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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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Road transport to Austria: cost, time and documents
An Alpine transit country: the GO-Box toll, Tyrol sectoral and night bans, block clearance and winter rules. What…
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Road transport to the Netherlands: cost, time and documents
Short distance, the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, a dense network and a new HGV road charge from July 2026. What…
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Road transport to Spain: cost, time and documents
Why Spain is one of the longest EU road runs and what that means for price: distance, driver hours, French transit…
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Vehicle from UK Auction to Polish Roads: Homologation Rules
Complete guide to importing vehicles and machinery from UK auctions to Poland. V5C documents, road approval, and…
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Importing and Transporting a Combine Harvester from the UK
How to organize transport and customs clearance for a combine harvester bought at a UK auction. Learn key transport…
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Road transport to Italy: cost, time and documents
What really drives the price of shipping to Italy: long distance, tolls along the whole route, Alpine tunnels and ADR…
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Road tolls in Europe: what this part of the freight rate contains
What European road tolls are made of and why they raise the transport rate.
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Invoice redirection fraud in freight (BEC, bank account swap)
How invoice redirection fraud works in freight and how not to lose a payment.
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Road transport to Slovakia: cost, time, automotive
How to move freight to Slovakia under automotive discipline: slots, booking, JIT/JIS risk, transit time, cost and toll.
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Road transport to Czechia: cost, time, documents, transit
How long and how much road transport to Czechia takes, how the MYTO CZ toll works and why intra-EU trade needs no…
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Transport to Germany: guide (cost, transit time, documents, toll)
A practical guide to road transport from Poland to Germany: who ships, main lanes and ports, real transit times…
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Tariff classification of used machinery: CN code and parts
Learn how used machinery is classified under CN codes. Equipment age does not change tariff headings, while separate…
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Transport and import from UK: site container and cabin
Transport and customs guidelines for importing site containers and cabins bought at UK auctions into the EU. Learn…
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Auction Machine Without Documents: What to Check Before Bidding
Buying auction machinery in the UK without docs requires verifying the nameplate and calculating document recovery…
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Crawler Excavator Transport and Import from the UK
Learn how to organise the transport and customs clearance of a crawler excavator purchased at auction in the United…
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Fiscal representative in import: role, liabilities and cost-efficiency
A fiscal representative settles import VAT on behalf of a foreign company. Learn about joint liability and alternatives…
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Transporting and Importing a Wheeled Excavator from the UK
Professional transport and customs clearance guidance for importing wheeled excavators from British auctions into the…
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Freight Framework Contract: Clauses You Must Check
Signing a standing freight-forwarding contract and unsure where the risk sits? A framework contract governs the whole…
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DDP: I bought it, then got a duty and VAT bill
DDP reads like a no-surprises guarantee, yet an incomplete DDP ends with a duty and import VAT bill landing on the…
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Carrier Insolvency In Transit: Where Is Your Cargo
Your carrier has gone insolvent and your load is stuck somewhere on the road. Where the trailer physically sits, who…
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Spot vs Contract Rates: Why Freight Prices Jump | OTSL
A spot rate is the live market price that reacts to demand, truck supply, season and fuel. A contract rate is fixed for…
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When cargo is legally lost (CMR Article 20) | OTSL
Cargo that fails to arrive is not automatically lost in the eyes of the law. The CMR Convention sets a precise moment…
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Can I clear customs myself, or do I need a broker?
A company can legally lodge its own customs declaration if it has an EORI number and system access. No licence is…
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First-time export outside the EU: where to start
Exporting outside the EU for the first time and unsure where to begin? We walk the path step by step: EORI number…
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Emergency trade fair delivery: bringing missing stand parts
Handling a setup emergency at a trade fair requires fast express transport. Discover how to deliver missing or damaged…
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Transporting and Importing a Backhoe Loader from the UK
Practical technical guide on transporting and clearing customs for a backhoe loader imported from United Kingdom…
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Proforma vs commercial invoice: which for customs
A proforma invoice is a non-binding offer used for deposits or shipment pre-advice. A commercial invoice is the…
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EXW for exporters: why it is often a trap
EXW is the Incoterms rule with the seller's bare minimum of duties. For an exporter it can be a trap: the buyer handles…
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Temporary Admission to Switzerland: ATA vs ZAVV, Duty-Free
Sending a machine for service or professional equipment to Switzerland and want it back without paying duty? Use an ATA…
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Exporting food to Norway: Mattilsynet and border controls
Norway sits in the EEA but outside the Customs Union, so food from Poland crosses the border first through customs…
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Norway B2B Import Beyond VOEC: Clearance and Import VAT
VOEC is a simplification only for low-value B2C sales. Business buyers and higher-value shipments need standard import…
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Transport to Liechtenstein: Customs and VAT with Switzerland
Liechtenstein shares a common customs area with Switzerland under the 1923 treaty and a common VAT area under the 1994…
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Exhibits vs advertising materials: why ATA carnet excludes leaflets
Discover why ATA Carnets cannot include promotional leaflets or giveaways and how to correctly split exhibition goods…
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Transporting and Importing a Crusher from the UK: Customs Rules
A practical guide to out-of-gauge transport and customs procedures when importing heavy crushers from United Kingdom…
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Pharma Transport to Switzerland: Swissmedic, GDP, Temperature
How to ship medicines to Switzerland under GDP and Swissmedic oversight. Temperature control, documentation, non-EU…
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High-Value Goods Transport to Switzerland
Watches, jewellery and electronics bound for Switzerland need more than standard freight. A declared value on the CMR…
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