FULL-SERVICE CONTAINER TRANSPORT
We watch what can go wrong along the way.
Moving a container from the quay to the customer sounds simple, until a missed cut-off, a container that has not been released, or a missing VGM brings the trip to a halt. Preventing that is exactly the work our planner already does on every trip. You supply the cargo, we watch everything around it.
The trip itself is rarely the problem. What goes wrong sits at the edges: a vessel that discharges late, a container that has not been released yet, a cut-off that shifts, or paperwork that is not in order before the driver leaves.
We plan on the live situation, not on assumptions. Our planner tracks the container from arrival to delivery and adjusts the moment something changes, without you having to chase the shipping line or the terminal yourself.
WHAT WE TRACK
From quay to customer.
- Arrival and discharge We track when the vessel arrives and the container is discharged, so the trip gets planned the moment it is physically available, not on a guess.
- Release checked We check whether the container has been released by the shipping line and customs before we book a pickup slot. The release itself stays a decision made by the shipping line and customs; we track the status.
- Cut-off and time windows Cargo and VGM cut-offs differ per shipping line, terminal and vessel, and shift along with the sailing schedules. We track the current cut-off rather than a fixed rule of thumb.
- VGM relayed We make sure the weight data reaches the terminal and the shipping line on time, so a missing VGM is never the reason a container gets stuck. The verified weight itself is supplied by the shipper; that is their legal responsibility.
- Demurrage and detention We keep an eye on the free time and plan pickups and drop-offs inside that window, so costs do not build up because of a missed date.
- Return of the empty container We return the empty container to the depot the shipping line designates, within the free time. The wrong depot costs detention too.
TOGETHER
We handle it, you supply it.
What LTC handles
- Planning around arrival, discharge and the current cut-off.
- Checking the release with the shipping line and customs before we book a slot.
- Relaying the VGM weight data to the terminal and the shipping line.
- Tracking the free time against demurrage and detention.
- Coordinating the customs documents (such as the T1) with your freight forwarder or customs agent, so the paperwork travels with the cargo.
- Return of the empty container to the correct depot.
What you supply
- The container details: type, number and weight.
- For ADR: UN number, transport document and the correct labeling.
- The VGM (verified gross mass) of your cargo.
- The customs documents or their status (T1, clearance).
- Origin, destination and the requested date.
What we do not do
We are not a freight forwarder or a customs agent, and we do not pretend to be. Clearance, forwarding and warehousing stay with you or your forwarder. What we do: drive your container and watch everything around it, from release to cut-off to the empty return. Clear about what we do, and clear about what we do not.
DOWNLOADS
Worth taking with you.
Container types & dimensions
The dimensions of the common sea containers at a glance: internal dimensions, door opening, tare, payload and capacity. Handy when planning your load.
Download the cardAvoiding demurrage & detention
What demurrage and detention actually are, and how to stay ahead of the costs. A practical checklist for shippers and freight forwarders.
Download the checklistADR: what the shipper must provide
Everything we need as the carrier to be allowed to drive an ADR container, in one place. So the trip can start right away.
Download the checklistQUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions.
Does LTC prepare the T1 document?
We coordinate the T1 with your freight forwarder or customs agent and make sure it travels with the cargo. Drafting and filing a T1 in NCTS is done by a customs agent or an authorized consignor; we check that the document is in order before the driver leaves.
Who is responsible for the VGM?
The shipper named on the bill of lading is legally responsible for the verified gross mass under SOLAS regulations. We pass that weight data on to the terminal and the shipping line on time, so a missing VGM is never the reason a container gets stuck.
What happens if the container is not released on time?
Then we do not book a pickup slot until the shipping line and customs have released the container. We check the release status in advance and keep you informed, so a driver never makes the trip for nothing.
How do you prevent demurrage and detention?
We keep an eye on the free time per shipping line and terminal, and plan pickups and drop-offs inside that window. The empty container goes back to the depot the shipping line designates. You can download a separate checklist with all the steps below.