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What is a container freight station? 

The international 2024 commerce trends have contributed to the increase in sales, like digital transformation and eCommerce expansion, which allow businesses to analyze data and predict consumer behavior. However, there is also a need for a better understanding of the wide variety of tools, services, and allies available to streamline all their export and import processes, such as a container freight station.  

This place offers various services and benefits, especially for businesses interested in maritime trade. If this is your case, we recommend you research every available detail about the functioning, location, and fees of a container freight station with the help of your mexican custom broker.  

In the meantime, let us introduce you to a few of the most common questions and answers regarding container freight stations. This way, you will have a general idea of what to expect. 

Definition and purpose of container freight stations

A container freight station, or CFS for short, is a warehouse located near major seaports, although it is also possible to find CFS around airports and railway hubs as well. This facility’s primary focus is the consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo.

Normally, when an LCL (Less than Container Load) is loaded by multiple customers who don’t have enough cargo to fill an FCL (Full Container Load) for the export or import of porpoises, the truck doesn’t arrive at customs and goes directly to the port. 

Firstly, the truck must unload and load the cargo into a container, but this is not the responsibility of the transportation company but the staff of a container freight station. If the LCL holds goods headed to the same destination, the workers at CFS will follow specific guidelines to ensure the consolidation of this cargo into one container and then trucked to the CY (Container Yard), for upward transportation.   

But if the LCL contains cargo with different destinations, the goods will be temporarily stored in the CFS until there are enough products to be shipped together. 

exportation merchandise

Types of container freight station

There are two types of main services that characterize a container freight station: the consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo, both can operate in the same warehouse. But to distinguish one from another, in the context of logistics, it is common to say that there are two types of CFS:

Origin CFS 

Origin container freight station is the term associated with this warehouse when the LCL or FCL shipment arrives at the CFS for the consolidation process and is taken to the CY.

Destination CFS 

The destination container freight station is the warehouse that receives the container after it has arrived at the port. Here, the staff take the container for deconsolidation. This will make it much easier for the LCL transport to pick up the cargo and leave to their final destination.

Duties and services of CFS

A mexican custom broker would encourage you to use the advantages of a CFS not only for the consolidation and deconsolidation process but also for the additional services that ensure the safety of your cargo. 

  • Consolidation and deconsolidation of goods  
  • Shipment transfer between the CFS and the container yard and vice versa
  • Container maintenance
  • Storage of cargo
  • Placement of protective materials inside the container
  • Labeling and gathering of shipment data
  • Sorting and stacking of containers for easy access and management 
  • Assistance in the clearance process
  • Delivery of customer´s goods to their preferred destination

What are the benefits of CFS?

Having the support of a container freight station will improve the long-term development of your export and import activities and overall the performance of your business. 

Trust in the advice of your custom brokers in manzanillo and identify the best CFS for your specific needs and soon you will notice the following benefits.   

1.- Cost-effective 

From the beginning, choosing an LCL truck company as your transportation of choice would benefit your business budget. Instead of hiring an entire truck, you only have to share the transport with other businesses and pay for the percentage of space and weight you occupy.

But even if you chose an FCL you will still save resources by stopping at a container freight station near your port. With their staff’s abilities, equipment, and competitive prices, you can minimize the cost associated with all the efforts that require fast and efficient cargo consolidation and deconsolidation. 

2.- Cargo security guarantee 

When you import your products, there is always the risk of accidents that can damage your products and consequently delay your production or create a bad experience for your customers.

Fortunately, CFS staff take precautions to ensure the safety of your goods in each cargo reception and dispatch. They ensure that both the container and the space between packages have protective materials to prevent impacts or falls and supervise the proper unloading of goods once the cargo has arrived at the destination container freight station.

container freight station
 

3.- Streamline operations 

Every action you take to optimize your business, from hiring custom brokers in nuevo laredo to using the services of a CFS, will improve your streamline operations. In this case, by accepting the support of a container freight station, you can enhance the efficiency of handling and consolidating your cargo.

This strategic move not only aids in better managing logistics but also ensures smoother customs procedures, contributing to overall business growth and competitiveness.

4.- Efficient tracking

The control the CFS has over its containers is such that you don’t have to worry about losing your cargo. They ensure secure handling and monitoring throughout the storage and transit process.

We hope that this property, like the others, has allowed you to consider the benefits of establishing a good relationship with a container freight station. If you would like to know more in-depth about the topic, don’t hesitate to consult your customs broker and our blog for valuable content. 

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