Cartons
Use packaging suitable for the product's weight and transport conditions. Restrain the goods inside, protect fragile edges and prevent loose movement. Put shipping marks on the outer package where they remain readable.
BEFORE THE CARGO MOVES
Shipping requirements.
Prepare your cargo.
Prepare a China-origin shipment for VelFreight’s route and cargo review. We handle general cargo, ecommerce orders, samples, commercial shipments and eligible battery goods. Liquids, powders and other special cargo require individual confirmation against the route, carrier and applicable requirements.
01 / IDENTIFY THE GOODS
Tell us exactly what is being shipped.
Start with an accurate product description and disclose every characteristic that affects transport. A low quoted rate, an earlier shipment or a product’s everyday use does not establish that the current cargo is accepted on a new route.
| Cargo type | Information to provide | Acceptance review |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo and commercial goods | Specific product name, model, materials, intended use, quantity, country of origin and value. | Route availability, applicable customs requirements, final packing and the selected carrier’s restrictions. |
| Ecommerce orders and samples | The actual goods, quantities, shipment purpose, supported value, labels and recipient or warehouse requirements. | Parcel or freight channel, package limits, receiving appointments and any destination-specific product information. |
| Battery goods | Chemistry, manufacturer/model, relevant rating, quantity, condition and whether batteries are installed, packed with equipment or separate. | Applicable technical records, packing configuration, transport mode and current carrier acceptance. |
| Liquids, powders and other special cargo | Product composition, intended use, quantity, container type and available technical or safety information. | Classification, required documents, packaging and whether the proposed carrier and route accept the exact goods. |
| Heavy, oversized or irregular cargo | Finished dimensions and gross weight of every handling unit, lifting points, base or support layout, photos and access conditions. | Vehicle or equipment capacity, loading method, route constraints, handling feasibility and additional costs. |
Small shipments can start at 0.5 kg where the channel accepts them. This is not a universal minimum chargeable weight across express, air, ocean, rail or trucking. The quotation confirms the applicable weight or volume basis, minimum charge and acceptance limits.
02 / MEASURE THE PACKED UNIT
Record what will actually be handled.
Measure the outermost length, width and height after packing. Include pallet height, skids, handles, bulging cartons and any protruding protection. Weigh the whole handling unit, including packaging and pallet.
- Group packages only when their packed dimensions and weights match.
- Record count, length, width, height and gross weight for each group.
- State whether the unit can be rotated and safely stacked, and any approved top-load limit.
- Supply photos showing the complete unit, label, lifting points and protrusions.
Volume: L × W × H in centimetres ÷ 1,000,000 = m³ per unit. Multiply by the count and add all groups.
Length plus girth: longest side + 2 × each of the other two sides. This is different from simply adding the three sides.
| Group | Count | Outer size per unit | Gross weight per unit | Total volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carton A | 2 | 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 12 kg | 0.192 m³ |
| Carton B | 1 | 30 × 30 × 30 cm | 15 kg | 0.027 m³ |
| Total | 3 cartons | Do not average the sizes | 39 kg total | 0.219 m³ |
At a 5,000 cm³/kg example divisor, summing the greater of actual or volumetric weight per carton gives 53.4 kg before rounding. Taking the greater of the shipment totals would give 43.8 kg. The billing method therefore matters; confirm it with the selected service.
Calculate your own shipment ↗Which maximum dimensions apply?
Use the selected service's rules. Our express guide includes named carrier reference limits; the ocean guide distinguishes container doors from internal dimensions. Air cargo requires loadability review, and rail freight requires equipment and corridor confirmation. A unit below an advertised maximum may still incur an extra handling charge.
03 / PACK FOR HANDLING
Describe protection and access.
Pallets & crates
State base dimensions, fork-entry access, total loaded height, gross weight, overhang and stackability. Identify the centre of gravity or lifting points for awkward equipment. Provide a loading photo and any required handling drawing.
“Fragile” and “do not stack” labels communicate requirements; they do not create a protective design or guarantee a handling service. Have the packer and selected provider review the proposed packaging. For wood packaging, ask whether the material and destination require treatment or marking; do not assume all wood products have the same rules.
| Work required | What to agree before arrival or packing |
|---|---|
| Receiving and temporary storage | Warehouse appointment, unloading, count and exterior-condition photos, labels, storage period, space, rates and insurance terms. |
| Sorting, labelling and consolidation | Supplier/order references, label files, carton marks, quantities to combine or split and release instructions. |
| Carton protection | Product weight and fragility, contact materials, cushioning, edge protection and the final reinforced package size. |
| Pallets, wooden frames and crates | Loaded footprint and height, gross weight, support design, restraint, fork or lifting access, stackability and relevant wood-treatment or marking requirements. |
| Water, moisture and dust protection | Product sensitivity, intended journey, storage and handling conditions, suitable materials and the agreed protection method. |
| Heavy or irregular pieces | Dimensions, centre of gravity where relevant, support and lifting details, handling equipment and the packing method approved for the actual unit. |
Our warehouse sequence can include arrival booking, unloading and receiving checks, counts and photos, registration, instructed sorting or labels, packing and reinforcement, outbound checks, loading or handover, and operating updates. The warehouse, materials, work scope, timing and fees are confirmed for the actual shipment.
04 / MATCH GOODS TO DOCUMENTS
Prepare a consistent information pack.
| Item | Specific information | Check before handover |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Seller and buyer, invoice reference/date, item descriptions, materials/use, quantities, unit values, currency and reason for export. | Values reflect the actual transaction or a supportable valuation basis; samples are not automatically valueless. |
| Packing list | Carton/pallet identifiers, products and quantities inside each package, dimensions and net/gross weights where required. | Totals reconcile to the invoice and physically packed goods; update after repacking. |
| Cargo facts | Model, composition, intended use, country of origin and information needed to verify customs classification. | Use a clear product description; confirm classification and import requirements with the responsible parties. |
| Special characteristics | Batteries, liquids, powders, magnets, temperature needs or other restricted characteristics; relevant technical information. | Disclose before quoting. Obtain the applicable product-specific documentation and channel acceptance before dispatch. |
| Recipient & importer | Legal name, address, postcode, operational contact, importer details and any required registrations. | Confirm who can clear the goods and who responds to document requests at destination. |
Customs information must match the actual goods
Supply accurate goods descriptions, classification information or HS codes for review, values, currency, trade terms, invoice and packing-list data, and any required permits, certificates or product records. Identify the exporter, consignee, importer and the parties responsible for supplying and approving declarations.
VelFreight checks information and coordinates export declarations and destination import clearance within the agreed service. Customs and other competent authorities determine release. A freight booking is not approval of a classification, licence or import entitlement; resolve missing records with the responsible parties before handover.
Do not change the goods description to conceal a cargo characteristic. The document set depends on the product, destination and chosen service.
05 / REVIEW SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Battery and special-cargo acceptance.
We accept eligible battery shipments after a shipment-specific review. Send the battery and product identification, rating, condition, quantities and package arrangement before choosing the route. Required records depend on the chemistry, configuration, transport mode and carrier; do not treat one document list as applicable to every battery.
| Cargo or record | Prepare for review | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries | Manufacturer/model, chemistry, relevant Wh rating or lithium content, condition, count and installed/packed-with/separate arrangement; applicable test-summary and technical records. | UN 38.3 information is reviewed where applicable. A battery test summary and an SDS/MSDS serve different purposes; an SDS is not a substitute for transport-specific evidence. |
| Lead-acid or other battery chemistries | Exact chemistry, manufacturer/model, specifications, condition, configuration and available technical or safety records. | Do not apply lithium battery rating or document rules automatically. The responsible specialist determines applicable classification, preparation and records for that chemistry and route. |
| Transport assessment or dangerous-goods documents | Provide transport assessment reports, dangerous-goods packaging or declaration records when required for the classified cargo and proposed movement. | The required issuer, scope, version and supporting records must match the shipment. Not every listed document is required for every cargo type. |
| Liquids and powders | Exact product and composition, quantity, container and closure details, intended use and relevant product or safety documents. | Acceptance is confirmed separately for the carrier and route. A familiar sales name does not establish whether the product is regulated. |
| Changed or abnormal cargo | Disclose damaged, recalled or otherwise abnormal batteries, a changed model, leaking containers, changed composition or revised packing. | Pause ordinary dispatch while the issue is assessed. Previous acceptance does not automatically cover a changed or abnormal shipment. |
Battery packing checks are made against the applicable requirements and can include protection against short circuits, the correct individual and outer packing, marking or labels and matching records. Appropriately qualified personnel determine the actual preparation. This page collects the information for review; it is not a battery packing procedure.
06 / DEFINE THE ENDPOINT
Ready at origin.
Ready to receive.
VelFreight supports pickup in all cities across China. Provide the full collection address and cargo details so we can confirm the pickup time, vehicle, access, loading arrangements and charges, then connect the collection to the booked international route.
Collection information
- Full address and postcode; cargo-ready date.
- Loading hours, contact and appointment requirements.
- Forklift/dock availability and who loads the vehicle.
- Any access, height, vehicle or lifting restriction.
Delivery information
- Full final address, postcode and receiving contact.
- Commercial site, warehouse, exhibition or residential address.
- Receiving hours, booking reference and unloading equipment.
- Whether tail-lift, unloading or inside delivery must be quoted.
Ask for the cargo-ready deadline, document deadline, departure milestone and final delivery estimate separately. A transit estimate beginning at departure excludes time before departure; a terminal arrival estimate excludes onward delivery.
07 / CONFIRM BEFORE DISPATCH
Resolve acceptance before the cargo moves.
We do not accept illegal or prohibited goods, goods banned by the relevant carrier, goods that transport laws prohibit, or special cargo without the required compliant records or suitable packaging. The actual route, origin and destination rules, carrier conditions and our review determine acceptance.
| Issue | Required action |
|---|---|
| Prohibited goods or a carrier ban | Do not arrange dispatch through that service. Provide the true description so eligibility can be assessed; changing the description does not make prohibited cargo acceptable. |
| Missing, inconsistent or inapplicable records | Obtain the correct product, customs or special-cargo information and resolve model, value or quantity mismatches before release. |
| Unsuitable or unconfirmed packing | Agree the necessary protection or handling design, complete the packing work and provide revised dimensions, weights and photos for confirmation. |
| Heavy, oversized or irregular units without a handling plan | Confirm loading and unloading equipment, vehicle or transport equipment, route feasibility and quoted handling costs. |
| Unconfirmed pickup or delivery conditions | Resolve appointments, vehicle access, responsible contacts, importer readiness and unloading requirements before committing the handover. |
For a useful enquiry, send the origin and destination, product description, pieces, packed weight and dimensions or volume, required date, trade terms and all special characteristics. Specific availability, timing, charges and responsibilities are set out in the confirmed quotation, booking, contract and applicable carrier terms.
Your next move starts here.
From a single sample to a full container, find a way forward that fits your business.