Fuel surcharges are an extra fee that carriers like DHL, UPS, TXT, and FedEx charge on top of their standard shipping rates. In the good old days, fuel surcharges were straight pass-through levies accurately reflecting a carrier’s fuel costs. But those days are long gone. Now, they routinely trade fuel prices and surcharges to eke Read More
In December 2020, we announced that Smart Directions were AEO Certified – becoming an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Why? Well, besides being another string to our bow, AEO certification demonstrates that our role within the international supply chain is secure and that our customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. Yes, we’re a safe Read More
If you transport goods to or through Europe using cars and trailers, vans, and HGVs, you’ve got some new international road haulage rules to get used to. The new rules mean you might need to: Register some journeys within Europe on an online service from 2nd February A vehicle operator licence is you use vans Read More
Customs clearance is probably one of the most complex and intimidating aspects of global freight shipping. Small businesses must devote a lot of time and energy to make sure they get the process right if they are to avoid fines and delays. Whether you opt to use a broker or decide to go it alone, Read More
At some point, all e-commerce businesses have to decide whether to outsource to a 3PL provider or invest in warehousing facilities. As your business grows, your operations must evolve to meet the growing demands of your business. E-commerce means getting your head around burgeoning fulfilment needs. At some point, you will reach a crossroads: do Read More
