Freight transport for individuals

The role of an international freight forwarder is to assist businesses and individuals in managing their international transportation needs. Acting as the architect of transport, the forwarder organizes each shipment to ensure that the goods arrive safely at their destination, on the desired date, while optimizing the use of air, sea, and road transport, and reducing costs to deliver the best value.

In addition to logistical planning, the freight forwarder handles all administrative tasks. This includes managing shipping documents, customs documentation, insurance coverage (upon request), transport contracts, as well as port and terminal fees.
The forwarder also plays a crucial role in logistics coordination, ensuring compliance with local and international regulations, thereby guaranteeing secure, efficient, and regulation-compliant transportation.

With proven expertise, the freight forwarder is an essential partner for optimizing every stage of international freight, whether it involves the movement of goods or navigating complex administrative procedures.

Agence Fret Cargo SA is authorized to ship all types of goods, including via express services. This includes the transport of conventional goods such as personal belongings, excess baggage, textiles, industrial products, musical instruments, works of art, vehicles, and even pets.

Agence Fret Cargo also handles more complex shipments that require special handling, customized transport, or specific formalities, such as:

• Special care products
• Pharmaceutical or cosmetic goods
• Hazardous materials
• Goods requiring temperature-controlled transportation (food products, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals)

Do you have questions about shipping your goods? We’re here to help! Contact us for detailed information and personalized assistance. You can also find more details about the types of goods in our upcoming FAQs.

Agence Fret Cargo has a global network of trusted agents, ensuring the secure, reliable, and transparent transport of your goods within Switzerland and across the world. This network enables us to meet the highest standards of international freight transport, providing efficient logistics fully compliant with international regulations.

Yes, because life is full of unexpected events, we are always ready to assist you, even immediately if needed.

Agence Fret Cargo, located at Geneva Airport, can respond promptly to emergencies and handle a wide range of unforeseen situations, such as:

• Excess baggage requiring swift processing.
• Urgent administrative and customs formalities.

With our express service, we ensure quick and efficient management for a smooth and stress-free boarding experience.

Simply placing your belongings in boxes is not enough to protect them. We recommend wrapping them in protective materials suited to their level of fragility. Use bubble wrap, cellophane, and old newspapers to protect delicate items like dishes. Place tissue paper between plates before stacking them.

For furniture, use special protective covers, tarps, or blankets designed to keep them free from dust. Clothing and bedding can be safely stored in vacuum storage bags, which also help you save space.

If you’ve kept the original packaging for your appliances, now is the time to reuse them for safe transport. Be sure to remove any batteries or power cells beforehand.

Should you need assistance, we can send a professional to pack your belongings at a competitive hourly rate.

The carrier’s insurance often covers only a small portion of the value of the transported goods. For this reason, it is highly recommended to take out additional transport insurance through our agency.

Agence Fret Cargo offers comprehensive all-risk insurance coverage for your goods worldwide, regardless of the mode of transport, and at the best rates. Contact us for more information.

Our specialists support you in risk assessment and work with you to develop a customized insurance solution tailored to your specific needs. Additionally, we have a global network of experts to ensure the swift and professional handling of claims.

Agence Fret Cargo can provide you with comprehensive all-risk insurance coverage for your goods worldwide, regardless of the mode of transport, at the best price. Contact us to find out more.

Our specialists will support you in reviewing and assessing your risks, and then work with you to develop an insurance solution tailored to your specific needs. In addition, we have a worldwide network of experts at our disposal for fast and professional claims handling.

We leave the choice up to you according to your budget and your time.

You can deliver the goods to us at the loading dock in the Fret Cargo area of the Geneva airport. Call us to find out the schedule and the arrival details.

For an additional fee, our delivery drivers are also available to have your goods picked up at your home, workplace or any other location you specify and then proceed with the shipment. They are also trained to help you pack your belongings.

Thanks to a powerful computer system, we are also able to quickly provide you with details of flights (or of the ship in case of maritime transport), reservation numbers as well as the documents necessary for your shipment as well as the contact of our agent at the destination in order to facilitate the delivery to your home or to the airport of destination (or to the port of destination in case of maritime transport).

We offer freight shipments from 30kg or more or grouped shipments with no weight limit.

For shipments under 30kg we have created a partnership with the Expedismart group which offers you automated solutions at the best rates.

Personal effects are defined as all common items, such as clothing, jewelry, personal gadgets, mobile equipment, electrical appliances and cameras and related accessories. This definition, however, does not include promotional samples or things you plan to sell.

Please note that personal effects can sometimes contain hidden hazardous materials that are not allowed to be transported or simply need to be declared or segregated in a separate package.

For over 30 years we have been the worldwide specialists in the transport of personal belongings, ask us now for a quote for the transport of your personal effects, we are here to help you.

We invite you to contact us for more information on the prices and conditions for shipping your package by air.

By « dangerous goods », we refer to any material or object containing substances that, due to their nature, properties, or condition, may pose a risk during transport. Below are some common examples of products classified as dangerous goods:

• Electrically powered devices
• Wheelchair batteries
• Certain automotive parts
• Diving equipment
• Specific medical supplies
• Camping equipment

In general, dangerous goods are categorized as follows:

• Explosives, ammunition, and fireworks
• Gases and gas mixtures
• Flammable liquids and solids, including substances prone to spontaneous combustion
• Substances that release flammable gases when in contact with water
• Oxidizing or combustible materials and organic peroxides
• Toxic substances
• Infectious substances
• Radioactive materials
• Corrosive materials
• Substances hazardous to the environment or water

Agence Fret Cargo is accredited for the transport of dangerous goods. These goods require specific formalities, specialized handling, and secure logistics, all managed with the utmost care. As a member of SpedLogSwiss and the GAA network, and authorized by the IATA, our agency utilizes a global network of specialized carriers and secure warehouses to ensure compliance with international standards for the transport and storage of dangerous goods.

Depending on your delivery timeline or budget, we offer multiple options for the transportation of your vehicle, including air freight, sea freight, trucking, or rail transport.

The transportation cost will vary based on the mode chosen:

• For train or truck transport, the cost depends primarily on the distance to be covered.
• For international vehicle transport, air freight is the fastest and most secure method.
• Sea freight remains the most affordable and widely used option for international vehicle shipping. When transported by sea, your vehicle is placed in a secure container, which can also hold additional personal belongings, maximizing both space and cost efficiency.

Request a quote today for your vehicle’s transport. Our team is here to provide advice and assist you with your needs.

Yes, we also transport your pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, domestic rabbits, birds, or reptiles. Agence Fret Cargo supports you throughout the process, providing guidance on vaccination requirements, selecting the right transport cage, and offering real-time tracking to monitor your companion’s journey.

We have also implemented specific procedures regarding transport duration, vehicles, and personnel to ensure that all trips are conducted with the utmost care and attention to the animals’ well-being.

Additional rules for tourism: Some pets are not suitable to accompany you on vacation. For more information, please refer to our section on Traveling with Pets.

Request a quote for your pet’s transport today. We are here to assist you and meet your needs.

Yes, Agence Fret Cargo provides international repatriation of deceased individuals, handling coffin transportation from Switzerland along with all necessary administrative procedures, in partnership with funeral professionals. We operate 24/7 and across all distances with the utmost respect for the deceased and their families.

International Coffin Transport

For international repatriation, we coordinate the hearse reception of the coffin with funeral homes and arrange its transport by airplane. For neighboring countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, or Germany, hearse transport may be preferred.
Please note: international transport often requires a hermetic coffin and embalming procedures for the deceased.

Transport of Funeral Urns

The transport of a funeral urn is subject to different regulations than coffins. Family members can carry an urn, but for international transport, an authorization for customs clearance is required. We also recommend obtaining a multilingual death certificate from the local city hall to ease border controls.

Tips for Choosing an Urn

When transporting an urn, choose one made of durable materials and, if possible, equipped with an inner pouch to protect the ashes.

Air Transport Requirements

The air transportation of deceased individuals between countries involves specific formalities and compliance with strict conditions.

For any questions or assistance, please contact us at 022 798 68 00.

To obtain an estimate, we need the following information:

• Type of goods
• Place of departure
• Final destination
• Weight and/or volume
• Desired date of arrival

The cost of air freight is calculated based on the chargeable weight, multiplied by the rate per kilogram, along with additional taxes and surcharges.

• Economy of scale: The higher the shipment weight, the lower the rate per kilogram. For instance, shipping 100 kg costs less per kilogram than shipping 40 kg.

• Volumetric weight: Lightweight but bulky items, such as duvets, are charged based on a weight-to-volume ratio of 1 ton per 6 m³. To calculate the volumetric weight, divide the actual volume by 6. For example, 1 m³ equals 166.67 kg. The chargeable weight is the higher value between the gross weight and the volumetric weight. If the gross weight is 65 kg and the volumetric weight is 105 kg, the chargeable weight will be 105 kg.

• Minimum charge: Small shipments (under 30 kg) are subject to a minimum charge.

Taxes and Surcharges:

1. Fuel surcharge:

   • Due to fluctuating jet fuel prices, a surcharge is applied. This is calculated based on the market price in Rotterdam and applies regardless of destination or chargeable weight.

2. Security tax:

   • Following the events of 9/11, shipments undergo reinforced security checks, including X-ray screening. This tax covers the additional costs of ensuring air cargo safety.

3. Additional fees:

   • These include services such as pickup, trucking, insurance premiums, document issuance fees, customs clearance, transshipment, or dangerous goods handling fees.

Multimodal transport is a transport of goods combining at least two different modes of transport (air, sea, road and rail).

Freight consolidation refers to the process of reorganizing and combining goods to unify transport management. This method, widely used in the logistics sector, helps to reduce transportation costs by maximizing vehicle capacity.

In maritime, road, or intermodal transport, freight grouping involves combining the goods of multiple clients into a single truck or container, preventing vehicles from running half-empty for just one client.

Transport companies generally offer two main services:

• Full truckload (FTL): a single client’s cargo occupies the entire truck or container.
• Less-than-truckload (LTL): goods from multiple clients are grouped together in one shared truck or container.

Freight consolidation makes long-distance shipping more accessible to small businesses and individuals. By consolidating loads, carriers handle multiple shipments at once, significantly lowering transportation costs. With freight grouping, you only pay for the space your goods occupy within the transport unit.

However, there are timing considerations:

• Collection and delivery schedules are less precise compared to full truckloads. The carrier must first pick up goods from multiple clients and then deliver them to various destinations, resulting in longer timeframes.
• On the other hand, full truckloads offer greater schedule accuracy, as they follow a direct route from point A to point B.

Request a quote for consolidated freight transport today! We’re here to answer your questions and assist you in achieving the most cost-effective logistics solutions for your shipments.

As a transportation engineer, we assist you in optimizing your logistics costs by selecting the best transportation method – air, sea, or road – tailored to your specific needs.

Our expertise enables us to offer customized transport solutions, whether for full loads or groupage shipments. Additionally, we provide innovative ideas, such as freight consolidation, to reduce the size of your shipments and, ultimately, their overall transportation costs.

Request a personalized quote today! We’re here to help you make the best logistical choices, ensuring a secure, efficient, and cost-effective delivery.

Ask for a quote for your transport now, we are here to help you make the best choices.

Customs is responsible for conducting security checks and collecting taxes on imported and exported goods.

For freight transport, Fret Cargo Agency handles the preparation of the customs declaration for both imports and exports, based on the information provided by the sender. The sender is required to provide a complete and accurate description of the contents of their shipment. Any incorrect information may lead to delays or customs penalties.

Yes, customs agents, as part of their mission to combat fraud, are required to conduct inspections on freight shipments and postal items.

Shipments pass through major processing centers, such as the Fret Cargo building at Geneva Airport, where parcels are cleared through customs. This process involves the payment of duties and taxes applicable to goods and a thorough inspection by customs officers.

Customs also carry out security and safety checks:

• Security: Combating terrorist threats (e.g., chemical, biological, nuclear attacks).
• Safety: Protecting public health, citizen well-being, and the environment (e.g., counterfeit goods, narcotics, health and phytosanitary regulations).

Additionally, customs perform a fiscal role, collecting customs duties, VAT, and other import taxes.
To this end, customs agents examine parcels to:

• Verify the presence or absence of goods subject to prohibitions or restrictions.
• Ensure the information on the customs declaration matches the nature, quantity, or value of the goods, confirming its accuracy.

No, the offer we send you is free, and its validity date is mentioned on the offer, the usual validity date is 1 month.

Yes by clicking on the following link: Track my package

Agence Fret Cargo assists its customers in their move with our Best Practices Kit. This kit includes several models of boxes, Scotch tape and clever advice on how to reassemble everything on arrival and how to protect your back.

When sending your parcel or personal belongings, a document known as an Air Way Bill (AWB) or Air Transport Letter (ATL), bearing a unique number, should have been issued by the airline or the freight forwarder.

• If you entrusted your shipment to a freight forwarder, contact them directly with the AWB number.
• If no freight forwarder was involved, reach out to the handling agent of the airline that transported your goods.

To independently retrieve your shipment at the freight terminal, you must:

1. Complete the customs clearance formalities for imports (contact customs).
2. Present your AWB to the handling agent representing the airline that transported your goods.

Two handling agents operate at Geneva Airport: Swissport and Dnata, representing various airlines.

If desired, Fret Cargo Agency can handle the customs clearance of your parcels or personal effects and arrange their delivery to your home.

For export:

– Monday to Thursday: 08:00 – 12:00 and 13:30 – 18:00

– Friday: 08:00 -12:00 and 13:30 – 19:00

– Saturday to Sunday: closed.

On import:

– Monday: 07:30 – 17:00

– Tuesday to Friday: 08:00 – 17:30

– Saturday to Sunday: closed.

• By bus: Geneva public transport lines 23, 28 and Y, stop Fret.
• By car: the freight hall is located opposite Palexpo and next to the Arena. Visitor parking is available in front of the freight hall building.
• See plan Link