Cross-Border Freight Shipping vs. Domestic Shipping: What You Need to Know

A truck driving past a lake in El Paso, cross-border freight shipping

Are you new to the freight shipping business? Are you unsure of the differences between cross-border and domestic shipping? Here, we will break down the two methods and tell you what you need to know. 

At EDC Transportation in El Paso, we offer cross-border freight shipping via our trusted trucking team. Our services are time-efficient and hassle-free! If you’d like to work with us, contact us at (915) 208-6455 to get started.

Cross-Border VS. Domestic

By offering cross-border freight shipping in El Paso, you’re giving your company a broader business area. Though this is great for profit and recognition, it can also mean more hoops to jump through. The process of shipping outside of the U.S. is different from the domestic process, and it’s one you should know very well. Read below for a list of steps you’ll have to go through with cross-border freight shipping that you won’t typically see when shipping domestically. 

  • Obtain freight insurance and look at possible liability risks that could occur during transit.
  • Preparing all documentation for customs and ensuring all the paperwork is compliant with the country’s laws and regulations. 
  • Arranging possible warehousing for potential storage across the border. 
  • Ensuring planning, communication, and negotiating are covered throughout the entire shipment process. 

Key Differences

There are five key things that differ between cross-border freight shipping and domestic. Those are basic functions, speed, cost, and documentation. Let’s break it down. 

  • Basic Functions- As mentioned previously, cross-border freight shipping involves sending goods to other countries. Unlike domestic, all shipping activity involves cross-border interactions. 
  • Speed– 2-3 day shipping is standard for domestic, but can be costly for cross-border freight shipping. Domestic shipping will usually run into lesser delays while cross-border shipping can get held up at customs. 
  • Cost- The price is one of the biggest differences. Not only does shipping across borders cost more money, but it costs more time too. Custom checking can be very time-consuming and ultimately cause the business to lose money in delays. 
  • Proper Documentation- Domestic shipping usually only requires a shipping label unless specified otherwise. When traveling through two different countries, you have to follow certain laws and regulations regarding the products. Without the proper paperwork, your shipment will have a difficult time passing through customs. 

Cross-Border Freight Shipping in El Paso

At EDC Transportation, located in El Paso, we offer cross-border freight shipping through our reliable trucking services. Call (915) 208-6455 today to learn more!