Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
yellow A1 Auto Transport carrier on highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

The Importance of Document Control

Published by Tamar Hela.

The Importance of Document Control

Few things are more upsetting for customers than having their shipment held up at the border because of faulty documents.

We tend to focus the majority of our attention on the loading times, delivery times, and cost management associated with transporting cargo. As a result, we frequently forget about the significance of document management to ensure that cross-border movements are carried out in an effective manner.

It is extremely important to understand and determine which documents are required prior to arriving at a border or delivery location because different types of cargo each require a unique set of supporting documentation.

It is imperative that this information be gathered before crossing a border or making a delivery.

Unfortunately, the improper management of paperwork is one of the most prevalent sources of problems or delays in the process of carrying, clearing, and storing cargo. This highlights the significance of effectively managing cargo paperwork.

It's important to develop comprehensive procedures that minimize the likelihood of encountering problems or experiencing delays due to faulty or missing paperwork.

When it comes to the appropriate documentation for your shipment, here are some things that you need to keep in mind before shipping.

two guys are moving boxes

Do You Ship Your Products across International Borders?

Determining whether your shipment will be sent domestically or across international borders is one of the most crucial questions to ask yourself when it comes to the documentation required for shipping your package.

It is a significantly more difficult and time-consuming process to send goods domestically inside Canada as opposed to shipping goods across international borders within North America.

Shipping goods across international borders in North America necessitates the completion of exacting and comprehensive customs paperwork.

Depending on the particulars of your shipment, the necessary documentation may consist of a Commercial Invoice, an Export Declaration, a Certificate of Origin, a Toxic Substances Control Act Form, or the United States Federal Communications Commission Form 740.

Pinned
New Deals are now available for shipping all types vehicles using our vetted reliable shippers. Compare price estimates & Unlock up 25% off.

Are Your Goods Covered by Adequate Insurance?

Is the shipment you're sending out covered by insurance?

Investing in insurance for your shipping and logistics needs will significantly lower the likelihood that your items will be misplaced, damaged, or lost in transit.

It is essential to acquire shipping insurance for both domestic and international shipments in order to protect one's financial interests. It stands to reason that purchasing shipping insurance will involve submitting a greater quantity of documentation.

Any documents pertaining to shipping insurance must be stored away in your records in the appropriate manner so that they can be easily retrieved in the event they are needed.

What Kinds of Goods Are You Shipping?

A unique set of documentation must be submitted for each type of shipment.

For example, if you are transporting dangerous goods, chemical goods, water samples, or perishable materials, you will almost definitely need to fill out supplemental paperwork that is specific to these categories of goods. This paperwork may include labels, manifests, and shipping manifests.

When exporting goods over international borders in North America, having these documents is of the utmost importance.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency makes this especially important because it makes use of the Toxic Substances Control Act in order to monitor and control the importing and exporting of potentially dangerous goods.

two guys from an agency moving boxes

Processing and Categorization of Documents

Experienced shippers are aware of the difficulty associated with controlling the accessibility of paper-based transportation papers for a variety of end-users, as well as the significance of precise document classification in order to facilitate fast border crossings and post-trip processing.

A powerful document processing and classification system that converts paper documents into digital format and stores them in a cloud-based system is essential for efficiently overcoming this obstacle.

All documents that pertain to the shipment are scanned, converted to a digital format, and finally uploaded to an in-house document processing system.

The processing system will first give each document a structured file name according to the document type, and then it will store the document in a one-of-a-kind folder based on the client's name, the route, and the trip identification number.

Last but not least, the assortment of documents that pertain to the client's cargo can be compiled and shown on a digital dashboard specific to that client so that they may be easily accessed.

Pre-Alerts for Clearance

A lack of availability of appropriate documentation throughout the process of cargo clearance is one of the most common causes of delays, especially at border crossings.

It's essential, then, to be aware of the necessity to provide the relevant documentation to clearing agents in a very proactive manner in order to minimize any delays.

To accomplish this, some shippers create their own in-house system that makes it easy for employees to generate and deliver a "Clearance Pre-Alert" through email.

An employee needs to do nothing more than pick the proper clearance pre-alert email group before submitting the pre-alert request through the internal system.

After the request has been submitted, an automated process will collect the necessary documents, as well as compose and send an email to the appropriate clearance group. This ensures that no human errors are made during the process.

This alert has all of the relevant paperwork and is sent prior to the arrival of the cargo. This kind of semi-automated system can practically eradicate delays in clearance related to paperwork.

delivery of boxes

Conclusion

In the end, maintaining document control is an absolutely necessary function for any shipping organization.

Document control ensures that everything runs well from the very beginning all the way through to the very end by doing everything from tracking packages to making sure that regulations are followed.

In addition, if something does end up going wrong, this increases the likelihood that you will not be held responsible. If you take care of your documentation, then everything will go off without a hitch when it comes to the transportation of your goods.

At A-1 Auto Transport, we make it our business to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the shipping industry. Contact us any time to learn about our comprehensive range of shipping services.

Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

Tamar Hela is one of our featured writers at A-1 Auto Transport, researching everything from AI auto shipments out of China to what paperwork is required to move long distance. We can safely say she's become well versed in all things shipping and logistics while making the information easy to digest and understandable. 

Tamar has been a copywriter for over 16 years and was trained in the 7-Figure Copywriting Accelerator course through American Writers & Artists, Inc. (AWAI). She's also an incredibly seasoned copyeditor, having previously been the Chief Editor and Publishing Director for Cosby Media Productions, based in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Email Me


Testimonial
Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★
...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.
Testimonial
Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★
A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!
Testimonial
Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★
There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.
Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
Copyright © 1988-2024, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.