Documentation Support
Assistance with shipment documentation and cargo handling instructions.
Missing or inconsistent paperwork is one of the most common reasons a perishable shipment gets delayed at tender or on arrival. We review shipment documentation and handling instructions ahead of time so cargo, paperwork, and airline requirements all line up before a shipment is presented.
What's Included
- Review of air waybill instructions, commercial invoice, and packing list for consistency with the physical shipment
- Coordination of special handling codes and instructions (temperature range, priority handling, stacking or orientation) with the airline
- Review of applicable certificates — phytosanitary certificates, health certificates, certificates of origin, or other permits — for completeness ahead of tender
- Coordination with shippers, brokers, and handling agents to correct discrepancies before they cause delays
Perishable food and floral shipments frequently travel with more than a standard air waybill — plant products may require a phytosanitary certificate, and animal-origin products may require a health certificate. We review which of these apply to a given shipment and confirm they're prepared and consistent with the cargo before tender.
We also help confirm that special handling codes and instructions communicated to the airline — required temperature range, priority ramp handling, stacking or orientation instructions — match what's stated on the shipment's paperwork, since mismatches here are a common source of handling errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature and handling information must be on the air waybill — and what if it’s missing?
State the required Celsius range in the AWB handling information, with special handling codes that match the booked service. Without a declared temperature requirement, many operators handle the shipment as general cargo — which is how cool-chain intent dies quietly. We review AWB instructions against the commodity and carrier rules before tender.
Which certificates should be ready before we tender food or floral cargo?
It depends on the commodity and destination. Many plant products need a phytosanitary certificate; animal-origin goods often need a health or sanitary certificate; food imports into the U.S. typically need FDA prior notice filed by the licensed broker. We review which docs apply and whether they match the cargo before tender — we do not issue certificates or file entries ourselves.
Related Commodities
This service is commonly coordinated for the following commodity types.
Have a Shipment That Needs Coordinating?
Share your shipment details and our LAX operations team will follow up with next steps.