Log in to
Portal
Platton Insights
16 published guides
All-risk vs named perils cargo insurance: 6 differences between ICC A, B and C, from what each pays for to who proves the loss and how long cover lasts.
The best freight forwarder for auto parts in 2026: 8 companies ranked, led by Platton for multi-supplier consolidation, urgent air and US import expertise.
Fake supplier red flags on China orders: 8 signs of a scam or a trader posing as a factory, how to check the license, and safer ways to pay.
Hidden fees in freight quotes: the five charges that most often reach a US import invoice, when each one lands and the question to ask before you book.
What the FCA Incoterm obligates the seller and buyer to do, where risk transfers, why the ICC points container cargo to FCA over FOB, and when to buy on it.
How to choose a freight forwarder for importing into the US: six checks, the questions importers should ask, and the red flags to walk away from.
Do you need cargo insurance for imports? Why the carrier's COGSA $500-per-package limit leaves you exposed, what a policy covers, the ICC types, and the cost.
CIF Incoterm explained for US importers: what Cost, Insurance and Freight covers, where risk transfers, why the insurance is thin, and CIF vs FOB and CFR.
FOB vs EXW for US importers: who clears export, who pays freight, where risk transfers, why EXW looks cheaper but rarely is, and which Incoterm to buy on.
How to import from China to the USA step by step: supplier terms, Incoterms, freight, customs, duty and Section 301, and the 2026 de minimis change.
Supplier document validation for US importers: the documents an import needs, and why a completeness and consistency check keeps cargo out of a customs hold.
FOB meaning in shipping: Incoterms FOB for imports, FOB shipping point vs destination, who pays freight, what a FOB price includes, and the costly mix-ups.
Freight forwarder vs customs broker vs 3PL vs NVOCC for US importers: who is licensed for what, who is liable, and which one your import actually needs.
All 11 Incoterms 2020 rules for US importers: who pays what, where risk transfers, which term to buy on, plus a full chart and the 2010-to-2020 changes.
Landed cost for US importers: the formula, every component, two worked per-unit examples, the 2026 duty changes, and the fees that wreck estimates.
Continue exploring
Import Knowledge Hub
US Import Customs and Compliance, Decoded
Ocean Freight Knowledge Hub
Air Freight Knowledge Hub
Trucking & Drayage Knowledge Hub
Documentation & Incoterms Knowledge Hub
Industry Knowledge Hub
Sign up for our new newsletter to get the latest freight trends and recent logistics insights straight into your inbox.
You agree to the privacy policy and receive news updates once a week