From labor battles to natural disasters, 2012 was filled with risk for shippers and the companies moving and managing their cargo. Here are the stories that defined the year. THE ILA VS. USMX As 2012 entered its final days, the International Longshoremen’s Association was on the verge of its first coastwide strike in 35 years. [...]

When shipping your international freight to foreign customers and markets you will most often use Ltl carriers to get your goods where they need to be.  These common carriers consolidate shipments to fill trucks headed to foreign destinations.  If you are not familiar with the services of Ltl carriers these FAQs will help you understand [...]

Much of the freight moved out of the U.S. to Canada, Mexico and to the Americas is carried by Ltl carriers in consolidated shipments.  The alternative by truck is to use Ftl – full truckload – carriers but most shipments are not large enough to make that cost effective.  Ltl carriers transport goods in semi-trailers [...]

You’ve picked up your first foreign customer, located in Canada or Brazil, for example, and you need to get several pallets of product shipped securely, quickly and affordably.  Perhaps your usual interstate shipping has enough volume that you use full truckload (Ftl) carriers, but that’s not what you need know.  The answer is to use [...]

Perhaps in this economic downturn you’ve started looking for a new job opportunity, something that will grow along with the eventually recovery of the economy.  You’ve probably seen numerous ads for “truck drivers wanted” and are interested.  You should also know that  for every truck driver working for Ltl carriers there are 8-10 other transportations [...]

When you take a look at an international shipping quote you might think the only thing not included is the kitchen sink – unless of course you’ve got a load of plumbing supplies on its way abroad.  What costs are included in a shipping quote?  The simple answer is that the shipping quote covers every [...]

Perhaps you’ve just landed your first overseas sale and you need to get the goods there in prompt fashion.  How do you get a shipping quote for international shipping?  Thankfully there are many reliable freight forwarding companies and transportation brokers that handle international freight.  They act as intermediaries between you and the transportation companies in [...]

If you are accustomed to moving your goods from one state to another you will find that shipping international freight overseas is significantly more difficult.  But that doesn’t mean you should avoid the opportunity of moving your products into new, expanding markets hungry for quality goods made in the U.S.  The good news is that [...]

When you take a look at an international freight quote you might think the only thing not included is the kitchen sink – unless of course you’ve got a load of plumbing supplies on its way abroad.  What costs are included in a freight quote?  The simple answer is that the freight quote covers every [...]

Every year the globe shrinks just a bit more, or so it seems, and markets around the world become accessible to U.S. exports.  As the economy also becomes more global, transportation jobs will become a larger sector of every economy.  If you are looking for a job in transportation or logistics, this article will help [...]

American Group supports small businesses, and we work with small businesses for shipping needs on a daily basis. Won’t you join us in supporting Small Business Saturday on November 27, 2010?

To be a global player in your industry you must find markets abroad and get your goods to them in the most economical way possible.  Shipping international freight is far more complex than moving domestic freight from state to state especially since there is not a universal set of rules shared by destination countries.  Regulations [...]

If you are positioning your business to compete in international markets then the services of a quality forwarding agent to expedite the shipments of your international freight is an essential piece of the puzzle.  The right forwarding agent will save you many hours of work and will search a wide spectrum of carriers to find [...]

When international markets beckon and you see a world full of sales potential for your products the first step to grasping the opportunity is to establish a relationship with a respected international freight forwarder.  These transportation brokers are experts in moving international freight and take the guesswork and the hassle out of the equation.  This [...]

If you’re contemplating shipping international freight you likely have a number of questions regarding the process.  We’re here to help with answers to common FAQs on shipping internationally. 1. How is international freight shipped? When shipping from the U.S. to Canada or to Mexico, Central or South America, international freight is commonly moved by rail.  [...]