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Knowledge base
Knowledge base
Practical guides on transport to the UK, customs clearance, exhibition logistics and warehousing.
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.
Articles are coming soon.
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The carrier did not show up. What to do step by step
The truck never arrived for loading and the carrier has gone silent? A crisis guide: what to do in the first hour, what…
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Trade fair transport in Poland: Kielce, Poznań, Warsaw
We handle exhibition logistics in Poland: Targi Kielce, Poznań International Fair, Ptak Warsaw Expo. Booking-in for…
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Trade fair transport to Austria: Vienna, Graz, Salzburg
We move stand builds and exhibits to Messe Wien, Messe Graz and Messe Salzburg. Booking-in for build-up and breakdown…
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Trade fair transport to Belgium: Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp
We move stand builds and exhibits to Brussels Expo, Flanders Expo Ghent and Antwerp Expo. Booking-in for build-up and…
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Trade fair transport to Switzerland: Basel, Geneva, Zurich
Switzerland is outside the European Union, so fair exhibits usually enter under temporary admission or an ATA carnet…
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Trade fair transport to the Netherlands: Amsterdam and Utrecht
We move stand builds and exhibits to RAI Amsterdam, Jaarbeurs Utrecht and Ahoy Rotterdam. Booking-in for build-up and…
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Trade fair transport to Spain: Madrid and Barcelona
We move stand builds and exhibits to IFEMA Madrid and Fira de Barcelona. Booking-in for build-up and breakdown, the…
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Trade fair transport to Italy: Milan, Bologna, Verona | OTSL
We move stand builds and exhibits to Fiera Milano, BolognaFiere and Veronafiere. Booking-in for build-up and breakdown…
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Trade fair transport to France: Paris and national events
We move stand builds and exhibits to fairs in France: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris Nord Villepinte, Lyon…
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The customs tariff code (CN/HS): how to find it and why it matters so much
The tariff code decides the duty rate, VAT, requirements and restrictions on import and export. We explain the…
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Customs warehousing and temporary admission: procedures that defer or suspend duty
Customs warehousing lets you store goods without paying duty and VAT until they are released, while temporary admission…
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CDS: the British customs declaration system that replaced CHIEF
The United Kingdom has moved customs declarations from the old CHIEF system to CDS (the Customs Declaration Service)…
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ENS Entry Summary Declarations for UK imports: who files, when and what
Since 31 January 2025 imports from the EU into Great Britain require an ENS safety and security declaration lodged…
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The BTOM model: SPS risk categories and import requirements for Great Britain
The BTOM model sorts SPS goods into risk categories: low, medium and high. The category decides on health certificates…
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ENS stop words (ICS2): the list of banned goods descriptions and how to describe a shipment
A description such as goods, samples or parts blocks an ENS declaration in the ICS2 system. We publish the European…
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Transport to the Isle of Wight, Anglesey and Scilly: domestic UK islands
The Isle of Wight, Anglesey and the Isles of Scilly are part of Great Britain, so no clearance against the UK. We…
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Transport to Northern Ireland: the rules of the Windsor Framework
Northern Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom but for goods it works under the special rules of the Windsor Framework…
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Transport to Ireland (the Republic of Ireland): an EU market with no clearance
The Republic of Ireland is in the European Union, so transport from Poland runs with no customs border. We explain the…
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Transport to the Scottish islands: the Hebrides, Orkney (Kirkwall) and Shetland (Lerwick)
The Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland are part of Great Britain, so once inside the UK the transport is domestic. We…
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Transport to Jersey and Guernsey (Channel Islands): clearance outside UK VAT
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark are outside the European Union and outside the UK VAT area. We explain why…
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Returning goods from the UK to Poland: how customs clearance works
A complaint, unsold stock or a return from a fair: goods coming back from the UK are an EU import. We explain returned…
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Transport to the Isle of Man: customs and the crossing
The Isle of Man is in a customs and VAT union with the UK but outside the EU. We explain how transport from Poland…
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EORI number: what it is, who needs it and how to get one
The EORI number identifies a company in EU customs systems. We explain who needs one after Brexit and how to obtain it…
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How long does transport from Poland to the UK take and what extends it
Delivery time to the UK is the sum of stages: transit, customs, crossing and the consignee slot. We show what really…
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How much does transport to the UK cost? What drives the price
There is no single rate for transport to the UK. We show what makes up the price: load, crossing, customs, deadline and…
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Choosing a customs agency matters. How one weekend stopped a whole truck
A truck sat at the UK border for a whole weekend because the customs agency works only Monday to Friday, while fixing…
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Airport-to-airport transport, when every detail counts
Transport between airports for airline operations: aircraft engines, coordination on the apron, UK and Ireland airports.
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Exhibition logistics at the NEC Birmingham, delivery and backup
NEC Birmingham fairs (B40 1NT): time slots, post-Brexit customs, storage at our Milton Keynes warehouse.
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Milton Keynes warehouse: our recovery and inspection base in the UK
OTSL warehouse in Milton Keynes, 24/7, in the heart of the Golden Triangle: re-stacking, inspection, cross-docking…
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Automotive transport, delivery to unloading slots
In automotive the unloading window matters more than distance. A few pallets exactly on time, so the line does not wait.
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CARGO insurance versus carrier liability (OCP), what protects your goods
OCP and CARGO are not the same, and the difference can hurt at a claim. What really protects your goods and why CARGO…
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24/7 availability in forwarding, why it matters | OTSL
Transport does not stop after hours and problems do not wait for Monday. Why round-the-clock availability of the…
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Deliveries to Norway outside the EU, what to know | OTSL
Norway is often confused with the EU because it is close and in the EEA. Why it is still export outside the customs…
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What makes deliveries to Switzerland specific, Passar, LSVA and charges
Switzerland has its own clearance system and its own road charges. What to know about Passar, LSVA and costs before you…
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Export to Switzerland outside the EU, customs procedures
Shipping to Switzerland is export outside the EU customs territory. What procedures apply, what to watch with duty and…
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Food safety after a trailer breach (EC 178/2002) | OTSL
When food is involved, a trailer breach is not only about the state of the goods but about the rules. Why food law and…
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