Many factory owners believe that as long as they build good cars and hire a freight forwarder to book a shipping container,they can receive payments in US dollars.However,in the field of light truck exports,this "freight-centric mindset" is fatal.Is it enough to focus solely on domestic sales and leave everything else to chance?The reality is that 90% of export failures do not occur on the production line,but rather get stuck at the logistics stage.Mutual recognition of emission regulationsandRoll-on/roll-off ship cabinsThese two seemingly insignificant aspects.Lightweight cargo belongs to vehicles,not ordinary groceries,and there are fundamental differences in the requirements for compliance and logistics vehicles.As such,If you fail to identify the entry barriers of the target market before the client places an order,all subsequent actions will be like planting landmines for the client.

Why can’t the export of lightweight cargo simply copy the model of general cargo?

The core challenge of exporting light trucks (usually vehicles with a total weight of 3.5 tons to 7 tons) lies in the nature of the "vehicle".It is subject to both trade regulations and traffic laws.Once the wrong logistics solution is chosen or the documents are incorrect,the consequences will not only be the return of the goods,but also high demurrage fees and destruction costs at the destination port.

We need to distinguish the differences between the "general cargo mindset" and the "vehicle export mindset" from the fundamental logic perspective:

Full-process Practical SOP for Light-Calorie Food Export

To do a good job in light truck export agency,it is necessary to establish a set of standardized operating procedures and intercept risks before the port of departure.

Step 1: Pre-review of target market access (the most crucial step)

Output:

Before accepting an order,it is necessary to require the client to provide a clear destination country.The regulatory barriers to light trucks vary greatly among different countries:

• EuropeanandAmericanMarkets:ADOT/EPA(USA)orWVTA/e-mark(EU)certificationisrequired.Ifthevehicledoesnothavethesecertificates,itisstrictlyprohibitedtooperateit,otherwiseitwillbeconsideredsmuggling.
• MiddleEast/Africa/SoutheastAsia:It’srelativelyrelaxed,butsomecountries(suchasSaudiArabiaandthesixGulfcountries)havestartedtomandateSASOorenergyefficiencylabels.
• Anexampleofanelectriclighttruck:Itisnecessarytoconfirmwhetherthevoltageandbatterycapacitymeetinternationalstandards.TheInternationalMaritimeDangerousGoodsCode(IMDGCode)determineswhetherthedeclarationshouldbemadeas"vehicles"or"dangerousgoods".

Step 2: Confirm the booking and logistics plan

Output:

Lightweight batteries are bulky and heavy,and the logistics cost accounts for a very high proportion of their total cost.

• PreferredSolution:Contacttheshippingcompaniesthatspecializeincarroutes(suchasGRIMALDI,NYK,MOL,etc.)toapplyforRT/ROcargospace.Itisnecessarytobookthecargospace2-3weeksinadvance,astheavailabilityofroll-on/roll-offshipcargospaceismorelimitedthanthatofcontainercargospace.
• Alternativeoptions:Ifit’saremoteportortherearenoroll-on/roll-off(Ro-Ro)shipsavailable,theonlyoptionistochooseanotherport.OT(OpenTopCabinet)orFR(framecabinet)Note:Theframecabinetsneedtobereinforced,andthevehiclesmustbesecurelytiedwithrainprooftarpaulins.

Step 3: Document preparation and customs review

Output:

The "Attached Documents" column on the customs declaration form is of crucial importance.

• NameplateVerification:Itisnecessarytoinspectthecaron-sitetoensurethattheinformationonthevehicleidentificationplateisaccurate.Manufacturingdate,enginenumber,andvehicleidentificationnumber(VIN)Itisfullyconsistentwiththedeclarationdocuments.Thecustomsnowimplement"documentverification",andablurredoralterednameplatewillresultinthedirectseizureofthegoods.
• Anentrygoodsclearanceform(A)isrequired,andsomespecialmaterialsmayrequireanendangeredspeciescertificateCheckwhethertheexportlicensehasbeenobtained(thisisrequiredfortheexportofsomespecialvehiclesorsecond-handcars).

Only the veteran practitioners know about the hidden benefits of having the "CCC certification revoked".

This is a policy benefit that many people in the industry haven’t noticed.Since the end of 2020,China has no longer imposed mandatory requirements on the export of complete vehicles (including light trucks)CCC Certification(China Compulsory Certification).This means that for pure export orders,vehicles do not need to be labeled with the CCC mark,nor do they need to pay expensive CCC certification fees.

However,There’s a huge hidden pitfall here:Although the state exempts exports from CCC certification,many destination countries (such as Chile and some Middle Eastern countries) require importers to provide a "conformity certificate" from the country of origin in China.If the agent lacks professional knowledge and simply tells clients that "CCC is not needed",it will result in clients being unable to clear customs at the port of destination,which is a lack of professionalism.The correct approach is to guide the factory to apply for the certificate.CoC (Certificate of Conformity)Or,provide a self-declaration (Declaration of Conformity) from the manufacturer to replace the CCC certificate and meet the requirements of the destination country.

The execution list will be finalized this afternoon

Don’t just focus on theory.As an agent or business owner,please immediately check the following three points:

• Reviewtheexistinginventory:Gotothewarehouseandrandomlyinspectthreelighttrucksawaitingexport,checkingwhethertheVINcodeonthevehiclebodynameplateisclear,notcoveredbypaint,andcompletelyconsistentwiththeVINcodeonthecertificateofconformity.
• Checktheregulationsofthedestinationcountry:Ifyouhaveordersundernegotiation(especiallythosesoldtoRussia,SaudiArabia,orMexico),immediatelycheckthelatestvehicleemissionstandardsinthesecountries(whethertheyareEuroIV,EuroV,orEuroVI)toconfirmwhetherthevehiclescomplywiththesestandards.
• Contactthero-roshipagent:Evenifthere’snocargoavailablenow,youshouldstillaskafreightforwarderspecializinginautomotiveexportsforthelatest"GlobalRoll-on/Roll-offShipRoutesandPortsList"andstoreitinyourresourcelibrary.Thiswillhelpyouavoidbeingatalosswhenaclientasks,"Canyoushiptoacertainsmallport?"nexttime.