Freight Forwarding
Answers to common questions about international shipping, customs clearance, and freight forwarding from China to Canada.
A freight forwarder manages international shipments on behalf of importers — booking carriers, handling documentation, coordinating customs clearance, and arranging inland delivery. Eztrans Logistics provides freight forwarding for China-to-Canada shipments with integrated ocean freight, air freight, and customs brokerage services.
Common Questions
A freight forwarder organizes international shipments on behalf of importers and exporters. They coordinate transportation between suppliers, shipping carriers, ports, customs authorities, and final delivery locations.
Many businesses work with freight forwarders because international shipping requires coordination between multiple logistics providers — carrier booking, documentation, customs clearance, and inland trucking. A forwarder consolidates these into a single managed service.
Ocean freight transports cargo by sea in shipping containers — the most cost-effective method for large shipments, with transit times of 12–35 days from China to Canada. Air freight transports cargo by aircraft in 2–5 days but costs 4–8× more per kilogram.
Ocean freight: 12–35 days port-to-port. Air freight: 2–5 days. Express courier: 2–4 days. Add 2–5 business days for customs clearance and inland delivery.
Typical ranges: ocean freight container USD 2,000–5,000; LCL ocean freight USD 80–200 per cubic meter; air freight USD 4–12 per kilogram. Rates vary by season and market conditions.
Transloading is transferring cargo from one container or transport mode to another — for example, unloading ocean containers at Vancouver and reloading into domestic trailers or rail containers for inland delivery to Toronto and other eastern destinations.
Common documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (ocean) or airway bill (air), and customs entry documents. Additional documents may be required depending on cargo type (CFIA permits, dangerous goods declarations, etc.).
All commercial imports must clear CBSA. Most importers work with a licensed customs broker to prepare and file the customs entry, calculate duties and taxes, and obtain release. Eztrans clients use Ezcustoms for integrated brokerage.
FAQ
Clear answers for Canadian importers evaluating freight forwarding, China–Canada shipping, and integrated logistics options.
Typical ranges: ocean freight container USD 2,000–5,000; LCL ocean freight USD 80–200 per cubic meter; air freight USD 4–12 per kilogram. Rates vary by season and market conditions.
Transloading is transferring cargo from one container or transport mode to another — for example, unloading ocean containers at Vancouver and reloading into domestic trailers or rail containers for inland delivery to Toronto and other eastern destinations.
Common documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (ocean) or airway bill (air), and customs entry documents. Additional documents may be required depending on cargo type (CFIA permits, dangerous goods declarations, etc.).
All commercial imports must clear CBSA. Most importers work with a licensed customs broker to prepare and file the customs entry, calculate duties and taxes, and obtain release. Eztrans clients use Ezcustoms for integrated brokerage.
Contact Eztrans for route planning, freight quotes, and customs guidance for your China-to-Canada shipments.