FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where are your Terminals located?
You can find a detailed listing of our locations here.

How often do you ship to Hawaii and Guam?
We sail twice each week from the west coast to Hawaii, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We sail once a week from the west coast to Guam. Check out our sailing schedule below to see when your shipment will arrive at its destination.

SAIL DAY:	ARRIVAL IN HAWAII:	ARRIVAL IN GUAM:
WEDNESDAY	4 DAYS LATER, SUNDAY	12 DAYS LATER, MONDAY
SATURDAY	4 DAYS LATER, WEDNESDAY

We also offer direct service to all outer islands every Wednesday and Saturday.

How often does Approved ship from Hawaii?
Shipping from Hawaii to the continental U.S. is available every Friday.

What are the cutoff times for shipping?
Sail Day: Cutoff for Hawaii: Cutoff for Guam: Wednesday Monday, 4pm Friday, 4pm Saturday Thursday, 4pm

How do you handle freight?
Here's the step-by-step process:

1. We receive the goods on our dock.
2. The shipment is inspected for any damages. The trucker's Bill of Lading is signed for, indicating the number of pieces received and notations of damages, if applicable. Notification of OS&D will be sent to you immediately.
3. We carefully load the shipment into a container for shipping to the destination port.
4. Our containers are delivered to the origin port.
5. The vessel lands at the destination port. The containers are offloaded and then picked up by our respective terminal. (The process of container offloading from the vessel may take 1 to 2 days from the date the vessel lands at port.)
6. The container is transferred to our docks at the destination terminal.
7. The freight is offloaded at the terminal. As the freight is being staged in our warehouse, our delivery dispatcher will call the consignee to schedule delivery.

What size shipments can you handle?
Pretty much any size you have! We can handle individual cartons, palletized items, and large, bulky items up to 20,000 lbs per piece-plus everything in between. Our terminals are equipped for flatrack/flatbed loading and oversized freight. We can accommodate special freight needs by utilizing equipment rentals.

How do you measure shipments?
We simply measure the length, width, and height of the shipment and calculate the cubic feet of space that the shipment takes up in the container.

How do I calculate cubic feet?
Cubic Feet = Length x Width x Height ÷ 1728

What types of payment terms are accepted? Can I apply for credit?
We accept payment via check (personal/company/cashiers), cash, and credit card. Discounts may apply to cash or check payments. To apply for credit, please complete and submit the credit application on the Forms page. After review of your completed credit application, we may extend a standard 30-day credit from the date the shipment leaves its origin port. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing and approval of credit.

Do you ship eastbound?
Yes. We offer weekly service from Hawaii to the continental U.S. each Friday.

Can you handle hazardous materials?
Yes. All of our facilities are HazMat certified, and all of our drivers have their HazMat endorsements. We take the handling of hazardous materials very seriously and are completely certified to transport freight of this nature. At this time, we do not handle Class 1 explosives.

If you are shipping hazardous materials, you must include a copy of the MSDS with the shipment at the time of delivery. The freight must be properly packaged and labeled to meet all regulations. All hazardous items must be itemized to include:

IMO Proper shipping name
Hazardous Class
UN Number
Packaging Group (if applicable)
Quantity and packaging type
Weight
Cubic feet
Flash Point (if applicable)

Can I get my shipment expedited?
We can't control the length of time it takes the ship to sail between ports, but we can control how fast we get your items offloaded and offered for delivery. By negotiating with the steam ship lines for Last In/First Off Loading of your shipment, your freight can be released to us at the destination port right away. Our goal is always to be efficient and effective getting your freight offloaded and delivered damage free.

Do you offer warehousing?
Yes! We offer standard storage fees, but we can negotiate storage costs to fit your budget. Our warehouses are highly secure, equipped with state of the art camera systems and alarms. Our facilities are monitored both on site and remotely.

How do I get a quote?
Call our Santa Fe Springs Terminal at (800) 533-4826, or email us at: quotes@approvedforwarders.com. When you contact us, please provide the following information so we can give you a quick and accurate quote:

Origin city, state and zip
Destination city, state and zip
Commodity
Number of pieces
Total weight including packaging
Dimensions including packaging (length, width, height)

How do I track a shipment?
Our state-of-the-art tracking system gives you two main tracking choices:

1. Our online system provides a wealth of tracking resources.
   When you log onto your account, you can:
   
   • See the status of individual shipments or all recent shipments.
   • View the progress of your freight every step of the way
   • View PDFs of documents (Bill of Lading, Purchase Order, Packing List, Proof of Delivery, Photos of Freight, etc).
   • View current and past Invoices along with payment status.
   • Run, view, download and export Custom Activity Reports.


2. Our email notification system can alert you when:
   
   • We have confirmed the pick up at origin.
   • We have received your freight with exceptions.
   • The freight is loaded and the ETA date is posted.
   • The freight is at its destination and ready for delivery or will call. Email notifications can be customized per company and per employee of each company.

Are my shipments insured?
We follow Industry Standard Maximum Liability of $500 per shipping article. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for more information. If you need more coverage, we can work with an insurance company to provide you with additional insurance. Please call for a quote or e-mail us at quotes@approvedforwarders.com.

How do I file a claim?
If your freight is damaged or something is missing from your freight, please contact your sales representative or customer service immediately. You will also need to fill out a claims form. Shortages and damages should also be noted on the bill of lading at the time of delivery. We will process your claim within 30 days of receiving all required documents.

How should the freight be marked for shipping?
It should look like this:

Complete Company Name of Ultimate Consignee
c/o Approved Forwarders
11630 Pike Street
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

You should also mark the following details:

Ultimate consignee telephone number
PO number or Reference number
Shipper's name and telephone number

It is always a good idea to mark the full address of the shipper and consignee on every piece of the shipment. At the very least, each pallet should have the Ultimate Consignee's name, address, and telephone number.

Can I send a personal shipment? How would I do that?
You can absolutely send a personal shipment! Our customer base ranges from some of the largest companies in Hawaii and Guam to individuals buying merchandise on the web.

For personal shipments, complete the "Ship To" address like this:

Your Name & Your telephone number
c/o Approved Freight Forwarders
11630 Pike Street
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670