Holo·Cargo

How International Freight Works | Holo Cargo Guide

How an international shipment moves

An international freight shipment has three distinct legs: origin inland, main freight (ocean, air, or rail), and destination inland. The "move type" describes how many of those legs are included in your freight booking — and who's responsible for the rest.

Understanding move types is essential for quoting accurately, selecting the right Incoterm, and avoiding unexpected costs at the destination.

The four move types

1. Door-to-door

The most complete service. Holo coordinates every leg from the seller's premises to the buyer's door:

  1. Origin pickup — truck from factory or warehouse to the origin port/CFS
  2. Main freight — ocean, air, or rail
  3. Destination customs — import clearance at destination (coordinated by Holo)
  4. Last-mile delivery — truck from destination port/airport to consignee

Best for: sellers on DDP, DAP, or CIP Incoterms; buyers who want a single freight operator managing everything.

2. Door-to-port

Holo covers the origin-side road leg and the main freight, but not the destination inland delivery.

  1. Origin pickup — truck from seller's premises to origin port/CFS
  2. Main freight — ocean, air, or rail to destination port/airport
  3. Destination — buyer arranges customs clearance and delivery from there

Best for: FOB and CFR/CIF sellers who are paying for freight but leaving destination handling to the buyer. Common in B2B trade where the importer has a preferred local broker or delivery provider.

3. Port-to-door

Holo covers the main freight and the destination side — but not origin inland.

  1. Origin — seller delivers cargo to the origin port/CFS under their own arrangement
  2. Main freight — ocean, air, or rail from origin to destination
  3. Destination customs — import clearance handled by Holo
  4. Last-mile delivery — truck to consignee

Best for: buyers on DAP or DDP terms where the seller handles their own export; importers who want to control the destination leg.

4. Port-to-port

Main freight only — ocean, air, or rail between the two ports/airports. Both inland sides are arranged separately by the shipper.

  1. Origin — seller's own arrangement
  2. Main freight — Holo's ocean/air/rail booking only
  3. Destination — buyer's own arrangement

Best for: experienced shippers who have established local partners at both ends and want to control all legs separately. Also common for large importers with their own customs teams and warehouse networks.

Who handles what — at a glance

Move typeOrigin inlandMain freightDestination customsDestination inland
Door-to-doorHoloHoloHoloHolo
Door-to-portHoloHoloBuyerBuyer
Port-to-doorSellerHoloHoloHolo
Port-to-portSellerHoloBuyerBuyer

How to choose the right move type

Start with your Incoterm. The Incoterm determines where the seller's obligations end — and therefore who should be booking which legs with a freight forwarder. See Incoterms explained for the full breakdown.

Key questions:

  • Is your Incoterm EXW or FCA? — The buyer is arranging most of the move; port-to-door or door-to-door booking makes sense for the importer.
  • Is your Incoterm FOB or CFR? — The seller handles origin and main freight; door-to-port from the seller's side, with the buyer booking destination separately.
  • Is your Incoterm DAP or DDP? — The seller is responsible door-to-door; book accordingly.

Also consider:

  • Whether you have trusted local partners at origin or destination
  • Whether customs complexity at destination warrants handing it to Holo vs a local broker
  • Whether you want a single status view across all legs (door-to-door) or are comfortable managing legs separately

Charges across the legs

Every Holo quote is itemised in three sections regardless of move type:

  • Origin charges — pickup, export docs, THC/VGM/CFS at origin port
  • Freight charges — OFR or AFR, BAF/FSC, BL/AWB fee
  • Destination charges — THC/CFS at destination port, customs brokerage, delivery

You only pay for the legs that are in scope for your move type.

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