What is Door to Door Service shipping process?
Businesses looking to import goods from China often face a number of challenges, which is where logistics companies like Senghor Logistics come in, offering a seamless “door-to-door” service that simplifies the entire shipping process. In this article, we’ll explore the complete import process of “door-to-door” shipping.
Learn about door-to-door shipping
Door-to-door shipping refers to a full-service logistics service from the supplier’s location to the consignee’s designated address. The service covers several key stages, including pickup, warehousing, transportation, customs clearance and final delivery. By choosing door-to-door service, companies can save time and reduce the complexity associated with international transportation.
Key terms for Door-to-Door shipping
When dealing with international shipping, it’s vital to understand the various terms that define the responsibilities of the shipper and consignee. Here are three key terms you should know:
1. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): Under DDP terms, the seller bears all responsibilities and costs associated with shipping the goods, including duties and taxes. This means the buyer can receive the goods at their doorstep without having to pay any additional costs.
2. DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid): Unlike DDP, DDU means the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the buyer’s location, but the buyer must deal with duties and taxes. This may result in unexpected costs for the buyer upon delivery.
3. DAP (Delivered at Place): DAP is an intermediate option between DDP and DDU. The seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the designated location, but the buyer is responsible for customs clearance and any related costs.
Understanding these terms is crucial for businesses looking to import from China, as they determine the responsibilities and costs involved in the shipping process.
Door-to-door shipping process
Senghor Logistics offers a comprehensive door-to-door service that covers every aspect of the shipping process. Here is a breakdown of the complete process:
1. Preliminary communication and confirmation
Demand matching: The shipper or cargo owner contacts the freight forwarder to clarify the cargo information (product name, weight, volume, quantity, whether it is sensitive cargo), destination, time requirements, whether special services (such as insurance) are required, etc.
Quotation and price confirmation: The freight forwarder provides a quotation including freight, customs clearance fees, insurance premiums, etc. based on the cargo information and needs. After confirmation by both parties, the freight forwarder can arrange the service.
2. Pick up the goods at the supplier’s address
The first step of the door-to-door service is to pick up the goods from the supplier’s address in China. Senghor Logistics coordinates with the supplier to arrange a timely pick-up and ensures the goods are ready for shipment, and check the quantity of the goods and whether the packaging is intact, and confirm that it is consistent with the order information.
3. Warehousing
Once your cargo has been picked up, it may need to be temporarily stored in a warehouse. Senghor Logistics offers warehousing solutions that provide a safe environment for your cargo until it is ready for transport. This is especially useful for businesses that need to consolidate their cargo or need extra time for customs clearance.
4. Shipping
Senghor Logistics offers a variety of shipping options, including sea, air, rail, and land, allowing businesses to choose the most suitable option based on their budget and schedule.
Sea freight: Sea freight is ideal for bulk cargo and is an affordable option for businesses that need to import goods in bulk. Senghor Logistics manages the entire sea freight process, from booking space to coordinating loading and unloading.
Air freight: For time-sensitive shipments, air freight is the fastest option. Senghor Logistics ensures your shipment is transported quickly and efficiently, minimizing delays and ensuring on-time delivery.
Rail freight: Rail freight is an increasingly popular mode of transport for shipping goods from China to Europe, which strikes a balance between cost and speed. Senghor Logistics has partnered with railway operators to provide reliable rail freight services.
Land transportation: Mainly applicable to bordering countries (such as China to Mongolia, China to Thailand, etc.), cross-border transportation by truck.
No matter which method, we can arrange door-to-door delivery.
Further reading:
5. Customs clearance
Document submission: After the goods arrive at the port of destination, the customs clearance team of the freight forwarder (or cooperative customs clearance agency) submits import customs clearance documents (such as commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and declaration documents corresponding to the HS code).
Tax calculation and payment: Customs calculates tariffs, value-added tax and other taxes based on the declared value and type of goods (HS code), and the service provider pays on behalf of the customer (if it is a "bilateral customs clearance tax-inclusive" service, the tax is already included; if it is a non-tax-inclusive service, the consignee needs to pay).
Inspection and release: Customs may conduct random inspections on goods (such as checking whether the declared information is consistent with the actual goods), and release them after the inspection is passed, and the goods enter the domestic transportation link of the destination country.
Senghor Logistics has a team of experienced customs brokers who can handle all customs clearance formalities on behalf of our clients. This includes preparing and submitting the necessary documentation, paying duties and taxes, and ensuring compliance with local regulations.
6. Final Delivery
Generally, cargoes are first transferred to the bonded warehouse or distribution warehouse for temporary storage: After customs clearance and release, the goods are transported to our cooperative warehouse in the destination country (such as the Los Angeles warehouse in the United States and the Hamburg warehouse in Germany in Europe) for distribution.
Last-mile delivery: The warehouse arranges for local logistics partners (such as UPS in the United States or DPD in Europe) to deliver the goods according to the delivery address, and delivers them directly to the designated location of the consignee.
Delivered confirmation: After the consignee signs for the goods and confirms that there is no damage and the quantity is correct, the delivery is completed, and the local logistics company’s system simultaneously updates the "Delivered" status, and the entire "door-to-door" shipping service process ends.
Once the goods have cleared customs, Senghor Logistics will coordinate the final delivery to the consignee’s designated location. Senghor Logistics provides real-time tracking updates, allowing customers to monitor the status of their goods throughout the delivery process.
Why choose Senghor Logistics?
Door-to-door service has become the signature service of Senghor Logistics and is the choice of many customers. Here are some reasons why you could consider working with Senghor Logistics for your shipping needs:
One-stop service: Senghor Logistics provides comprehensive services covering the entire shipping process from pickup to final delivery. This eliminates the need for businesses to coordinate with multiple service providers, saving time and reducing the risk of communication errors.
Import expertise: With more than ten years of experience in the logistics industry, Senghor Logistics has long-term cooperation with local agents and has significant customs clearance capabilities. Our company is proficient in import customs clearance business in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and other countries, especially has a very in-depth study of the import customs clearance rate in the United States.
Flexible shipping options: Senghor Logistics offers a range of shipping options including ocean, air, rail and land freight, allowing businesses to choose the best solution for their specific needs. If you run a company and have time constraints or distribution needs to different destinations, we can provide you with a suitable solution.
Real-time Tracking: Senghor Logistics’ customer service team will keep customers updated about the cargo status, then customers can track their shipments in real-time, providing peace of mind and transparency throughout the shipping process.
Door-to-door shipping is an essential service for businesses looking to import goods from China. Given the complexity of international shipping, it is essential to work with a reliable logistics company like Senghor Logistics. From picking up goods at the supplier’s address to ensuring that the goods are delivered to the consignee’s location in a timely manner, Senghor Logistics provides a comprehensive and convenient shipping experience.
Whether you need sea, air, rail or land freight shipping services, Senghor Logistics is your trusted partner for all your shipping needs.
Post time: Jul-16-2025
