What are the many cost factors to consider when deciding to ship to Guam or Hawaii?

Here are the primary cost factors that go into determining commercial shipping costs to Guam.

If you are considering adding Guam as a destination for your commercial shipping and are wondering how much it might cost compared to Hawaii, use the “Cost Factors for Commercial Shipping to Guam” list below when consulting with a commercial freight forwarder. These cost factors are the primary ways your shipping costs are estimated and should be discussed thoroughly.

Cost Factors for Commercial Shipping to Guam

1. If shipping freight by ocean or by air.
2. What the exact origin and destination addresses of the shipment are.
3. How concise a description of the cargo can be  provided.
4. If any Hazardous Materials are being included in the cargo.
5. How precise the weights and physical dimensions of each Shipping Unit are.
• Shipping Units include pallets, boxes, crates, etc.
• Dimensions for each shipping unit must be measured in inches from the longest, widest and tallest points. For e.g., a pallet’s dimensions should be listed as 48”L x 48”W x 50”H.

Like Hawaii, a Bill of Lading (BOL) is required for all shipments. Unlike Hawaii, however, a Commercial Invoice (CI) is also required. The Guam CI must provide the shipment detail and the related cost of the goods in US dollars. Guam Customs uses the CI to determine the amount of payable “Use Tax.” The Guam Use Tax is 4% on all items shipped into Guam that are not intended for resale by a licensed Guam business. This tax is based on the total landed costs of the shipment and must be paid before the shipment is released in Guam.

Considering Shipping to Guam? If you’re serious about adding Guam as a cargo destination for your Full Container Load (FCL) or Less Than Container Load (LCL) shipment(s), please consider giving our highly experienced consultants a call at our international shipping affiliate, DGX.

Our DGX team of professionals—located conveniently in the US mainland, Hawaii or Guam—will review all the cost factors listed above and take as much time as necessary to help you understand how to ship to Guam, as well as how much you can expect it to cost.

We ship to Guam from many US DGX terminals including:

• Los Angeles
• Oakland
• Seattle
• Honolulu
• Maui
• Kona

Read more about our Guam shipping services here.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and DGX-Dependable Global Express specialize in domestic and international ocean and air freight shipping and provide complete supply chain solutions, including ocean freight, air freight, warehousing and distribution, and more.

Call us today toll-free at 1-800-488-4888. We are “The Supply Chain Partner You Can Depend On.”

How Do I Choose Between Shipping Companies to Hawaii?

When looking at commercial shipping companies that service Hawaii, it’s advisable to look for companies with:

1. Operations and facilities on the islands.
   
   A logical choice is a service provider with assets on the islands – trucks, terminals, equipment, etc. Look for shipping companies who can seamlessly handle every detail of your shipment from door to door.
   
   
   A full service operation helps to:
   • Reduce transit times
   • Minimize handling of cargo
   • Maintain the integrity of your shipment
   • Ensure consistent arrival times on the islands


2. A comprehensive understanding of local business.
   
   It’s critical to find a shipper with extensive knowledge of all the logistical challenges unique to doing business locally in Hawaii.
   
   Whether your shipment is delivered to a mall, hotel, military base, residence; or requires a container delivery to a business on a street as narrow such as a residential street, choosing a shipper with the expertise relevant to this market and the diversity in equipment is essential to effective and claims-free handling.
   
   
3. Transparent tracking throughout the shipping process.
   Another important factor is the tracking or “visibility” of your shipment, especially when your shippers can be thousands of miles away.
   
   With a comprehensive tracking ability including automatically-generated email status reports, you know where your freight is during every movement of the shipping process – from pickup to the final delivery stages.

We invite you to try DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, proudly serving the Hawaiian commercial shipping community for over 43 years. We have our own trucks and shipping terminals on the islands. We provide our customers with tailor-made equitable solutions. And quite importantly, we have a long track record of providing on-time, intact deliveries.

We welcome you to contact us and learn more about DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express. We can help you navigate these waters to get the best value and service for your goods.

What are 2023 Shipping Industry Trends?

In 2023, the transportation industry will continue to experience an accelerated pace of change primarily due to supply chain issues caused by the lengthy pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. And in spite of many new entrants to the industry with new products and services that are proving to be challenging to previously entrenched incumbents, the upside of the rapid change is also providing many growth opportunities for businesses that are prepared to meet the challenges.

Here are several major trends to look for in 2023 in the commercial shipping industry.

1. Companies Are Fiercely Fighting Ongoing Supply Chain Woes
   For the past 2-3 years, anyone who’s tried to order an item online or find certain goods at retail  knows that supply chains are experiencing significant backlogs. Shipping, manufacturing and port delays have become the norm rather than the exception. Fortunately, most companies do acknowledge it will take time to unravel the challenges associated with shipping delays and the supply chain and are implementing processes to overcome them.


2. Shifting from “Just in Time” to “Just in Case” Inventory
   Businesses need to be prepared for anything and everything, which means having a supply chain that can quickly adapt as needed. Shifting from “just-in-time” to a more stable “just-in-case” model allows brands to respond more timely to supply chain setbacks. Operating with more robust inventory levels will help many companies manage supply chain obstacles and maintain the integrity of fulfillment channels.


3. Timeliness and Transparency Remain Expected and Crucial
   In spite of continuing supply chain disruptions and ever-changing shipping costs, customers have come to expect fast, accurate, and consistent delivery times. They are also demanding shipment transparency – the process of communicating or making available all the visible information to trading partners, customers, stakeholders, and other industry agencies. Failure to meet these unwritten expectations leads to greater “shopping cart” abandonment and risks customers jumping to a competitor brand.
   
   In order to continue enhancing the Customer Experience, it's critical to set realistic expectations. Companies that overpromise and underdeliver risk severely damaging their brand loyalty and customer base. Be sure to operate with transparency and trust around all shipment executions to continue building long-term customer relationships.


4. Forge Strategic Partnerships with Experienced Shippers
   In order to get reliable, expeditious and cost-effective shipping service, it's important to select an experienced shipper who is will a) work with you to overcome supply chain issues, b) help establish the proper level of inventory to combat bumps in the supply chain, and c) set forth a schedule that can be met and allows transparent communication among all shipping parties throughout the shipment process.

At DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, we have over 40 years of experience supporting customer success with shipping to and from the Hawaiian Islands. We are well established in Hawaii to receive shipments via air and direct ocean service from all West Coast ports to our company-owned assets (trucks, warehousing, distribution, etc.) on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.

Give us a shout! As your partner, we will work closely with your team to tailor the most equitable solution in getting your product from origin to destination seamlessly and expeditiously. Within the US or Canada, we provide air and ocean service, LCL (Less than Container Load) and FCL (Full Container Load) for a simple door-to-door experience.

• To obtain an ocean quote, call (800) 488-4888 ext. 2017, email us or get an online LCL Westbound rate quote here.
• For an air freight quote, call (800) 700-3858 or email us.