This is a guest post by Joe Webster.

Most U.S. imports are transported via ocean freight or air freight. However, air freight primarily deals with shipments of perishable goods and other time-sensitive products. That, combined with almost double the shipping cost, means that the majority of imports arrive in the U.S. via ocean freight.

To get the best deal and have a smooth shipping process, it’s worth understanding common industry terminology used in freight shipping contracts. Two terms you’ll often run into are FOB or Free on Board and FCA or Free Carrier

Find out how these incoterms divide obligations between sellers and buyers to figure out which you should use by reading the full post in Universal Cargo’s blog.