Comprehensive glossary of international shipping terms

For your convenience, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has compiled an extensive, easy-to-use Glossary of International Shipping Terms. With 300+ commercial transportation terms, our is one of the largest, most comprehensive glossaries available online.

Glossary of International Shipping Terms

Why learn Shipping Industry terminology? Every industry has a special language with terms, acronyms, abbreviations, jargon, etc. that are uniquely theirs. The shipping industry is no exception.

Through our 40+ years in the business we’ve found that if we help customers understand commercial shipping language—including for air freight, ocean freight, trucking, rail, import/export, warehousing & distribution, logistics—the shipping process from Pickup to Delivery goes faster and smoother, saving time and money.

We invite you to visit, bookmark and come back often when there’s shipping industry jargon being slung around! And, if you have suggestions for additional terms, please let us know.

Our International Shipping Terms Glossary is a very easy-to-use, one-page index with an alphabetical search at the top of the page, Expand All/Collapse All functions, and convenient “Back to Top” links after each alphabetic section. 

As an experienced freight forwarder servicing the Hawaiian Islands, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express provides both Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) service through three West Coast ports: two in California, the Ports of Long Beach and Oakland; one in Washington, the Port of Tacoma. See all locations here.

To obtain westbound LCL ocean shipping costs to Hawaii, use our online Quick Quote, call us toll-free at 800.488.4888 ext. 2017, or email us for LCL or FCL ocean shipping costs.

Whatever your shipping needs may require, our dedicated team of highly experienced transportation specialists are available to help you.

How to get commercial ocean shipments to their destination faster? Consider shipping by air freight...

Air freight is used to transport goods over a long distance in a short period of time.
You’ve seen the photos of freight container ships stalled in ports as the pandemic continues its massive disruption in global supply chains, challenging practically every industry here at home and around the globe.

Shipping and delivery companies are scrambling to fill the needs of customers and clients. Assuming you’re experiencing the same obstacles, we strongly recommend considering air freight vs. ocean freight as an expeditious and reliable option.

What challenges can air freight solve for you?

1. Speed
• You need that special replacement part now
• You have perishables and products with a short shelf life
2. Reliability
• Your business requires reliable departure and arrival times
3. Cost Efficiency
• Less packaging is required for shipments
• Insurance premiums will likely be less
• More security and reduced risk of theft and damage
• And lower need for warehousing and on-hand inventory

Understanding potential shipping issues is crucial to keeping your business viable.
Shipping and delivery obstacles can include:

1. COVID-19 regulations and requirements
2. Miscommunication
3. Delivery delays
4. Dependencies on available people and equipment
5. Labor and union labor shortages
6. The inability to manage multiple customers’ requests
7. Keeping customers updated
8. Delivering goods without damage
9. High increased delivery costs

Every air shipment starts with an expedited transit pickup that goes to the flight’s departure airport for air processing and tender at the cargo facility. You’ll need careful guidance, especially during these trying transportation times, to help you handle all of the air freight logistics from pickup to delivery.

How is it we’re so knowledgeable about commercial goods transportation? Our sister companies, DGX-Dependable Global Express and the Dependable Companies have decades of experience specializing in domestic and global air freight service. Because we own much of our own equipment in the US we can help ensure reliability for shipments going out from the US, across the US, or incoming from other countries.

We offer a unique package of shipping services. With air as one option, our experienced team of professionals will determine the solution that best fits your needs and expectations.

If you’d like to explore shipping via air vs. ocean, please reach out to one of our local DGX offices, or call toll-free 1.800.700.3858, and we can help.

How do I select a company for Business Warehousing and Commercial Distribution in Hawaii?

When considering your choices for a commercial warehouse, storage and distribution partner in Hawaii, here are important considerations in making your decision:

• Think across all the islands you’re doing business with. Although Oahu is the center of commercial business in Hawaii, how well does the company cover logistics to the other Hawaiian islands?
  
  
• Which companies have been doing business in Hawaii for a long time and have the most experience storing and distributing your products efficiently throughout the islands?
  
  
• Be sure with one call, your shipper can provide the door-to-door service you require without the hassle of having to deal with multiple companies.
  
  
• The company has positive reviews when it comes to coordinating with you and your staff, and making the process easy for you.

Hawaii is a unique place to do business because the counties are separated by water. It's essential to understand not only how to ship to Hawaii, but also it's imperative that you find an experienced freight forwarder in Hawaii who will help with your logistics to and from all the Hawaiian islands. 

Supporting businesses in Hawaii since 1980, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has grown to become the largest forwarder servicing all of the Hawaiian Islands. With company-owned terminals throughout the state, we have the flexibility and know-how to manage your storage and distribution on every island.

With over 100,000 square feet of storage capacity in Hawaii and state-of-the-art software, we can provide the level of service you may need. Whether you need same day, next day, or last-mile delivery, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has the expertise and capability to hold your inventory, plan your distribution with you, and service and deliver your product to your Hawaiian customers.

To find out more about DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and Dependable Supply Chain Services, please contact us today at 800.488.4888. We can certainly help you in navigating your needs to get the best value and services for your goods.

Considering new commercial warehousing and distribution in Honolulu?

If you are looking for better warehousing, distribution and shipping in Honolulu, HI, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express now has a new 79,000 square foot facility equipped to house more than 6,000 standard pallets. Our services include:

• Same day and last mile delivery
• E-commerce fulfillment
• State-of-the-art warehousing software, allowing instant communication with any of our Honolulu, Maui, Kona and Guam warehouses
• Inter-island ocean and air transfers.
• Service customers 100% via online ordering

Located in the heart of industrial Honolulu, you are surrounded by the islands’ most dense commercial areas and just minutes away from the Honolulu harbor. Being centrally located helps with timely deliveries and better delivery costs.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has been in the trucking business in Honolulu since 1992 and is now is Hawaii state’s largest forwarder of dry goods in the Islands. We are an asset-based logistics company with our own facilities, trucks, and drivers, specializing in commercial, retail and hospitality deliveries. 

And now we have opened a world-class public warehousing and distribution facility in Honolulu to continue to better serve all of your commercial transportation needs.

To learn more about how we can help tailor shipping and logistics services to better meet your needs, contact one of our shipping and logistics specialists today at 1-800.488.4888, ext. 1740, U.S. Toll Free, or contact your local office.

What is sustainability in the shipping and logistics industries?

Sustainability is the simple principle that everything the human race needs for survival and well being depends on our natural environment in which humans and nature coexist in productive harmony for the present and future generations. Being “green” means we will continue to have clean air, water, materials and resources to protect humanity and sustain life on planet earth.

In the transportation business, historically we have contributed a large share to the generation of greenhouse gases. DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express is committed to being a sustainable company by reducing our carbon footprint and being innovative in ways that make a positive impact on society and our collective future.  

Here are our green measures to date:

1. We have purchased carbon offsets in sufficient quantity to operate our warehouses in Maui, Guam, Kona and LA on a carbon neutral basis for 2019. See all our Carbon Neutral Certificates. 
2. Our corporate headquarters, Maui and Guam facilities are totally solar sufficient, drawing no or minimal additional energy from the electric grids.
3. We have 2% skylights at various facilities to use more natural lighting.
4. We meet the California Air Resources Board’s “sparklist” requirements.
5. We are working to estimate our carbon footprint for all our trucking operations and are taking steps to reduce our carbon emissions. See our GreenWay Miles Testimonial.
6. We are an active partner with Smartway, a U.S. Government EPA partnership with truckers, to improve our use of fuel and oil efficiency, and reduce our emissions. See our SmartWay Certificate.
7. In our Los Angeles headquarters, we have installed ten (10) electric vehicle charging stations.
8. We have installed lower-energy usage models for lighting, converted our Corporate Headquarters and Honolulu terminal lights to LED, and use timers in both terminals to increase the energy effectiveness of our HVAC and lighting systems.
9. We recycle paper in our Los Angeles corporate headquarters, our San Leandro facility and our Seattle facility. In Los Angeles, we also separate and recycle wood, plastic, metal and cardboard.
10. We replaced our networking and computer server infrastructure after 2010, dropping energy consumption by 33% - 38%.
11. Our Hawaii and Guam computer system is designed to allow our employees and customers to be virtually paperless.
12. In 2020 we were named by Inbound Logistics as a Green Supply Chain Partner. As one of the 75 leading companies being profiled, we are regarded for truly “walking the walk” when it comes to commitment to supply chain sustainability and a partner you can turn to when seeking green supply chain management and logistics.

We are all stewards of our environment, particularly those managing companies that require significant energy to operate. At DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, we are concerned about the type of world we will leave behind for our children and our grandchildren. Through our dedication and ongoing commitment to be as environmentally-conscious in our operations, we hope to have a positive lasting effect on Mother Earth. See all of our green efforts here.

Whatever your shipping needs require, our team of dedicated and highly experiencedtransportation professionals are available to help you. To find out more, please contact us today at 800.488.4888. The “green” supply chain partner you can depend on!

Looking for Warehousing and Distribution in Hawaii or Guam?

Be sure to look for a company that offers all aspects of the supply chain: storage, warehousing, shipping, logistics and distribution.

No matter where your business is based—globally, in the U.S., on one of the Hawaiian Islands or Guam—DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express is here to offer multi-island storage, warehousing and distribution. Our state-of-the-art warehousing facilities help reduce expensive back-of-the-store storage, increase your retail store sales footage and restock shelves faster by storing “hot” inventory items in our safe and secure warehouses.

Our deeply experienced staff at asset-based locations on Oahu, Maui, Kona on the Big Island and Guam are here to customize a program to service your needs. Call toll free 800.488.4888, Ext. 1740 or email us for more information as well as for international and domestic ocean freight forwarding and airfreight services.

We offer:

• Pallet positions for warehousing available at all locations
• “Pick and Pull" service
• Same day and last mile shipping and delivery services
• Inventory management, e-commerce fulfillment
• State-of-the-art warehouse management software connecting Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Guam
• Kauai and Hilo service from Oahu weekly
• Inter-island ocean and air transfers
• Asset-based terminals, trucks and drivers
• Commercial, retail, hospitality deliveries
• Dedicated sales staff

Whatever your requirements are for your shipping and warehousing needs, our team of dedicated professionals at DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express is available to coordinate with you. We will work to make the processes easier for you.

To find out more about DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and Dependable Supply Chain Services, please contact us today at 800.488.4888. We can certainly help you in navigating your needs to get the best value and services for your goods.

What is the law of "General Average" in shipping and why does it matter?

The law of “General Average" is a shipping term that matters when dealing with cargo insurance, bills of lading, and the legal issues of cargo.

• The law of general average is a principle of maritime law whereby all stakeholders in a sea venture proportionally share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency.
  ~Wikipedia

It’s the shipping principle of maritime law. General Average occurs when a voluntary sacrifice is made to safeguard the vessel, cargo or crew from a common peril, for example, a fire. If the sacrifice is at issue, all parties shipping on the vessel contribute to the loss based on their cargo’s value whether their shipment was damaged or not. Appointed adjusters will assess the value of each shipment on board and apply a formula that determines the financial contribution of each cargo owner.

If you’re a cargo owner with shipments onboard a declared “general average” vessel, the likelihood of having your cargo released timely is dependent on how soon you can post a security. The security must be in the form of a cash deposit, bank guarantee or bond. If the cargo owner has cargo insurance, the “average guarantee” is posted by the insurance company. Having cargo insurance is beneficial to cargo owners as it not only provides coverage for damaged goods but it facilitates the release of their cargo.

The General Average and Salvage Adjusters will appoint collecting agents to prepare and collect securities from each of the parties concerned in the cargo on board. Cargo will only be released upon receipt of the required security.

The following forms will be required:

• A copy of the cargo commercial invoice
• An Average Bond form to be completed and signed by the owners of the cargo.
• An Average Guarantee form to be completed, signed or stamped by the insurance company (when insured).

The Average Bond and the Average Guarantee form should be sent to the cargo insurer along with the bill of lading and commercial invoice for any insured shipment.

If you are the NVOCC or freight forwarder like DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, you should pass along any General Average paperwork to the cargo owners and advise them to contact their cargo insurers to arrange the guarantee. Unfortunately, for uninsured shipments, a cash deposit will be required in place of an insurers’ Average Guarantee. Adjusters will advise the amount of the cash deposit required.

Please contact your local DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express representative should you have any questions or need additional information. Our team will be glad to further explain the benefits or securing cargo insurance.

At DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express we offer a unique package of shipping services. If you need assistance, please reach out to your local office or call toll free 1-800-488-4888 and we can help you. We specialize in international ocean and air freight shipping.

What do I need to consider when shipping a container to Hawaii?

The key factors to keep in mind when shipping a container to Hawaii are:

• The zip code of origin
• The zip code of destination
• A concise description of what is being loaded in the container
• The total weight of the items
• Most importantly, will your shipment fill an entire container (Full Container Load or FCL) or can your cargo be consolidated with other shippers (Less than Container Load or LCL) to maximize the load and minimize the cost?

Unless your freight is utilizing more than 80% of the inside of the container, you should consider shipping as an LCL to Hawaii, saving you both time and money. Vital considerations that an experienced shipping company can help you with.

If you need help determining how to ship your cargo to Hawaii, please consider the experts at DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express. With 40+ years of experience getting cargo to and from Hawaii, our team of dedicated professionals are available to consult with to ensure your shipment is handled properly, getting it there intact and on time.

To find out more about how DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and our sister company, Dependable Supply Chain Services, can help expedite your shipment to or from Hawaii, call us today at  800.488.4888, or contact your local office here.

We’d like to prove to you how we can help you navigate the waters to get the best value and service for your goods!

How much does it cost to ship freight to Guam vs. Hawaii?

Many factors determine the cost of shipping to Guam. Similar to shipping to Hawaii, the key factors in determining the cost are:

• Where you are shipping from and where it is to be delivered
• A concise description of the items being shipped -- a commercial invoice used to determine Use Tax
• The weight and dimensions (length, width, and height) of the items or if combined on a pallet
• The dimensions of the pallet from the longest, widest and tallest points - very important in determining the actual cost of shipping freight to Guam.

Unlike Hawaii, a commercial invoice is required for all shipments to Guam. A commercial invoice, complete with shipment detail and the cost in US dollars of the items, is required either at the time of pick up or prior to sailing to Guam.

The commercial invoice is what Guam Customs will use in determining the amount of payable “Use Tax.” Prior to any shipment being released in Guam, a tax, called the Use Tax will need to be paid. The Guam Use Tax is 4% on all items shipped into Guam that are not intended for resale by a licensed Guam business. Conversely, licensed businesses in Guam are taxed 4% on all goods shipped in that are not to be resold. Their tax is based on the total landed costs of the shipment.

Whether you’re shipping a Full Container Load (FCL) to Guam or shipping a Less Than Container Load (LCL) shipment to Guam, our affiliate DGX-Dependable Global Express’ team of professionals in the US mainland or Guam are eager to help.

We specialize in international ocean and air freight shipping and offer complete supply chain shipping services including ocean freight, air freight, logistics, warehousing, and more. If you need assistance, please reach out to your local office or call toll free 1-800-488-4888 and we can help you.

Who offers warehousing with same day/next day delivery in Hawaii and Guam?

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express is now offering same day or next day delivery service to new and existing warehousing customers. Our warehousing services are available in Oahu, Maui, the Kona side of the Big Island and Guam.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and our affiliate air shipping company, DGX-Dependable Global Express, are now providing local warehousing and same day/next day deliveries to customers on these islands.

Also new, customers who need multi-location warehousing with same day or next day delivery on the islands will now have access to tracking and inventory information. Thanks to a new software system, customers can now interface with their systems and our, allowing access to inventory records, inbound/outbound data histories, order processing via direct entry into our new system, among other information and features.

The new inventory coordination will provide the locations of all your items we’re storing as well as an inventory of all items on hand. The system interfaces with established e-commerce software to ensure if you order the goods to be pulled, packed and shipped; we are able to get the job done within the same or next day.

Deliveries are currently made during normal weekday business hours, Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 4:30 PM, local time.

Same/next day service to your Hawaii and Guam Customers is now a reality using DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express/DGX. Contact us today to get a rate quote or use our online rate quoter to get a quick rate quote for LCL to Hawaii or Guam.

How much does it cost to ship a container to or from Hawaii?

A common question, when determining how much it costs to ship a container to Hawaii, most of the cost is based on the commodity item(s) being loaded and shipped. Ocean tariffs (import/export taxes) are predicated on content weight; the end use of the commodity: retail, wholesale, personal, or business; the potential of damage of the commodity; etc.

Other important cost-determining considerations are the origin and destination details. For example, if your shipment is originating from the US mainland anywhere at a distance from the west coast, typically your container is transported and loaded onto a rail line. There’s always the option of trucking your container from its origin to the west coast, but it’s usually more expensive. Most intermodal or rail moves get shipped into Los Angeles for subsequent sailings to Hawaii. Mode of transporting shipping containers moving eastbound out of the Hawaiian Islands are also subject to these cost considerations. The rail option vs. the trucking option acts in the reverse once the container lands on the west coast.

With these factors in mind, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has the experienced team to assist you and keep your costs to ship a container to or from Hawaii equitable while meeting your expected timeline. Get a quick rate quote for LCL to Hawaii, a rate quote for other shipments, Call us toll free at 800.488.4888, or email us today!

How much does it cost to ship LCL to Hawaii or Guam?

There are five major items to consider in determining your overall cost to ship Less than Container Load (LCL) freight shipments to either Hawaii or Guam.

• Packaging
• Commodity Being Shipped
• Measurement of the Freight
• Special Handling Considerations
• Shipping Company Dependability

More detail here:

1. Packaging. Always package your shipments/product to minimize the total space used. LCL shipments are billed based on the space (cubic feet) they use. Saving space with your packaging or wrapping/crating, will determine how much it costs. For example, if you have a small broom you’re shipping, unscrew the handle and save the space by shipping it alongside the broom itself, instead of connected to it.
   
   Once you’ve minimized your packaging, however, don’t lose sight of proper wrapping and palletizing to avoid potential damage issues as your shipment is traveling thousands of miles in (sometimes) very rough seas.


2. Commodity Being Shipped. Higher value goods will usually cost more than items of lower value. For instance, food products will cost less to ship than fine furniture based on the risk of damage. Items with a low damage factor will cost less than items that might normally get damaged easily.
   
   If you can find a freight forwarder to ship a fragile commodity (which usually means new, still in the packaging, not antique or glass, or other items of high value), factor in the cost of insurance. If the cargo is irreplaceable, you will want to pay more and have a crating expert package it. In the end, it’ll cost you less to get it there in one piece than in many.


3. Measurement of the Freight. Ensure the dimensions of your shipment are accurate and complete. If you obtain a quote based on inaccurate or wrong dimensions, then the actual freight charges could cost you more. Your dimensions should include the highest point, the widest point and longest point of your shipment if palletized or in individual boxes.
   
   Cubic feet are computed by multiplying the length of the freight in inches by the height of the freight in inches by the width of the freight in inches. Those total inches then get divided by 1,728 inches to determine the total cubic feet of what you’re measuring. If you have multiple pallets, boxes or crates, this process needs to be followed for each pallet, box or crate and then all the cubic feet totaled. This then determines the size of your shipment for pricing purposes. Visit our FAQ #11 for detailed information on how to measure your shipment.


4. Special Handling Considerations. Determine if your shipment will require special handling or delivery needs at the destination. Something requiring a residential delivery, or to a place of business with an inside delivery, will usually cost more than something delivered curbside. If you need trash taken away after your delivery, it’ll probably cost more if there’s a large volume.


5. Shipping Company Dependability. Ensure you are working with a company who is reliable and an expert at shipping to Hawaii or Guam. The cheapest quote isn’t always the least expensive by the time your cargo has arrived at its destination.

To find out more about DHX - Dependable Hawaiian Express and Dependable Supply Chain Services, please contact us today. With nearly 40 years in the shipping business, we can certainly help you in navigating these waters to get the best value and service for your goods.

Many Factors to Consider Shipping from Hawaii to the US Mainland

If you’re located on the outer islands of Hawaii, usually the shipping carrier you chose will move your product shipment to Oahu for consolidation with other similar shipments. Plan on this adding a week or more to the transit time of your eastbound shipment. Once your shipment is on the island of Oahu, the carrier normally will have a container moving back to the US mainland.

The question to ask is “How often does this happen?” With DHX–Dependable Hawaiian Express, freight is moved eastbound into Long Beach, California on a weekly basis, usually on the following Saturday sailing back into Long Beach. Eastbound shipping is slower—eight days on water vs. five days westbound from Long Beach to Honolulu. Some carriers, like DHX–Dependable Hawaiian Express, also offer a more economical bi-weekly option directly to the Pacific Northwest using a barge service. Plan on these ocean transportation times, using this barge service, to be from four-six weeks. See our Ocean Shipping Schedule.

Eastbound shipper rates are normally calculated based on a combination of factors:

• the type of product being shipped
• physical dimensions
• weight
• specific pick-up area (should you require one)
• destination delivery requirements
• whether the place of delivery is a business or residential address

Both pick-up and delivery services may entail use of a forklift and or specialized equipment which will increase your charges. Your shipment packaging may also increase the dimensions of the shipment and hence, the cost. But proper packaging is extremely important to provide additional safety for your valued product. We recommend not skimping on packing in order to save a few dollars on the freight charges. In the long run it will save you time, possible damage and subsequent aggravation. To request a rate quote from us, please use our convenient online rate quoter.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express offers a unique package of shipping services. If you need assistance, please reach out to your local DHX–Dependable Hawaiian Express office or call toll free at (800) 488-4888 and we can help. We’re Dependable. From Start to Finish.

What is the cost to ship to Guam?

The cost of ocean freight to or from Guam can pose some complexity for a variety of reasons. The following are shipping factors to consider in determining ocean carriage costs. They include:

• A concise description of the commodity being shipped
• The weight of the cargo itself
• Its density (weight divided by cubic feet)
• The size of the shipment, in total cubic feet
• Whether or not the goods are considered “hazardous” and require a separate document declaring the hazardous characteristics
• If the shipment is a full container of freight (FCL) or less than a containerload (LCL)

One of the remaining factors that can affect the cost to ship to Guam is the selected ocean carrier. Only Matson Navigation services Guam directly with a USA stop-off from the Port of Long Beach, CA to Hawaii, providing the fastest transit time – 12 days port to port. DHX - Dependable Hawaiian Express uses Matson for ocean shipping to Guam.

Transit times out of the Port of Oakland add an additional four days. American President Lines (APL) also provides ocean service to Guam, however, only from the Port of Long Beach. Its ocean transit time is longer, no less than 23 days, and perhaps longer depending on the vessel the Guam container gets loaded on and the foreign port where unloaded, before being transferred onto a feeder vessel into Guam. In addition, shipments must be tendered a week in advance, thus extending the transit time to at least 30 days.

The cost to ship to Guam also requires the payment of a Use Tax once the goods arrive on Guam. Guam Customs is not responsible for ensuring a Commercial Invoice, on which to base payment of the use tax. The Commercial Invoice is to be provided by the shipper or consignee. Guam Customs requires that all shipments have a complete Commercial Invoice in US$ to process the shipment in Guam. Guam Customs’ responsibility is to apply a 4% Use Tax on all goods entering into Guam that are not intended for resale by a licensed-on Guam business.

Businesses that operate on Guam with a Guam business license will be taxed 4% on all goods shipped into Guam that are not to be resold (not inventory). The 4% tax is calculated based on the cost of goods, insurance and freight cost together (total landed cost). No shipments arriving via ocean freight can be released until the Use Tax payment has been paid.

There are also eastbound services available from Guam to the USA mainland or Hawaii. We can provide additional information for shipping from non-USA origins into Guam.

Another advantage: DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express also offers container load and less than container load services from the Hawaiian Islands to Guam. Contact us today to discuss shipping your freight to Guam with us!

Reducing the cost of shipping to Hawaii

Last month we discussed key factors pertaining to shipping rates to Hawaii and what drives those costs. Now we’d like to help our customers with ideas on how to reduce the shipping cost to Hawaii.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Reduce damages
   When building your pallets keep freight inside the pallet dimensions, avoid overhang, shrink wrap well and keep the height to a manageable level. Freight travels many miles and handled by forklifts when loaded into trailers and ocean containers along with other freight. Well-built pallets help eliminate damages, the labor cost of filing claims and replacement. Time is money when considering the cost to ship to Hawaii.
2. Consolidate
   When possible consolidate your freight to eliminate extra pickup and delivery charges. The more freight you ship may also help reduce your costs.
3. Accurate Information
   When requesting pricing or getting quotes for your shipping to Hawaii, ensure your information is detailed and accurate. Quotes are only as good as the information you provide so make sure you measure and weigh your freight accurately. Nobody wants to go back and increase rates to their customer, so it’s important to do it right the first time when determining how much to ship.
4. Warehousing
   DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has broken ground on our new state of the art warehouse in Honolulu with a completion date of April 2019. Warehousing freight for quicker distribution to your customer and avoiding the need for airfreight or lost business due to slow turnaround times, are other options to consider when determining your overall Hawaii shipping rates.

We pride ourselves on building long-term partnerships with our customers, serving as consultants in the spirit of “Ohana” – Hawaiian for family.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express looks forward to being your shipping partner to the Hawaiian Islands. To get a rate quote today, please visit either our LCL Quick Rate Quoter online for shipments to Hawaii, use our more detailed online rate quote requestor for all shipments to or from Hawaii, or contact one of our qualified rate analysts today. Mahalo.

What are shipping rates to Guam?

When shipping to Guam, finding the lowest shipping rates and price to Guam does not always add up to a savings. When shipping to Guam other items that should be considered in cost savings include how long your shipment will take to arrive to Guam, how quickly the shipment will clear Customs and how soon the shipment will deliver on Guam.

Though these may not be out of the pocket monetary costs to consider when looking at shipping rates to Guam, consider how much money may be lost by not having the shipment in your customer’s hands in the shortest amount of time possible. If it's not on the shelf you cannot sell it. If it's not in your warehouse, you can't deliver it. The possible loss of time can cause delays on a job, with workers standing by idle or machinery down waiting for parts, not making money, or worse your customer elects to buy from another vendor because the product is taking too long to get to him or her.

Another consideration is cash flow to be considered. The sooner the customer receives their product, the sooner you will be paid, reducing the time between when you are paid for the product and when you received your cash back.

With DGX, we offer the latest shipping cut offs for weekly sailings to Guam, with expedited Customs clearance and delivery of shipments within 48 hours of container availability at the port.

When thinking of shipping rates to Guam, think of DGX for value.

Helpful tips for container shipping to Hawaii

Here are some factors to consider when shipping your freight containers to Hawaii:

• Is this a single shipment or ongoing project?
• If a single shipment:
• DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express can pick up from the vendor/source direct.
• Or, shipments can be drop shipped to any of our terminal locations for consolidation:
• Rancho Dominguez, CA (Southern CA)
• San Leandro, CA (Northern CA)
• Seattle, WA
• Do you need to designate a specific sailing date that is most appropriate to your needs?
• Or, is your project ongoing and needs to designate a specific sailing date most appropriate to your needs? If you use DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, we utilize every available weekly sailing:
• We load and ship to every Hawaiian island direct. (By loading island-direct, transit time to the outer islands is reduced.)
• We have the experience to reduce handling and related expenses 
• We limit ocean costs
• We reduce transit time
• If an ongoing project, how is it to be managed and consolidated?
• How is the project to be reported or details to be communicated?
• What visibility is needed?
• What percentage of utilization makes it cost effective to ship an exclusive container versus shipping as LCL (Less than Container Load)?

The service team at DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express specializes in container shipping to Hawaii. If you’re looking for a cost efficient way to ship a Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL) to Hawaii, we provide efficient service throughout the U.S. and Canada.

To find out more about DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express and Dependable Supply Chain Services, please contact us today. We can certainly help you in navigating these waters for the best value and service.

Transit time considerations for shipping to Guam

What is an acceptable transit time for shipping from the U.S.A. to Guam?

There are two carriers that currently provide ocean service from the U.S.A. to Guam. One carrier has a transit time of two weeks with an arrival of Tuesday every week. The other carrier has a transit time of three weeks with an arrival of Thursday or Friday.

At DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, via our affiliate DGX, we pride ourselves in moving product for businesses as fast and problem free as possible. Thus we choose the quicker carrier to Guam – the one with the better on-time record. Our carrier has an on-time record of 78%, based on an ETA of 59 minutes or less. The alternate carrier has an on-time record of only 23%, less than one in four of their ships are on time.

DHX - Dependable Hawaiian Express also offers the latest cut-off times in the industry to receive freight on the west coast, as well as we offer deliveries in Guam within 48 hours of container availability. This gives you a total transit time from the west coast of 17-18 days. The other carrier would provide a 30-day service from the west coast to Guam, due to earlier carrier cut offs and transshipment through a foreign port. Check out our ocean delivery schedule.

Five options and details to consider when thinking about longer transit times:

1. Your product availability is delayed meaning you’ll need to keep more inventory in stock. This costs your business more money.
2. Vendor payments are due just as product is being delivered on Guam, based on net 30 day terms.
3. Business competitors may receive their product earlier and are able to deliver and complete the sale sooner—thus you lose the sale.
4. Not having your product before the weekend can affect your total weekend sales.

Four benefits of faster transit times and later cut offs:

1. Last minute orders can make the same week sailing and arrive in 17-18 days.
2. Less inventory needed increases profitability.
3. Having inventory on hand to sell before payments are due to vendors.
4. More sales and better customer loyalty because you always have inventory in stock.

With slower transportation and lower transportation costs, is it worth the added expense of higher inventory levels and the risk of losing customers and sales waiting for product to arrive?

Call DHX - Dependable Hawaiian Express today for a rate and sailing time quote to see how we can save you both time and money.

About charity, a beard and a new warehouse

As you may be aware, we’re building a new warehousing facility in Honolulu. To make a long story short, we received the signed agreement to purchase the property, vacant land, on a Saturday during the period of the major league baseball playoff chase in 2017. On that Saturday in September, I decided, like so many LA Dodger players in their quest to win the World Series, to not shave again until the prize was won—in this case our new warehousing facility opening. I then flew over to Oahu when we had to arrange to finance both the land purchase and building construction. I told the bankers that I was growing my beard as a daily reminder of our commitment to getting the project done, so every morning when I stand in front of the mirror, I am reminded of my responsibility to complete our project.

During one of my visits to Honolulu, I became aware that the fence on the perimeter of the property served as a “lean-to” area that homeless folks had been using to support their temporary shelters. They were camping in certain areas around the outside of the fence. This visual sparked an idea for me to believe that something good could come out of this construction project and the beard!

I went out to our partners and vendors involved with the project and asked for volunteers to donate to a charity that helps the homeless. Upon reaching out to volunteers including Massdec (the developer) and DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, Inc. (both owned by us), six additional companies or individuals agreed to donate $250 an inch to charities assisting the homeless. That's $2,000 an inch. We then had two other companies join us, bringing the number of companies to ten as of this post, or $2,500 an inch. My beard is now four inches long, growing slowly, meaning we’ve already earmarked $10,000 for charity. The facility has another 11 months before completion, during which I hope the beard will grow an additional 5-7 inches (may I add much to my wife’s dismay– she really hates it)! But it’s for a great cause.

I would like to thank the following participants:

• American Savings Bank (Financier) and Dan Oshima, its Vice President
• Central Pacific Bank (Financier)
• Massdec LLC (Developer)
• DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, Inc. (Lessee)
• Honolulu Builders (Contractor)
• Anonymous Officer at Massdec’s Environmental Consultant
• Anonymous Officer at our Ocean Carrier to Hawaii
• Cades Schutte and the Cades Foundation
• MC Architects (Architect)
• Honolulu Freight Service- Mike Beidleman

Again, these participants have already raised $10,000 to be donated to charities!

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express has set up systems with The Salvation Army and Kahauiki Village, so that anyone can participate in this effort to help the homeless in Honolulu. Although our partners listed will send their checks directly to the charities, you can also aid this cause by donating to these charities either in a set dollar amount now or by pledging based on the final beard length, for example, $1 an inch. Ensure you indicate your donation is for the Beard For Buck$ campaign!

We will be posting monthly updates, with beard pictures to our Facebook page (Beard for Buck$ Photo Album). Just so you know, for a single donation of $25,000, I, the president of DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express would be willing to dye the beard “purple,” the official color of Dependable Supply Chain Services for a month!

For $50,000 and I’ll dye the beard and my hair, too! It’s all for a great cause, folks!

A win-win for Honolulu: shipping, distribution and logistics

If you’ve looked at DHX.com or our social media pages, you have seen our current major project in the works – we’re building a new warehouse and distribution center in Honolulu.

This facility is different than our other owned freight-handling facilities located in Southern California, Maui, Kona, and Guam because the ground was contaminated with oil and gas byproduct waste.

We bought four acres of land that has laid barren for over 20 years while being remediated. It was an eyesore to those working in the area. The property was not contributing positively to Hawaii or the community. We are now furthering the remediation process to the point the land can be useful and productive. We will be turning the four acres into a state-of-the-art public warehouse and distribution center. The building will be located within 10 minutes of the port in an area off Nimitz Highway.

DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express is proud of what we are going to be contributing to Oahu's economy and future. Not only does the property itself become productive, but with 4,000 pallet positions for storage, we’ll help ease the current shortage of public warehousing in the industrial part of town close to the port. A land lot with thousands of plastic pipes jutting in and out of the ground will be replaced by a new, clean facility providing job opportunities during construction and thereafter. Once open it will allow us to move out of a building that is 70+ years old and very inefficient into something new.

Help us celebrate this for the community and for the businesses needing our offerings. A complete win-win!