Quality Archives - Page 9 of 9

We recently had an issue with an air freight shipment. The package size changed slightly when we sent it to FedEx and the price went 900 USD from the original quote. The reason why it went up so much was any packing change - even a slight one in volume and weight- FedEx adjusted he volumetric weight and charged us more than what was expected. Air Freight companies will use both the volume or size and the weight of a package to come up with the volumetric weight. If the package is lighter than the actual volumetric weight, the volumetric weight will be charged. If it is heavier than the volumetric weight, then the actual weight of the package will be charged. The volumetric charge can be confusing for a lot of people, especially if they sending things internationally. But, all courier and air freight companies will look at the volumetric weight as part of their cost calculations. What Are The Volume and Weight Charges? When courier or air freight companies look at how to charge for their shipment they will calculate the total kilos or pounds by looking at both the volume or size of the package and actual weight for the package. They do a volumetric measurement to find out the actual kilo or pound charge of the package. The volumetric calculations are sometimes called chargeable weight. The courier and air freight companies charge this way because for an airplane to take off they must also look at their load or their weight and volume that is on the plane. This the same reason why if you have ever been on an airplane and you heard the pilot announce that they were overweight and would take off once they had taken out some cargo. This is because the planes can only take off when they are under a certain weight load. Here is what volume and weight mean: Volume The volume is measurement simply by measuring your carton size. You measure your carton by the Height X Width X Length of the carton. When doing the measurements you must be sure to measure your cartons at their widest, longest and highest point as this is how the shipping companies will measure it. This includes if your package has any handles, straps or handles that are coming out of it. The company will look at the highest point including anything that is bulging out of the carton. Weight The weight of the carton is simply as it says - the weight of the overall carton. You will want to be as accurate as you can with this to be able to calculate the volumetric weight. The actual weight of your cargo must include the entire final packing. If you are going to palletize your cargo then you need to weigh it including any pallets or other packing. How to Find The Volumetric Weight of A Carton? The volumetric weight of a carton is the overall size of the carton and the measurement of the carton in kilograms or pounds. We have two calculations 1) is to measure the carton in cm and the other in inches. Volumetric Calculations Using CM Carton Size Length x Width X Height of the Carton (you must measure it in cm) Then divide that figure by 5,000 (some companies will divide by 4,000 for some services) Many companies will divide this by 5,000 but some may divide it by 4,000 or another number. So if you are not sure it is best that you ask them so that you know how to calculate the volumetric weight. Volumetric Calculation Using Inches Carton Size Length x Width X Height of the Carton (you must measure it in inches) Then divide that figure by 305 (some companies will divide by 245 for some services) How Does the Volumetric Weight Work with Air Freight Shipments? The volumetric weight works by figuring out if the carton size is larger (its volume) than its actual weight. Here are some samples to show you how this is calculated: A Carton Whose Volume Size is More Than Its Actual Carton Weight Let's say that you have a carton that is very lightweight and is filled with a lot of empty space such some lamp shades. The actual carton size is 100 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm but the actual weight is only 15 kilos. Here are the basics for this calculations for using cm and kilos: Actual Volume - 100 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm carton size Actual Carton Weight - 15 kilos Volumetric Weight Calculations - (100 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm) = 250,000 divided by 5,000 = 50 volumetric kilos. What Is Charged? - As 50 kilos is greater than 15 kilos then this package will be charged as 50 kilos weight and not 15 kilos weights. Here are the basics for this calculations for using inches and pounds: Actual Volume - 40 inches X 40 inches X 20 inches carton size Actual Carton Weight - 40 pounds Volumetric Weight Calculations - (40" X 40" X 20") = 32,000 divided by 305 = 105 pounds What Is Charged? - As 104 pounds is greater than 40 pounds then this package will be charged as 104 pounds weight and not 40 pounds weights. A Carton Whose Volume Size is Less Than Its Actual Carton Weight This will work both ways in that if you have a carton that is very heavy you will only be charge the maximum of the volumetrix weight. Here is another example. Let's say that you have a carton that is very heavy and is filled with some very heavy metal finials. The actual carton size is 30 cm X 30 cm X 25cm but the actual weight is 8 kilos. Here are the basics for this calculations: Actual Volume - 30 cm X 30 cm X 25 cm carton size Actual Carton Weight - 8 kilos Volumetric Weight Calculations - (30 cm X30 cm X 25 cm) = 22,500 divided by 5,000 = 4.5 volumetric kilos. What Is Charged? - As 8 kilos is greater than 4.5 kilos then this package will be charged as 8 kilos weight which is the actual carton weight and not 4.5 kilos weights which is the volumetric weight. If you are planning to ship any kind of large volume by air by using an air forwarder or a courier service it is helpful to understand a bit of how they will calculate the volumetric of the package. This can help you to more easily plan for what the charge may be. Even if you do calculate this, on the day and time you deliver the package to them they may also charge a different per kilo or per pound rate according to how much or how little space they have on the plane. Use these calculations as only a guide and contact your forwarder or courier company to get their exact rates. Related Questions How Do You Load A Dry Shipping Container? A dry shipping container is a container that is used for 90% of all shipments worldwide. The dry shipping containers’ standard sizes are 20’, 40’, and 40’ HC container sizes. Each size has different payload weights and loading size limits, so when you prepare to load your container, what container size you choose will make a huge difference in the actual container loading. To find out more about loading a dry shipping container, you can read our blog on 10 Tips On Loading A Dry Shipping Container, What You Need To Know by clicking here. Why the US Tariffs Has Not Stopped US Importers Buying from China? The placing of US Tariff’s on made in China products, has not totally stopped the import of Chinese made goods into the United States. Some of the reasons for this include China’s highly developed supply chain, the streamlining of Chinese manufacturing, China’s manufacturing cost advantage, the Chinese currency and the reality of how difficult it is to move an established manufacturing supply chain. All of these factors help ensure that US companies will continue to purchase products that are made in China. You can find out more by reading our blog on Why the US Tariffs Has Not Stopped US Importers Buying from China? by clicking here.