1. Confirm what you are shipping
Start with a clear commodity description, total pieces, estimated weight and dimensions, and whether items are perishable, liquid, battery-powered, fragile, or potentially dangerous goods.
Booking Guidance
Booking Help
A practical guide to book and prepare freight for the Indian Ocean Territories with fewer delays and less rework.
Where to start
Island freight is compliance-heavy compared with routine domestic freight. The fastest outcomes come from submitting complete information up front, matching documentation to physical freight, and flagging risks (dangerous goods, perishables, oversized cargo) before delivery.
Step-by-step booking guide
2. Choose the right booking pathway
Use the Shipper's Declaration for standard freight. If the consignment contains perishables, complete perishable booking and keep the booking ID ready for declaration.
3. Prepare compliance documents early
For higher-value export shipments, ensure EDN/customs invoice requirements are met before delivery. If goods may be dangerous, collect SDS and technical data before lodging.
4. Package and label for acceptance
Present freight uplift-ready. Package each piece robustly, protect protrusions, and apply consignee/destination/tracking references on every package. Palletise where required.
5. Submit and deliver in sequence
Complete declaration first, then deliver the cargo. Mismatched timing between documentation and warehouse arrival is a common source of delay.
6. Track and respond quickly
Use tracking and monitor requests from operations/compliance. Fast responses to information gaps (weight, invoice detail, DG evidence) prevent missed uplift windows.
Common causes of delay
- Undeclared batteries (including spare batteries or battery-powered equipment).
- Incomplete invoice fields for consignments requiring export documentation.
- Package-level labels missing tracking number or destination details.
- Perishable booking not completed before declaration.
- Dimensions/weights submitted as estimates that differ materially at lodgement.
- Freight not forklift-ready where piece size/weight requires mechanical handling.