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American Shipping Assistant

American Shipping Assistant

Forms & Links

Resources

Note: To download any document, open the doc and save it in PDF or Word Docx. 

Setup Forms

Power of Attorney
Customer Profile Agreement
A.C.H. Overview of Payment
Customs Continuous Bond

Important Resources

Shipping Glossary – Inco Terms
Used for shipping contracts, being familiar with these terms is extremely beneficial because they are used throughout the international community.

Unit of Measure Conversion Tables
These tables enable one to convert from one unit of measure to another.

Ocean Freight Surcharge Definitions
Terminology index for ocean freight surcharges.

Ocean Equipment
Used by the shipping industry. They are various standard sizes based on importers needs.

Air Equipment
Used by the airline industry to move freight in cargo or commercial planes.

Road Weight Limitations
Road weight limitations information

Truck Equipment Drawings
See the various sizes of trailers that can be hooked up to a freight truck rig.

Truck Loading Terms
Basic terminology

The Surface Transportation Board Railroad Map Depot
Office of Environmental Analysis

FDA Import Program Q&A and Contacts
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Shipment Volume Calculator

Determine the size of shipments to choose the correct transportation equipment for ocean or air:

To Calculate International Airfreight Chargeable Gross Weight:
In inches multiply each cartons length x width x height = cubic inches
Total cubic inches divided by 166 = chargeable gross weight in pounds (divide by 366 for kilos)

To Calculate Domestic Airfreight Chargeable Gross Weight:
In inches multiply each cartons length x width x height = cubic inches
Total cubic inches divided by 194 = chargeable gross weight in pounds (divide by 366 for kilos)

To Calculate Cubic Meters:
In inches multiply each cartons length x width x height = cubic inches
Total cubic inches divided by 1728 = cubic feet, Cubic feet divided by 35.3 = Cubic Meters

*Shipping heavy or dense product (more than 363 kilos per cubic meter) you may need to calculate Revenue Ton or RT. If this is the case please contact us for more information.*

Volume Calculator

Cartons or Pallet count Length Width Height Gross Weight Action

U.S Government Links

CTPAT
Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

U.S. Government Agency Information Database
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies

The U.S Government Printing Office Database
Official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.

AntiDumping and Countervailing Duties Database
Antidumping and countervailing duty messages.

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Database
The chapter-by-chapter listing of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and general notes.

Consumer Products Safety Commission Database
U.S. Consumer Product Regulations, Laws & Standards

Federal Aviation Administration Database
Air traffic Plans and Publications

US Customs and Border Protection – Trade
Securing the border and facilitating lawful international trade and travel

U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Database
We Protect America, We Protect Your Community

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Developing regulations, conducting product analysis, ensuring tax and trade compliance.

Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
To protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Our mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants.

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Works to support the American agricultural economy to strengthen rural communities.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Provides effective management and monitoring of our nation’s resources and assets to support both environmental and economic health.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Protecting and promoting health

United States International Trade Commission
Administer U.S. trade remedy laws within its mandate in a fair and objective manner.

Office of Textiles and Apparel
Oversees programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textiles and apparel industries - Get the latest annual and quarterly trade data

U.S. International Trade Commission
The agency investigates the effects of dumped and subsidized imports on domestic industries and conducts global safeguard investigations.

U.S. Trade Representative
Developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.

Informed Compliance Publications
Informed Compliance Publications and other compliance related links by CBP

Commerce Updates FTA Tariff Tool
On March 21, 2016, U.S. Commerce Department (Commerce) announced the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Tariff Tool has been updated to now included information on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The FTA Tariff tool was launched in 2011 to assist U.S. businesses that export to U.S. FTA partner countries determine possible tariff benefits. This tool will now include TPP benefits for the 11 countries that are part of the agreement. According to Commerce, “The FTA Tariff Tool reduces uncertainty and increases clarity, saving businesses time and money while providing critical information to develop international expansion strategies.”

 

World Organization Links

World Customs Organization
Nomenclature anc classification of goods.

International Organization for Standardization
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards.

World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations.

 

Trucking Links

DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles Search
Online directory of each state’s DMV website.

Weigh Station Directory
State by state diretory of weigh stations.

American Trucker
The #1 source for any business that utilizes Class 1-8 trucks

PHMSA's Hazmat Information Center
Have a question about transporting hazardous materials?

Transportation Security Administration
The security of the nation’s transportation systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Investigates safety defects in motor vehicles

 

Shipping Links

Ocean Shipping Schedules
Search by Line/Terminal/Region

Track Cargo Vessels Locations and Status
See where specific ships are currently located and their status

JOC (Journal of Commerce) Sailings Global Sailing
Vessel Directory - find the names of vessels, their types, country of registry, capacities, IMO Numbers and active voyages

The Federal Maritime Commission
Regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system

International Maritime Organization
Safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

World Shipping Council
A coordinated voice for the liner shipping industry in its work with policymakers and other industry

American Association of Port Authorities
Represents more than 130 public port authorities - U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America

 

Major Port Links

Port of NY and NJ
Port of Los Angeles
Port of Long Beach
Illinois International Port District
Jacksonville Port Authority
International Inland Port of Dallas

 

General Info

A Basic Guide to Exporting
Looking for a comprehensive overview of how to export?

Airline Traffic
Monitor Airplane traffic

Marine Traffic
Monitor vessels with their Satellite AIS service

Foreign Currency Conversion
Assist in determining currency exchange rates if required to make payments in non US funds.