BASIC INFORMATION

1.) What are your office hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Time

2.) What is your fax number? Our fax number is 805-497-8635

PAYMENTS ETC.

1.) I deposited payment, do you see it in PAL’ account yet? Can you check your bank right now?
If a cash payment is made, it will not reflect into our account for 24 hours. Please allow 24 hours after submission of payment for processing.

2.) I have such a small balance, can’t you release the cargo now and I’ll pay you later?
Releases are not processed and requested until your invoice is paid in full, no matter what the remaining balance is.

3.) Why do you hold release for 5 days if I pay by check?
Payments made by company check or personal check will be held for 5 business as that is the timeframe allotted by the bank to fully confirm funds.

4.) If a wire transfer fee is deducted from my deposit that should not be my problem, right?
Your invoice total balance must be made in full to us. When making a wire transfer payment you must include any associated bank fees that may be deducted from your funds so that your invoice is paid in full.

5.) Type of payments acceptedand funds holding period.

When do I pay?
You can pay at any time you’d like. However, you will receive an invoice only after your cargo has sailed and we have confirmation from the shipping line that the cargo is in fact on board. Our invoice terms are 10 days after sailing.

RELEASES, ETC.

1.) How long does it take to get my release?
Releases are processed once your payment has been confirmed into our account. Once the funds are confirmed, the release is requested from the line. Carriers take anywhere from 24 hours up to 5 business days to finalize a release.

2.) Accounting confirmed my payment in full, but Operations doesn’t have instructions to request release.
Why not?
If your cargo is not arriving yet, at times we may hold off on requesting the release because agents at destination tend to misplace releases when the cargo is not arriving for a week or more. We hold off on
the request for your benefit and to avoid possible delays in the release once the cargo arrives.

3.) How do I get my cargo released?
Your consignee would go to the shipping line agents office overseas with proper identification and either the original bills of lading and title or if you are doing a Telex release an electronic message is sent to the
agents office and your consignee only needs to take proper identification.

4.) What are the means of releasing cargo?
There are 2 options for release: Shipping line Original Bills of Lading and Telex Release.

5.) What is a Telex release?
A Telex is an electronic message, like an email, that is sent to the release agents’ office authorizing them to release the car to the consignee advised.

6.) What are shipping line originals?
Shipping line original bills of lading are bills issued by the shipping line. These bills must be sent overseas for the consignee to release the cargo with.

OPERATIONS, ETC.

1.) What is our rate for a particular roro or container service?
Please call our office or email our rates department. Every quote is unique and different, we do not give rates verbally or over the phone. All quotes must go through our rates department which will forward you a written quote outlining the services quoted and the related cost.

2.) What is our sailing schedule? And what is the status of my shipment?
Please call our office for sailing schedules. Every shipment is different; please contact the operations department for the status of your shipment.

3.) How do I send the title and originals overseas?
We will receive your titles back from the shipping lines and mail them to you along with your original bills of lading. It is up to you how you wish to send them to your consignee but we do offer a courier service and can arrange for it to be sent for you at an additional charge.

4.) When shipping vehicles, can I put things in the vehicles?
For RORO, your vehicle must be empty of any goods or items including tools in the trunk. For container, you can put items in the vehicles as long as it is safe and the car is properly blocked and braced.

5.) How can I track my RORO?
Unfortunately, there is no way for you to track the RORO shipments online like with containers. However, you are more than welcome to check with our office or we can provide you with a copy of the latest shipping line schedule.

6.) Who do I give my documents and title to?
For RORO the original title and dock receipt will have to go with the vehicle to the port. If we are doing the trucking for you, the driver will take this documentation with your car to the port. For Containers you will send your title to the title clearing company advised. There is an additional fee for title clearing. Please consult your quote for charges.

7.) Why do you need my social security card?
The shippers’ social security # is used by US Customs to keep track of shipments for export. We need to verify that the number provided is correct and require a copy of it for all new shippers.

8.) What is Terminal Handling Fee?
The terminal handling fee is a charge by the port for all shipments similar to an airport tax when you travel.

9.) What is transshipment?
Transshipment is when the cargo is transferred from the original ship to a different vessel for the next leg of travel, similar to a transfer you make if you are taking a bus or a connection flight. “'d2Direct Service”'d3 does not mean it will go straight to your port of destination. Sometimes, it will make other stops to pick up or offload more cargo. But what it does mean is that the cargo will not have to change vessels.

10.) How do I clear my own titles?
There are different regulations and procedures for different carriers and services. For RORO shipments, depending on what shipping line you use, we will clear the titles for you. If you are shipping a unit for RORO with Nordana, for example, you can take the original title/ notarized bill of sale along with the dock receipts (we’ll provide) to a Customs office or agent. You can also ask us to process it for you, and you will be sending the title to us.
For containers, it is a similar process but you will have to take it for each unit in the container. For all shipment, the titles must be signed by the owner and the name must match that of either the shipper or consignee on the documentation. You can contact our office for further information on this or a one by one case basis when booking, we’ll gladly offer information in detail.

11.) Where do I get a seal from (for container shipments)?
Truckers will usually have a seal for purchase.

12.) How long can I have a container out for?
That will depend upon the shipping line. They will generally let you have a container out for free for 2-3 days. Any longer that this time frame may incur per diem fees.

13.) What is the difference between live load and drop and pick? Live load is when the trucker brings the container to the warehouse for loading and waits. Generally 2 hours are provided to you at no charge per terms with trucker; any time exceeding the allowed time will be billed at the trucker’s per hour rate. A drop and pick is when the trucker brings the container to the desired location, “'d2drops”'d3 it there and then comes back to “'d2pick”'d3 it up at a later date. A drop and pick is usually more costly as two trips are
involved instead of one.

14.) Can I ship with a salvage certificate? Bill of sale? Vehicle Registration?
You can ship autos with a valid salvage certificate. Bills of sales will be accepted for large units and equipment like CATs as long as it is properly Notarized. Vehicle Registrations will not be accepted as a valid form of
ownership for Customs clearance.

15.) When do I get my bill of lading?
If you request for your cargo to be released via telex release, we will issue you PAL Original Bills of Lading. Once the cargo is confirmed on board, we generate a Proof Bill of Lading to you for your review. You then have 48 hours to review and make any necessary modifications and/or corrections. Upon receipt of your approval or correction we will send you the originals. If you fail to make any corrections or modification within the 48 hours allotted we will issue your originals as indicated in the proof bill of lading.

16.) What would stop my unit from sailing?
Failure to clear customs in time will yield in the cargo being cut from the vessel. Another possibility is that the carrier has overbooked their vessel and cut your cargo due to their discretion. This reason is out of our hands as it is the carriers’ decision. Another possibility is not making the cut off in a timely manner resulting in your cargo to roll.

17.) Is my cargo safe?
Generally yes; however, for additional security you may chose to insure your cargo for an additional cost which is a service that we can offer at your request. You can contact our rates department for fee indication on cargo insurance.

18.) Why do I have to fill out the Power of Attorney form?
This is required by Federal Maritime Law if we are processing your Shipper’s Export Declaration for your cargo.

19.) What do the cut off dates mean?
Every vessel sails on a given date determined by the shipping line. The shipping line also determines a date (generally about 5-7 days prior to sailing) by which the cargo must be turned in by and cleared customs.
The reason for that is to insure that all paperwork and related documentation is in good order prior to loading.

20.) Why do all the requests have to be done in writing?
Everything must be documented on file; therefore, we require for all requests, changes, anything related to the shipment be documented in writing and on file.

21.) What do cleared titles mean?
Exporting vehicles out of the US requires an approval from customs. Customs reviews all of the shipment information and upon approval, customs will stamp titles cleared for shipment. This process yields titles cleared for shipment.

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