• The markings must be the same for all packages in the shipment
• The markings must show the number of the package e.g. 1 of 3 or 1/3
• The markings must identify “cautionary” items like Fragile / this way up /

perishable
• The markings must be placed in a visible place

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Mark cargo for import and export purposes

Cargo is marked according to workplace
requirements.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Cargo Marking

It is obvious different workplaces have different rules, regulations and requirements
that are necessary to ensure the “flow or movement” of cargo runs smoothly and
included in these requirements would be “how things are to be marked”. There will
always be generic marking/labelling requirements aligned to the mode of transport
and the category of the product. Any deviation from these requirements results in
some kind of problem happening, somewhere along the line.
An example of this would be time wasted by the sorters trying to establish where a
piece of cargo that is not marked correctly really needed to go. The increases the
risk of the cargo getting lost or even just being bumped until the next flight. Which
may mean the delivery at destination would not happen in the allotted time frame.
The important thing to remember here is to know the requirements prior any event

taking place – delays, errors, late deliveries, etc. must be avoided at all costs.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Mark cargo for import and export purposes

Safety precautions are carried out according
to worksite procedures

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.

Safety Precautions

• Generic items they would be concerned about relating to safety may
include the following but are not limited to this list: (most safety issues
are well sign posted or labelled).

• All safety rules and regulations pertaining to the warehouse e.g.
wearing hardhats / forklift rules / stacking rules / packing rules /
ventilation.

• All safety rules and regulations pertaining to the packing of the product
e.g. hazardous rules / handling of packing material – wearing gloves /
goggles.

• All authority body rules and regulations e.g. label adhesive aligned to
international standards & requirements / Part 108 security
requirements / Fire equipment availability.

© GMLS material is copyrighted and may not be copied, sold or
distributed to any other person without the express written
permission of GMLS Management.