Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes between the moment a courier scans your parcel and when it arrives across an ocean? Rather than continuous GPS broadcasting, international cargo relies on strict chain-of-custody milestones.

The 5 Critical Physical Milestones

1. Collection Scan (Origin Handover) The courier captures package weight and dimensions at your facility, locking in the physical custody timestamp.
2. Hub Consolidation & Sort Scan The package is assigned to a Unit Load Device (ULD) container or pallet bound for a specific flight corridor.
3. Export Customs Release (EDI) Origin customs brokers electronically file the export declaration with national customs databases.
4. Destination Inbound Ramp Arrival & Clearance Aircraft touches down, the ULD container is unloaded, and pre-filed documentation receives final customs release.
5. Out for Last-Mile Courier Dispatch The local delivery vehicle scans the package into its route manifest for final delivery and signature proof.

Direct Proactive Notifications

At SwiftSend, our operations team actively monitors key consignment handoffs. When your shipment departs on its linehaul or clears customs, direct automated email notifications keep you and your recipient informed at every step of the journey without needing to log in to third-party dashboards.

Ship with complete confidence

Let our logistics experts coordinate your international freight with personalized milestone updates.