What Can You Send and Not Send Via Courier?

When sending items abroad, there are certain things that can’t be sent through a regular parcel service. Before booking a parcel delivery, we always recommend checking the policy of your chosen carrier as well as the customs information for the destination country as further restrictions may apply.

Dangerous and Hazardous Items

Below you will find a list of Dangerous and Hazardous items that should not be shipped under any circumstances. If any of these items are found within a consignment, the items will be destroyed and a fine of £100 will be issued.

Adhesives	Aerosols	Airbags for Cars
Ammunition & Guns	Batteries	Camping Stoves
Christmas Crackers	Cleaners & Solvents	Compressed Air & Gas Cylinders
Diesel, Fuel & Gasoline	Dry Ice	Fire Extinguishers
Fireworks	Hair Curlers	Helium
Infectuous Substances	Insecticides	Life Jackets
Liquid Bleach & Chlorine	Magnets	Nail Varnish
Paint & Turpentine	Pepper Spray	Perfume & Aftershave
Radioactive Material	Safety Matches	Seat Belts
Thermometer

Prohibited Items

The items listed below are prohibited items that are not accepted by any of our carriers.

Animals & Animal Products	Body Parts	Bullion
Dish Washers	Replica Firearms / Guns	Fridges & Freezers
Illegal Drugs	Knives	Lab & Medical Samples
Mattresses	Money	Loose Furniture
Ovens	Personal Data	Perishable Foodstuffs
Pornography	Precious Metals	Printer Ink
Stamps	Televisions	Tobacco
Tumble Dryers	Washing Machines

Restricted Items

Certain items have restrictions applied which can depend on carrier service and country of delivery. It is advised that you contact us to discuss the shipment on 0345 145 1212. These items include:

Alcohol & Champagne	Credit or Debit Cards	Jewellery & Watches
Mobile Phones / Devices	Passport

·

No Compensation Items

Some items that get shipped are not restricted, however, we are not able to offer standard liability or insurance cover for any damage that may occur. Cover against loss is offered on certain items. Details can be found below.

Data (Example - Memory Stick)	Loss Not Covered
Glass	Loss Covered
LCD Screens & Computer Monitors	Loss Covered
Liquids	Loss Covered
Non-Flat Pack Furniture	Loss Covered
Pottery & Ceramics	Loss Covered
Vouchers & Tickets	Loss Not Covered
Jewellery & Watches	Carrier Restrictions Vary - More Info here
Works of Art	Loss Covered

·    

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure the contents of the consignment are acceptable items and meet the restrictions imposed. Without opening, the sender is the only person who knows what is inside the shipment and therefore holds sole responsibility for the items within it.

Hazard Labels

It is worth noting that if you are going to be using second-hand packaging, make sure you don’t use packaging that has hazard labels on it unless applicable to the new contents. This is to prevent your consignment from being stopped and held even if the old labels have been covered up. Some examples of typical hazard labels can be found below:

If you are unsure about the items you wish to deliver, you can contact us via telephone on 0345 145 1212, send us an email to sales@transglobalexpress.co.uk or via our online chat service here.

A Guide to Courier Services: protecting your parcel against loss and damage

Who hasn't felt nervous about placing their goods in someone else's hands when shipping overseas? Whether you are shipping your belongings abroad in advance of a house move, delivering goods to a customer, or sending a gift to an overseas relative, your cargo is precious and your top priority will be to ensure it arrives not only in a timely manner but in exactly the condition you sent it. There are several steps you can take to do your best to ensure that this happens.

1. Choose a courier service you can trust

When you are shipping overseas, you need a service you can trust.  Using a company with long-standing experience, a well-established brand and a good global network is important. Transglobal Express works only with the top four global courier services: DHL, UPS, and FedEx and TNT: shipping with us means you'll get exactly same delivery service as if you were booking directly through these carriers- the only difference is the price!

2. Package your parcel appropriately

The best way to protect your parcel against damage is to ensure it is packaged appropriately. This means choosing the right size and strength of box and cushioning your goods sufficiently inside it. Most carriers advise that your box should be able to withstand a drop from waist height- this should give you an idea of the amount of cushioning you need. We recommend at least 5 cm between each item within the box and between the edges of the box and its contents. 

TOP TIP: take a photograph of your parcel, inside and out, before it is collected. This won't take you long at all and in the unfortunate event of loss or damage, it will be much easier for you to process any claims with evidence such as this. 

3. Take out appropriate cover

All parcels shipped with Transglobal Express are covered for a minimum of £50, free of charge. If your parcel is much more valuable, you may wish to take out additional cover for extra peace-of-mind. Then, if anything goes wrong, you won't be out of pocket. Certain very fragile goods - such as glass and pottery cannot be covered, so if you need to send these, make sure you follow step 2 as best you can! For more information about what can be covered, please see our website or contact our claims team on 0845 145 1212.

DHL introduces changes to export regulations for Saudi Arabia

According to DHL, changes to export regulations for shipments going to Saudi Arabia are going to take effect on 1st January 2012.

You can find a checklist on Transglobal Express. 

Related articles

• DHL gets into bed with Nokia Siemens Network over new distribution system in Saudi Arabia (transglobalexpress.blogspot.com)

FedEx Worldwide Parcel Delivery Service Information

FedEx is one of the worlds largest transportation companies offering worldwide parcel transportation. The main difference with the FedEx service if booking via Transglobal Express is that  your goods would be collected via another carrier and brought to our warehouse before being forwarded on to FedEx. This can add an extra 2 days to the overall transit time so if speed is a priority for delivery of your parcel then we would recommend considering an alternative carrier. If you have the flexibility of allowing an extra 2 days onto the transit time, FedEx offer an excellent service - particularly to the USA, South America and to the Far East.


Collection 

When booking FedEx services through Transglobal Express you have the option of either arranging delivery of your goods to a receiving center or Transglobal will arrange for a third-party courier (usually City Link) to collect and transport your goods to the Transglobal warehouse. It is important for you to check that any carrier collecting your parcel has Transglobal Express as the delivery address. If the courier transports you goods directly to their final destination you may incur extra costs for which you will be liable.


Labelling & Documentation 

When using FedEx services, please lable your goods with a 'to' and 'from' address and include contact telephone numbers.

You must also include 3 copies of a commercial invoice / packing list which clearly states a full description of the goods and their value. Transglobal Express have blank PDF and Excel packing list templates available for you to download and complete. Once you have completed your packing list, please email a copy to sales@transglobalexpress.co.uk and seal a copy inside an envelope and attach to your shipment.  


Volumetric Weight 

The charge for delivery of your shipment can be based on the weight or volume of your package. The volumetric weight of a shipment on FedEx service is calculated using the following formula: 

Multiply the 3 dimensions together and divide the result by 6000

• If the volumetric weight is less than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the actual weight .
• If the volumetric weight is greater than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the volumetric weight.

An example of the calculation can be seen on the FedEx Services Information which is available on the transglobal.org.uk website.  


Maximum Size & Weight Allowance Restrictions

• The maximum size per package is 330cm 'girth'

Girth is calculated by adding together the 2 smaller dimensions and multiply by 2. You then add the result to longest dimension of the package to give you the 'girth'.

FedEx will carry up to 32kg worldwide without restriction and most areas up to 68kg. 


FedEx also offer an Air Freight service to many countries based on the same tariff. These countries include the USA, Canada, most of the Far East and many others. Please call 0870 027 3338 to see if your destination is covered. The maximum weight per single piece (palletised) is 1000kg.


Restrictions 

FedEx will only carry personal effects to USA and Europe and no hazardous goods are accepted on to this service. Please refer to our previous article outlining prohibited and restricted parcel contents. For FedEx specific conditions of carriage, please follow tis link.


** All information provided is based on FedEx worldwide delivery services as supplied through Transglobal Express and may be subject to change. We recommend that you refer to the guidelines of the actual courier service if you are in any doubt.

UPS European Parcel Delivery Service Restrictions & Information

Transglobal Express offer the following parcel delivery service through UPS:

• TG Express Saver is provided by UPS using their "Worldwide Saver" service and transports your shipment by air.
• TG Expedited is a cheaper but slightly slower air service than "Worldwide Saver". If you need your parcel delivering and speed is not a priority then you can make some great savings using this service.
• TG Express is provided by UPS using their Transborder Standard service. This is a road service which delivers throughout Europe.

Labeling & Documentation

If you have booked your UPS service through Transglobal Express you will be emailed a bar-coded UPS which must be printed and a copy securely attached to each package. Manual airway bills can not be provided by the driver on this service so it is important that you have access to a printer.


Invoices

If you are sending your package or parcel to a non-EU country it must be accompanied by 3 copies of a commercial invoice or packing list. Any country not listed here will require a commercial invoice.


Volumetric Weight Charging

The charge of your shipment is calculated based upon its weight or volume. Sometimes bulky items may be charged at a higher rate than the actual weight of the shipment due to the dimensions of the item.

The formula to calculate the Volumetric Rate on the UPS services is as follows: multiply the 3 dimensions together and divide the result by 5000.  The end total is the volumetric weight or your parcel.

• If the volumetric weight is less than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the actual weight .
• If the volumetric weight is greater than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the volumetric weight.

Surcharges and Additional Costs

The below information outlines any additional costs which may apply to your shipment depending on a number of factors. All surcharges related to EU deliveries will be subject to VAT.

• UPS Extended Area Collection & Delivery Charge - this is the UPS equivalent of a 'Remote Area Surcharge'. This will be applied if either your collection or delivery address is considered to be in a remote area. The extended area surcharge is a minimum of £13.50 + fuel per shipment or £0.25 per kg, whichever is greater. To view a list of all UPS extended area definitions, please follow this link.
•   UPS Residential Delivery Surcharge - A cost of £2.00 per shipment is charged if delivery is to be made to home. This also applies if delivery is being made to a business operating from home.
• Address Correction - a charge of £4.55 per shipment will be applied if any part of the address is missing or incorrect. 
• Incorrect Account Number - a cost of £8.00 per shipment will be charged if your account number is missing or invalid.
• Additional Handling - an additional charge of £2.45 per package is applied on any article that is not in a cardboard box or:
•  is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood
• is cylindrical (such as a tyre / drum / pail or barrel) and not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container
• any package with the longest side exceeding 150cm or its second longest side exceeding 78cm
• a package with an actual weight greater than 32kgs
• each package within a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 32kgs and the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system used.
• Additional Handling - any article that is above the girth* of 330cm or above 70kg will incur an additional fee of £27 per package.
• DDP Shipments - an additional fee of £12 + duty & tax value is applied on any shipment in which the destination duties and taxes are not paid by the consignee and are billed back to the shipper.

Maximum Size & Weight Allowance Restrictions

• The maximum weight per parcel is 70kg to most areas and 30kg to some others
• The maximum size per package is 330cm girth
• The maximum length per package is 270cm

*Girth is calculated by adding together the 2 smaller dimensions and multiply by 2. You then add the result to longest dimension to give you the 'girth'.  An example calculation is included on the Transglobal.org.uk guidelines for UPS Services.

Restrictions Refer to our previous article outlining prohibited and restricted parcel contents for general package content guidelines. UPS specific service information can be found by following this link.

Collection Restrictions UPS are unable to collect from Northern Island.

** All information provided is based on UPS services as supplied through Transglobal Express and may be subject to change. We recommend that you refer to the guidelines of the actual courier service if you are in any doubt.

TNT Economy Express European Delivery Service Restrictions

The TNT Economy Express service is a worldwide parcel delivery service of which the level and rates are particularly competitive throughout Europe and including Eastern block areas.

Parcel Labelling & Documentation Airway Bill 

TNT Economy Express services can be booked directly through the website. A copy of your Airway bill must be attached to each individual parcel.

If you book the service through Transglobal Express, you can take advantage of their discounted rates making TNT Economy Express a very cost-effective parcel delivery service. Once your booking has been made, Transglobal Express will generate the airway bill on you behalf and email it through to you to be printed and attached to each parcel. 

If you do not have access to a printer your driver can supply you with a manual airway bill which must be completed by hand. If this is the case you must tick the appropriate "TNT Economy Express" service. You will be liable for additional charges if any other service is selected. If booking through Transglobal Express, you must also insert their customer account number which can be obtained from customer services.

Shipments bound for non EU countries will need to be accompanied by 3 copies of a commercial invoice/packing list. This should include a full description and value of your goods and customs will use this information when they conduct their security checks.

Volumetric Weight Charging 

Volumetric weight is the term commonly referred to by courier and parcel delivery services for the chargeable weight of your parcel and is calculated based on the weight and volume of your parcel. 

The formula to calculate the Volumetric Rate on the TNT Economy Express service is as follows: multiply the 3 dimensions together and divide the result by 4000.  The end total is the volumetric weight or your parcel.

• If the volumetric weight is less than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the actual weight .
• If the volumetric weight is greater than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the volumetric weight.

Examples of this calculation have been included in Transglobal Premium's guidelines for TNT Economy Express Restrictions

Maximum Size & Weight Allowance Restrictions 

There are maximum size and weight restirctions in place on the TNT Economy Express delivery service.

• The maximum size per piece is 240cm x 120cm x 180 cm high.
• The maximum weight for loose items is 70kg
• The maximum weight for palletised goods is 1000kg

Restrictions

No hazardous goods or prohibited items will be accepted onto this service. Further guidelines for prohibited and restricted parcel contents has been posted here.


TNT specific information can be found at their website - http://www.tnt.com/express/en_gb/site/home.html

*** All information provided is based on TNT Economy Express services as supplied through Transglobal Express and may be subject to change. We recommend that you refer to the guidelines of the actual courier service if you are in any doubt. Transglobal Express also have a dedicated customer services team on hand to assist with any enquiries you may have.

DHL Air Express Parcel Delivery Service Restrictions

DHL Air Express is a premium worldwide parcel delivery service suitable for both private and business customers. As with any parcel delivery and courier service, DHL have specific requirements and restrictions in place which you should consider before booking on to their service. The following information provides and overview of everything you will need to consider to ensure that your parcel is collected and delivered without delay when using the DHL Air Express Service.


Parcel Labelling & Documentation Air Waybill 

You will need to attach an Airway bill to your package. All good parcel delivery service providers will have the facility for you to generate one through their website. The DHL Airway Bill is barcoded and you will need to securely attach one copy to your parcel, and keep a second copy for yourself. If you do not have access to a printer you will need to complete one by hand. A blank copy can be obtained from you DHL driver when he comes to collect your parcel. You will need to enter the full collection and delivery address details along with contact telephone numbers.


Invoices 

If you are shipping a parcel to a non-EU country you parcel must be accompanied by 3 copies of a commercial invoice or packing list. Many courier website will offer the facility to produce a basic packing list for you, however if you have one of your own we strongly recommend that you use that instead.


Volumetric Weight Charging

We have previously posted information about how parcel delivery and shipment rates are calculated which you may be interested in reading. The charge of your shipment is calculated on weight or volume. Sometimes bulky items may be charged at a higher rate than the actual weight of the shipment due to its dimensions - or the volume of space it takes up. This is known as Volumetric Weight.

The formula to calculate the volumetric weight on the DHL Air Express service is as follows: multiply the 3 dimensions together and divide the result by 5000.  The end total is the volumetric weight or your parcel.

• If the volumetric weight is less than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the actual weight .
• If the volumetric weight is greater than the actual weight of your parcel, you will be charged for the volumetric weight.

Examples of this calculation have been included in Transglobal Premium's guidelines for DHL Air Express Restrictions


Remote Area Surcharge 

If either your collection address of delivery address is considered to be in a "remote area", DHL apply a flat rate charge of £15 plus VAT. You can search DHL's remote area databse by following this link.


Maximum Size & Weight Allowance Restrictions

Shipment size and weight allowance restrictions will vary depending on the destination of the shipment. Further information relating to DHL Express shipping restictrictions can be accessed from their website.


Prohibited Articles Information

We have previously posted articles outlining general restricted parcel contents and prohibited package contents. For DHL Air Express specific information relating to prohibited and restricted commodities, click here.

*** All information is based on DHL Delivery Express services as supplied through Transglobal Express. We would recommend that you refer to the guidelines of the actual courier service if you are in any doubt. You can access quotations for discounted DHL Air Express service by following this link.

Restricted Package Contents on Parcel Delivery Services

All Parcel Delivery and courier services have a policy which lists any items which are either prohibited or restricted.

Prohibited items will not be accepted for shipment under any circumstances. 

Restricted items can be shipped subject to approval by the courier.

The list can vary from courier to courier and we recommend that you check with your individual courier to see what restrictions they have in place on their delivery services.

If you are sending a restricted item, you should notify your courier in advance. By not doing this you risk them rejecting or delaying the delivery of your parcel and you may incur additional charges if you attempt to send a restricted item without first informing them. Restricted parcel items will usually be accepted as long as they are sufficiently packaged. However, no compensation will be awarded in the event that they become lost or damaged in transit.

We have previously posted a list of prohibited items on all parcel delivery services. The following listed items are examples of restricted parcel contents with the majority of parcel delivery services:

• Perishable food
• Furniture - Flat packed furniture can be accepted, check with your courier)
• Cash (including cheques or any other vouchers with a face value)
• Personal Effects
• Living or dead animals
• Works of Art
• Body parts or human remains
• Jewellery, including watches (Transglobal parcel delivery services using UPS can accept jewellery or watches up to a value of 500 USD)
• Liquids or alcohol
• Precious metals or precious stones
•  Legal or business documents
• Antiques
• Tobacco products
• Animal fur or skin
• Televisions - Unable to accept televisions on any Transglobal (UPS) service

This list is not exhaustive and further information is available from transglobalexpress.co.uk. Please check with your courier for confirmation of their package restrictions. For specific to individual carriers, please use the following links:

• UPS's unacceptable items list
• DHL's Standard Prohibited Commodities
• FedEx Prohibited Items and Conditions of Carriage - Refer to section 8
• DPD's unacceptable items list
• TNT's Shipping Restrictions - TNT cannot insure certain items which include (but are not limited to) glass items, laptops and televisions.

Advice and guidance on how to package your parcel is available here.

Prohibited Package Contents on all Parcel Delivery Services

It is important for you to be aware that there are many items which are not accepted on to any International Parcel Delivery or Couriering services. Restricted and prohibited items can vary depending on which parcel delivery service supplier you are using.

We have put together the following guidelines outlining common items which can not be accepted for carriage or storage. This list is not exhaustive and we strongly recommend that you check the guidelines of the individual courier before attempting to send you package. 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items cannot be accepted for storage or carriage with any parcel delivery service:


Explosive Material

• Fireworks
• Ammunition - cartridges for weapons or gunpowder
• Helium
• Weapons or detonators
• Fire Extinguishers
• Safety matches, torch or cigarette lighters
• Vehicle Airbags
• Life Jackets & Self-inflating Rafts
• Camping Stoves and Fuel Containers

Toxic Chemicals

• Cleaners and Solvents
• Insecticides
• Liquid Bleach and Chlorine
• Adhesives
• Radioactive Materials
• Wet-Cell and Lithium Batteries
• Pepper Spray
• Infectious Substances

Flammable Materials

• Paint or turpentine
• Compressed air or gas cylinders
• Fuel - Cooking fuel or any flammable liquids
• Gasoline
• Aerosols or Perfumes
• Mercurial Thermometer or Barometer
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Hair Curlers containing Hydrocarbon Gas

Narcotics

• All illegal drugs

The police and/or HM Customs will be informed immediately if any illegal drugs are found. This includes Khat. If Khat is found in your shipment you will be fined £100.


Other Items

• Blank Credit and/or Debit cards

This list is not exhaustive and further information is available from transglobalexpress.co.uk. We strongly urge you to refer to the guidelines your chosen courier service. The following links should point you in the right direction.

• UPS unacceptable items list
• DHL's Standard Prohibited Commodities
• FedEx Prohibited Items and Conditions of Carriage - Refer to section 8
• DPD's unacceptable items list
• TNT's Shipping Restrictions - TNT cannot insure certain items which include (but are not limited to glass items, laptops and televisions