Laws, regulations and accepted practices change frequently in the international truck freight industry. Staying abreast of these changes is vital to every trucking business. Knowing the border and customs regulations can help to save your company both time and money, which leads to increased profits. Those factors may also lead to a reputation of being dependable because they lessen the chance of your truckers showing up late for a delivery.

For international freight forwarders that do business in multiple countries, keeping the laws straight is difficult. While staying up to date on the regulations from multiple countries may seem daunting, here are some suggestions to make this as easy as possible:

1. Find out how changes in International trucking regulations affect your business.

2. Get suggestions for coping with regulatory changes.

3. Discuss the changes in the International trucking industry with other global trucking companies, truckers and experts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about new developments in international trucking

Online newsletters are a good way to learn about new laws, regulations and legislation that affect international trucking firms in various parts of the world. Because of the technicality of many laws, proper interpretation is a key factor in following the law. These newsletters provide expert insight that can help to alleviate misinterpretation.

I recommend: EIN News has a news articles concerning the international trucking industry. These articles are sorted by region and subdivided by country. You can find domestic and global trucking news at eTrucker.com. TruckingInfo.com has up to date news about all aspects of the trucking industry, including overseas trucking information.

Check out international trucking blogs

Trucking blogs provide information about what is going on Internationally. These blogs provide insight on how trucking regulations will affect your business. Many of these blogs are written by truckers and other industry experts. Additionally, blogs provide suggestions on coping with these changes.

I recommend: Logistics Management has numerous blogs to keep truckers up to date on what is going on in the trucking world. One full blog is dedicated to International freight companies servicing China. MassLogics has a blog with posts by members of International trucking companies. These blogs cover a variety of topics, including cross border regulations and money saving tips for every stage of trucking.

Attend international trucking events

Trade shows, summits, conferences and seminars are vital to keeping in touch with what is going on in the International trucking industry. While some companies choose to send only administrators to these events, having some of the top truckers from the company attend may prove to be beneficial, as the truckers can ask questions that are relevant to the job. This, in turn, may enable your company to come up with new ways to implement the suggestions at the events.

I recommend: TheTrucker.com offers a calendar of events for the global trucking industry. Events include events in the United States, British Columbia, Vietnam and France. SDCExec.com has a comprehensive list of trucking events worldwide. Food Logistics has a listing of events for trucking companies in the food transport industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider holding monthly conference calls with the truckers in your fleet to ensure everyone knows the newest international trucking regulations. If that isn't feasible for your company, consider an online newsletter, which can be accessed at any time, or a print newsletter, which can be distributed with paychecks, pay stubs or driver logs.

Trucking companies overseas can pick up your goods at the ports and deliver them to your clients. Few businesses own their own international trucking business, opting to outsource the work to global trucking and international freight companies who know the territory and have all the necessary insurance and trade information to move the products smoothly from one country to the next.

International trucking firms often work in concert with international logistics companies or are part of the entire package of an overseas trade process offered by one company. International trucking companies are becoming fairly ubiquitous as the global economy continues to expand. There are a number of ways you can employ an international trucking business to move your goods.

1. Set up a regular contract with an international trucking company

2. Utilize the services of a supply chain logistics firm for overseas trucking

3. Use different global trucking companies for various needs

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire one international truck company for your international trucking business

If you know that every month you will require the services of an international truck company to the same country, set up an automatic schedule to ensure your place with trucking companies overseas. You can be in a better position for negotiating terms if you sign a long-term contract with the overseas trucking firm, as well as receive better customer service.

I recommend: Coast to Coast Trucking can set up regular deliveries overseas as well as provide additional forms of transportation such as air or ship deliveries. ITC has international warehousing abilities in addition to trucking. They also are international freight forwarders out of Mexico.

Turn over all transportation logistics to international freight forwarders

Leave the entire process to an integrated logistics management company that serves your industry. Integrated logistics companies are set up to handle all your procurement and overseas trucking needs. You can make the entire shipping and international trucking system work through a one-stop shop.

I recommend: ITLX provides integrated logistics services from procurement to fleet services and international truck freight. INFOR is a complete supply chain management company that understands inventory supply and delivery imperatives. They have global experience to manage your product from beginning to end.

Access a variety of international freight companies in various countries

Some global trucking companies operate strictly in China or South America. You may find through shopping around that you can get better rates by using different international trucking firms for every country in which you trade. Once you find an international trucking business that works for you, stick with it and develop a relationship.

I recommend: FreightCenter.com serves as a conduit for a number of global trucking companies and international freight forwarders. You can receive quotes online for various destinations and carriers. Belys Group specializes in global trucking in Russia, Europe and Asia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Regularly check with your customers overseas about their satisfaction with your international trucking company, especially if you can't be there personally.

If your business or organization requires the services of global trucking companies it is imperative that you conduct background research to ensure successful and affordable global trucking operations. Whether your company needs to work with trucking companies overseas or international freight forwarders, entering into trucking activities as an informed client is always beneficial.

Taking the time to research international truck company information will enable your business to make knowledgeable and reliable decisions and protect your bottom line. Consider the following in preparation for your business dealing with and working with international trucking companies:

1. Get an idea of the types of (and potential costs of) services generally offered by international trucking firms.

2. Acquire a complete understanding of what is expected of you during your international trucking business experience, especially in terms of required documentation and materials.

3. Know what awaits you in regard to process and schedule during your international freight companies activities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about typical services offered by international truck freight companies

Gain an accurate understanding of common services offered by international and overseas trucking companies to provide your business with enough information to decide what companies can best suit your professional needs. Knowing all your options is advantageous to your trucking operations' wellbeing. This information can easily be found on international trucking company websites, which often include pricing information.

I recommend: Check out the linkable services provided by the International Trucking Company on their website. Take a look at the services and quotes offered on the R + L Carrier website.

Learn about what will be expected of you during your freight companies international experience

Make sure you are aware of what will be required of you during your international trucking business experience, including needed documentation and materials. Early compilation of the necessary documentation and information that is inevitably demanded will save you from the time and hassle of last-minute preparation. This data can be accessed on international trucking websites free of charge.

I recommend: Access useful links on the document and information page at the ATS International website. Peruse the border crossing page at Schneider National to view pertinent information and customer tips.

Learn about the process of carrying out business operations with an international truck company

Realize what activities will be carried out during international truck freight operations, including a typical time line of events. Understanding schedule requirements and the actual trucking process will ensure you are fully aware of the complete experience and guard against any potential surprises. This information is also available online at international truck company websites.

I recommend: Review pictures and descriptions of past projects at the Logistics Group International website. View a sample service schedule at the ITC website.