COVID-19 – Shelter in Place

COVID-19 – Shelter in Place   March 16, 2020 Six Bay Area counties (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda, and Marin) together issued a ‘Shelter in Place’ order this afternoon. The ‘Shelter in Place’ order will remain effective at least until April 7, 2020. We understand that many customers are concerned about…

Keep your shipment data private!

Every shipping vessel that enters and leaves the United States is required to submit shipping records that document its cargo. This information filed to Customs is called “Automated Manifest System”. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, most of this information is a matter of public record. Sites such as www.piers.com, www.zepol.com and www.importgenius.com retrieve…

Shipping Lithium Batteries

Lithium ion batteries are considered hazardous due to the flammable nature of the electrolytes. Many countries and carriers have strict regulations, particularly via Air Freight. If your goods contain lithium batteries, please have your supplier provide the following battery information: Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Safety Transport Certificate Once the battery classification is determined, Cargocentric can help determine which…

Importing Electric Bicycles

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative way to commute. Importing them requires knowledge of regulations from three different government agencies. 1. DOT (Department of Transportation)   The key question is whether or not the electric bicycle is considered an “on-road” or “off-road” vehicle. If a vehicle is not primarily manufactured for on-road use, it…