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Knowledge base

Knowledge base

Practical guides on transport to the UK, customs clearance, exhibition logistics and warehousing.

We write about what actually holds a load at the border: documents, customs, returns and warehousing. No filler, just usable detail.

What is in the OTSL knowledge base?

The OTSL knowledge base is practical articles on international road freight: customs clearance and border procedures (SIVEP, GMR, PBN, ATA carnet), transport to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Switzerland, trade fair logistics, warehousing and returns. We cover the real risks and how to prevent them before they hit your cargo.

Not sure what an industry acronym means? Check the glossary. Glossary Convert pallets to loading metres or print a shipping checklist in our tools. Tools and calculator
Express to the line: when a van is enough and when you need a dedicated truck for parts Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Express to the line: when a van is enough and when you need a dedicated truck for parts

Weight, volume, distance and what exactly is at stake: the criteria for choosing between an express van and a dedicated…

How to fill in a CMR consignment note step by step: who writes what and where Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

How to fill in a CMR consignment note step by step: who writes what and where

The CMR note is the proof of the carriage contract and the first document everyone reaches for in a dispute. We go box…

Returnable packaging in automotive: KLT, Gitterbox and settling the loop Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Returnable packaging in automotive: KLT, Gitterbox and settling the loop

KLT containers and steel Gitterboxes circulate between supplier and plant in a closed loop. How the exchange works…

Dedicated truck or part load: when paying extra pays off Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Dedicated truck or part load: when paying extra pays off

A part load wins on price, a dedicated truck on the deadline and safety. We break the difference into factors…

Trade fair logistics for NAEC Stoneleigh in Kenilworth Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics for NAEC Stoneleigh in Kenilworth

Organising stand fittings and exhibit transport for events at NAEC Stoneleigh in Kenilworth. Customs procedures and UK…

JIT and JIS in freight practice: the difference and what it means for transport Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

JIT and JIS in freight practice: the difference and what it means for transport

Just-in-time means delivery in a time window, just-in-sequence adds assembly order. Both models explained from the…

Driver hours vs the delivery deadline: how far a truck really gets in 24 and 48 hours Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Driver hours vs the delivery deadline: how far a truck really gets in 24 and 48 hours

Regulation 561/2006 sets the limits on driving, breaks and rest, and those limits set real delivery dates. We turn the…

What a production line stoppage costs and how transport prevents it Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

What a production line stoppage costs and how transport prevents it

Contractual penalties clocked from downtime, special freight billed to whoever caused it, and a hit to the supplier…

What an FTL from Poland to Germany or the UK costs: the anatomy of the rate Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

What an FTL from Poland to Germany or the UK costs: the anatomy of the rate

Instead of a price list that would be stale within a week, we take the FTL rate apart: fuel, tolls, driver time, the…

Tilt, mega or curtainsider: which trailer type for which cargo Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Tilt, mega or curtainsider: which trailer type for which cargo

The three most common trailer builds in road transport differ in height, loading method and availability. Here is how a…

Delivery of booth structures and exhibits to National Show Centre Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Delivery of booth structures and exhibits to National Show Centre

A technical guide to trade fair logistics for deliveries to the National Show Centre in Swords, covering transport…

Trade fair logistics Nova Spektrum in Lillestrøm: transport & customs Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics Nova Spektrum in Lillestrøm: transport & customs

How to organize the delivery of booth construction and exhibition goods to the Nova Spektrum venue in Lillestrøm…

Exhibition Logistics for Olma Messen St. Gallen in Switzerland Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Exhibition Logistics for Olma Messen St. Gallen in Switzerland

Discover the requirements for transporting trade fair equipment and exhibits to the Olma Messen St. Gallen…

Trade fair logistics: delivering stand structures to Olympia London Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics: delivering stand structures to Olympia London

Planning to exhibit at Olympia London? Discover how to handle stand fittings, temporary export, customs clearance, and…

Trade fair logistics to Oslo Spektrum: booth structures and exhibits Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics to Oslo Spektrum: booth structures and exhibits

A practical guide on organising transport and customs procedures for deliveries to trade fairs at the Oslo Spektrum…

Anuga in Cologne: exhibitor logistics for the food fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Anuga in Cologne: exhibitor logistics for the food fair

Anuga is the food industry fair at the Koelnmesse grounds. Part of the challenge is the cold chain: samples and…

Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham: a fair beyond the customs border Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham: a fair beyond the customs border

Spring Fair is the home and gift fair at the NEC Birmingham. Since Brexit this trip is a customs operation: clearance…

Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg: transport to the toy fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg: transport to the toy fair

Spielwarenmesse is the Nuremberg toy fair. Lots of smalls, cartons and oddly shaped displays that must arrive complete…

Ambiente in Frankfurt: exhibitor logistics for the consumer goods fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Ambiente in Frankfurt: exhibitor logistics for the consumer goods fair

Ambiente is the consumer goods fair at the Messe Frankfurt grounds. Heavy delivery traffic in short assembly windows…

Salone del Mobile in Milan: transporting furniture to the biggest design fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Salone del Mobile in Milan: transporting furniture to the biggest design fair

Salone del Mobile is the Milan furniture fair. For Polish producers it is the trip where two of our specialisations…

Trade fair logistics: delivery to Palexpo in Genève Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics: delivery to Palexpo in Genève

Learn how to organise road transport and customs procedures for exhibition stand materials and exhibits heading to the…

Budma in Poznań: exhibitor logistics for the construction fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Budma in Poznań: exhibitor logistics for the construction fair

Budma is the construction and architecture fair at the Poznań International Fair grounds. How to plan deliveries of…

Agrotech in Kielce: moving farm machinery to the fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Agrotech in Kielce: moving farm machinery to the fair

Agrotech is the agricultural technology fair at Targi Kielce. Farm machines mean gauge: some travel on flatbeds as…

Plastpol in Kielce: getting machines and exhibits to the plastics fair Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Plastpol in Kielce: getting machines and exhibits to the plastics fair

Plastpol is the plastics and rubber processing fair at Targi Kielce. The main logistics challenge: machines that must…

Exhibitor logistics at MSPO in Kielce: transport, slots, backup Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Exhibitor logistics at MSPO in Kielce: transport, slots, backup

MSPO is the defence industry salon at Targi Kielce. How to plan the transport of exhibits and stand builds, and why a…

Deliveries to UK retail distribution centres (RDCs): slots, specs, rejections Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
UK and Brexit

Deliveries to UK retail distribution centres (RDCs): slots, specs, rejections

Retail distribution centres accept only booked-in, compliant deliveries. How a delivery to a UK RDC works and what gets…

Project cargo: planning the logistics of a whole construction site, not a single haul Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Guides

Project cargo: planning the logistics of a whole construction site, not a single haul

A construction site is not one transport but a sequence of deliveries that must arrive in assembly order. How we plan…

Trade fair logistics: Transport of exhibits to P&J Live Aberdeen Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Trade fair logistics: Transport of exhibits to P&J Live Aberdeen

How to organise transport of stand structures and exhibits to trade fairs at P&J Live in Aberdeen? Customs procedures…

Exhibition logistics: delivery of stands and exhibits to Ptak Warsaw Expo Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Exhibition logistics: delivery of stands and exhibits to Ptak Warsaw Expo

Rules for transporting and unloading exhibition stands and goods at Ptak Warsaw Expo in Nadarzyn. Technical guidance…

Exhibition Logistics: Punchestown Event Centre Naas Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Exhibition Logistics: Punchestown Event Centre Naas

Guide to organising event freight, stands, and exhibits to Punchestown Event Centre in Naas. Transit options, customs…

Pallets, packaging and load securing in international transport Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Transport types

Pallets, packaging and load securing in international transport

The sender answers for packaging, the carrier for securing. We show how to pack pallets for an international route and…

Exhibition logistics at RDS Dublin: booth transport and exhibits Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Exhibition logistics

Exhibition logistics at RDS Dublin: booth transport and exhibits

A technical guide to managing exhibition logistics and stand transport to the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin for…

Granite slabs after a load shift: when recovery means safe removal Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Example scenarios

Granite slabs after a load shift: when recovery means safe removal

A stillage of 16 granite slabs shifted in transit and several slabs cracked. Stone is not carton freight: a cracked…

Yoghurt at +2 degrees: a restack with no room for waiting Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Example scenarios

Yoghurt at +2 degrees: a restack with no room for waiting

A chilled trailer of 33 pallets of yoghurt arrived with unstable stacks after a shift in transit. Yoghurt runs on a…

Sugar syrup in glass: heavy bottles, sticky failures Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Example scenarios

Sugar syrup in glass: heavy bottles, sticky failures

26 pallets of sugar syrup in glass bottles arrived with six stacks leaning and wrap torn. Syrup fails twice: the glass…

Spices in glass jars: restacking where one break contaminates many Image generated with AI — read our AI transparency notice.
Example scenarios

Spices in glass jars: restacking where one break contaminates many

33 pallets of spices in glass jars arrived with five stacks leaning and wrap torn. With jars, a single break inside a…

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