When you own a business, it's your job to make sure your goods get to their required destination on time and that they are then delivered to the appropriate venues and individuals. Unfortunately, that's a lot to keep track of, and if you're like most business owners, you probably don't have time to handle it all yourself. Fortunately, if you find a good commercial cargo company, the hard parts can be taken care of for you. However, there are still a few general tips you should follow to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Know and Understand International Shipping Laws

If you plan on shipping your goods overseas, then you're opening up a whole new ball of wax. Each country will have its own laws about what can and cannot be shipped into the country and about how certain items must be packaged, shipped, and declared.

It's important that you are familiar with and abide by the shipping laws of any country that you ship to. If you're not, it's all too easy to accidentally break a rule and find yourself and your business in hot water. Your shipping service should be checking behind you to make sure that everything you're doing is within the bounds of the law, but it's much easier if you don't make any mistakes from the start.

Select the Right Delivery Option(s)

Most shipping companies will offer several different delivery options for your shipped goods. Common drop-off locations for goods include

• A different port
• Business/residential doorstep or mailbox

Both of these options can also serve as pick-up locations. Different costs are involved with different delivery methods; for, example, shipping direct-to-door is usually more expensive than shipping to port. However, if that's more convenient for you, it may be worth the extra cost, and that convenience is what you really need to think about when you choose your delivery option. If your shipper doesn't offer the delivery option you need, you may also want to think about finding a new shipping service. There are too many options in this day and age to settle for less than you need.

Opt for Cargo Insurance

Finally, remember that, even with the very best shipping service on your side, things can and do happen in transport. You need to know that you'll be protected in the event that your shipment gets lost, damaged, or even stolen. Only choose a shipping service that offers cargo insurance and then make sure you take advantage of this option. If you can do that and follow these other tips, you and your commercial cargo should be in good hands.