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Golden Gate Cargo’s aim is to build the operating system for commerce. We provide express parcel transportation, PTL and TL freight, cross-border and supply chain services to over 21000 customers, including large & small e-commerce participants, SMEs, and other leading enterprises & brands. Our supply chain platform and logistics operations bring flexibility, breadth, efficiency and innovation to our customers’ supply chain and logistics. Our operations, infrastructure and technology enable our customers to transact with us and our partners at low costs.

We have following services :


Air Freight

Golden Gate Cargo is one of the market leaders when it comes to shipping goods by air.

 We are innovative logistics providers and can solve any task, transporting everything from parcels, packages, over size cargo live food cultures to the latest collections for fashion fairs.

 Through our global strategic partners, we do air freight consolidation to many major cities worldwide, making it possible for us to offer exceptionally low rates for Airport to Airport, Door to Airport, and Door to Door delivery.

 We expand your markets and make the entire planet your backyard.

 We mainly focus on delivering quality and certainty. That is your guarantee for safe and reliable delivery, regardless of where your goods are being sent.

Sea Freight

Golden Gate Cargo brings its customers outstanding global coverage, connecting all of the world’s trade centres, what makes our service stand out from the crowd, however, is our ability to provide in-depth, expert knowledge of individual geographic trades and markets.

Global and local expertise

Golden Gate Cargo’s Trade Managers each have an in-depth understanding of individual overseas markets and the dynamics of specific trades. This expertise enables them to provide you with market-specific, local advice on factors affecting the transit of your cargo. This might include:

  • Terminal conditions.
  • Local or overseas transport infrastructure.
  • Berthing delays or congestion.
  • Local or overseas regulatory and political changes.
  • Any relevant customs procedures.

So whether you’re importing or exporting, working with Golden Gate Cargo will plug you into a network of experts across more than 493 offices, planning 200 global routes to 500 ports in over 155 countries, and we’re committed to offering competitive rates and transit times.

Service tailored to your needs

With all of this expertise and capability comes an unrivalled commitment to customer service. We will work hard to understand your needs in order to develop a productive, long-term partnership.

At Golden Gate Cargo we don't have a 'one size fits all' approach. We believe that by staying close to your business as it evolves, we are able to develop our services to match your changing needs. That way we can continue to offer a truly tailor-made range of services – whatever you want to ship, wherever you want to ship it.

Road Freight

  • We offer cost effective and timely clearing and forwarding services both for air & sea shipments.
  • We provide the full range of customs clearing and international freight forwarding services.
  • Our personnel maintain daily contacts with various government departments while the company’s online interactions with the relevant authorities allows for the completion of customs clearance process in the shortest time possible.
  • By choosing us you are assured of accurate, steady and efficient customs clearance and freight forwarding.

Packaging & Storage

Once your goods have arrived, the real work begins. The management of cargo, whether in storage or distribution, has a direct impact on the efficiency of your business. Our warehousing services will ensure that your goods are stored safely while allowing you to easily locate and ship them out on your desired date.

We provide both domestic and international air freight cargo delivery, with a clear statement outlining the transit duration and tracking service for your convenience. Whether there is a need for a consolidated or direct air service, our experts are capable of transporting your goods to or from almost any point. Due to an ever-increasing demand for shorter transit times internationally, we utilise premium carriers and established routes. Many different options are available for our most competitive and reliable air freight forwarding service. Air freight shipments normally go on the next available flight to the specific destination. We provide comprehensive air cargo support, including a cargo tracking service, so that customers can track their shipments and obtain real-time information regarding their freight anytime and anywhere in the world.

Whether you require a door-to-door or airport-to-airport service, we will tailor our service to meet your deadlines. Our air freight cargo delivery division is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are always there to provide you with the best possible freighting opportunities and services.

Pickup & Delivery

A door-to-door delivery is a service where the courier driver will pick up your item at the pick-up address and then deliver it to the delivery address. Door-to-door deliveries can save you time and energy as you do not need to leave your house to have something delivered.

The thing is, we all have something that needs to be somewhere else and, more often than not, we either don't have the time or, more crucially, the appropriate vehicle for the job. Getting stuff from A to B can sometimes pose problems in terms of logistics and expense. Not only that, but there is also the question of trust; after all, we are most likely to be depending on strangers to carry out a door-to-door delivery service on our behalf.

Most of us are familiar these days with online shopping and delivery facilities, but are hazier on the options available for private or bespoke delivery services when it comes to shifting stuff out of our own doors and through someone else's. More to the point, we may not even know that there is a way to go online and find the optimum package that suits our needs and our budget.

Whether it is to insure a car, select a cost-effective travel arrangement - by train, boat or plane, say - or secure an idyllic holiday location, most of us now make use of comparative websites to find the best deal going. Well, the same is true of transport services, too. It matters not if it is a 'man-with-a-van', an international shipping company or furniture removers with a fleet of Pantechnicons, there is a door-to-door delivery service going where you want it to go, when you want it to, and for the right price.

By going online to a transport marketplace it is possible to register details of an item or multiple items you need collected, where they are going from and their intended destination. In just the same way as it is feasible (and advisable) to select from a range of motor insurance companies to find the best price and package option, or airlines to book the most convenient travel times, conditions and costs, so too you can choose from a number of transport providers who have posted quotes online for your specific transportation requirement in a reverse auction format.

And anything can be collected and delivered anywhere! From a fridge to an entire family home - anything goes! Furthermore, in many cases it is possible to have your items added to a load that is already going precisely to where you want them delivered. If they are going there anyway, why not take full advantage and, in addition, benefit from potential discounts that could be worth up to 75%!

It's time to ditch the dilemma of door-to-door delivery! Like everything else today, the choice is yours. Take your pick of the trucks, trains, boats and even planes to take stuff away for you.

Payment to Suppliers

With us, you can focus on what really matters, scaling your business.

We will remove all complexities from business payments and introduce you to fast, cost-effective international payments.

Our great FX rates and low fees will help you save big. Our simple platform will seamlessly integrate with your business and provide you with real-time visibility of your payments for better cash flow management.

Open a business account with us now, to start simplifying the way you move money for your

Multi-Model Freight

There are many different types of transportation and various shipping modes available to shippers today to help move goods all over the world. But sometimes, one shipping mode is not enough. Perhaps, your goods are going a long way from another part of the world by ship or aircraft. To reach the final destination, freight needs to be moved over the road, air, or ocean. In a nutshell, shippers often need to combine transportation modes in order to get their goods to the right place. Logistics companies define two ways of such combination: intermodal transport and multimodal transport.

What is multimodal? Multimodal transport meaning

Multimodal transport is a combination of several shipping modes like the truck, rail, ocean, or air to deliver freight to its destination. Multimodal shipping suggests all of your freight movements are handled under a unified bill of lading, even if different carriers are moving it.

What is the difference between multimodal and intermodal transport?

Both intermodal and multimodal transportation suggest refers to using two or more shipping modes. However, there is a list of differences between intermodal and multimodal transport. When you ship intermodal, a different carrier is responsible for each part of your transportation. Consequently, you have several separate shipping bills and reports from each link in the chain. When using multimodal transport, all of your shipments are signed under a single bill of lading. Both transportation methods have benefits and drawbacks, and here we will dive deep into multimodal.

What are the benefits of multimodal transport?

Multimodal transport can benefit many businesses that ship large amounts of freight on a regular basis. The main reason why companies prefer multimodal is that it requires less time and effort. All the shipments are under a single bill and are usually managed by an external party. Other than saving money and time, there are many reasons your company should choose multimodal transport when planning your next shipment, including:

Time savings

Since in multimodal transportation one shipping provider handles the entire process, you'll only have to communicate and get a report from one company. This ensures less worrying about the shipment, and faster transit times, which eventually result in higher productivity.

Cost-efficiency

It may seem like picking carriers with the lowest price is definitely a more profitable option. However, the lowest price is not always the greatest deal. Intermodal transport involves not only different contracts and carriers but also multiple shipment insurances. A much easier logistics coordination within multimodal can help you save a significant amount of money on transportation.

Less worrying

When a single carrier handles your freight from door to door, it ensures easier communication and efficient tracking. It delegates a larger piece of responsibility and liability to the company coordinating your logistics.

Easier Communication

When companies ship through multimodal transportation, they handle all shipping updates, delays, and interactions through one provider and contract. This gives shippers ease of mind and simplifies the process of communicating between different contacts and carriers. Essentially, when you have one person responsible for the entire transportation chain, it's much easier to just focus on the business and not spend time bouncing from one call to another.

Faster Transit Options

Due to new restrictions on truck drivers on driving hours and other regulations, some longer-haul shipments are not as fast as they once were. The combination of different transportation modes under one contract lets you have a piece of mind and balance transit time. That way, you avoid drivers driving too long and therefore bypass shipping delays. Giving companies more options for their shipment gives you control and flexibility over the loading and unloading process.

Multimodal transport services with PLS

Ultimately, multimodal transport helps guarantee consumers on-time deliveries and true cost savings. Whether you are shipping by air, rail, or barge, multimodal shipping can be a solution for you. Check our multimodal solutions!

Cargo Consolidation

Freight consolidation is a logistics strategy where a shipper combines multiple shipments within a particular geographic region into a single shipment container that is then line hauled to a destination point where the smaller shipments that were part of the consolidation are broken down and shipped to their final destination or the single shipment is delivered directly through to final destination.

Benefits of Freight Consolidation

Freight Cost Savings

By consolidated smaller shipments into a larger single shipment pushes up to a less costly freight mode.

Examples of Freight Consolidation Savings:

  • Consolidating multiple small parcel shipments into a single LTL shipment.
  • Consolidating multiple LTL shipments into a single truckload or intermodal shipment.

Reduced Damages

Using the LTL cost savings example, consolidating LTL shipments into a single truckload will allow the shipment to by-pass the LTL hub-and-spoke network in favor of a single linehaul to destination.

Improved Transit

Using the LTL cost savings example again, the transit time is improved with consolidated LTL shipments because the shipments travel direct to destination versus moving through a typical LTL network.

Improved Visibility and Service

Visibility improves, the information is more reliable and the shipments will deliver together.

Less Dock Congestion

To illustrate this point, let’s go back to the LTL example.  Instead of multiple LTL motor carriers arriving at the destination dock, a shipper will receive one truckload shipment.

Consolidation service solutions are available for parcel, LTL, air and ocean freight shipments.

Additional articles on freight consolidation:

  • Top 10 Benefits of LTL Freight Consolidation and How-to Implement
  • LTL Pooling & Consolidation
  • Best LTL Companies (And How to Choose)

Clearing & Forwarding

Golden Gate Cargo face a unique combination of obstacles in maintaining a profitable model. Government regulations, transit costs for delivering to multiple locations, driver retention, constant implementation of new technologies to keep competitive, and even environmental compliance regulations are just a few of the obstacles faced. Navigating these challenges often offers little leeway for progress, but approaching logistics problems from a fresh angle can keep your overhead costs in check, while still maintaining quality standards.

One of the most effective areas to improve your company’s processes is the supply chain. The most convoluted function of any Golden Gate Cargo, it includes handling your freight processing, freight Bill of Lading (BOL), POD processing, and more. Simple steps can make the process run more smoothly and affects all related tasks. Freight Forwarders and Clear Agents can tackle multiple issues in one swoop, gutting overhead expenses and providing new life to your company’s growth.

If you haven’t yet brought a freight forwarder or clearing agent onboard to help with your operations, you’ve left an obvious gap for your competition to take advantage of. 

What is Freight Forwarding?

Performed by a freight forwarder, this originally included arranging transport and preparing documentation on behalf of the shipper, including both importing and exporting (depending on INCOTERM). With multimodal transportation and containerization becoming more prevalent, the responsibilities of freight forwarders have grown. Today it often consists of transport operators providing container services, who are often additionally responsible for multimodal inland and international transportation. Those who practice the latter are typically called non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs).

The scope of responsibility for most freight forwarders today means that they can effectively provide the following services:

  • Consultation on the most efficient and cost-effective means of transport
  • Act as a shipper’s agent, preparing documentation, and arranging transport services
  • Serve as the principal transport operator directly responsible for the carriage of goods
  • Provide specialist services managing container packing and unpacking, customs clearances, and the raising of insurance claims

Consolidating these responsibilities into one role over which the freight forwarder has oversight can streamline your processes and improve communication between departments. Everyone will be able to coordinate their logistics through that position, which serves as a central hub.

What is Freight Clearing?

Clearing agents represent the shipper and arrange the customs’ clearances of imported goods. Clearing agents are responsible for:

  • Arranging customs clearance/release with the appropriate requirements, such as customs stops, port health exams, and more
  • Collecting payment from the shipper for taxes and duties, as well as making payments to Customs and SARS
  • Framing the Bill of Entry before submission via electronic data interchange to customs
  • Calculating the import duties and VAT payable/taxes
  • Establishing the proper harmonized tariff heading of the goods for customs 
  • Assisting with clearing instructions to confirm that all information received from the shipper and consignee is accurate before submission to customers’ clearance

Similar to freight forwarders, clearing agents are specialists with a specific set of expertise. While you could likely fumble your way through the legalities of shipping internationally, you’ll almost certainly save more money and time by leaving international logistics to the international logistics experts.

What Next Steps Can You Take?

If you don’t ship internationally on a frequent basis, you may be able to hold off expanding your operations with a clearing agent. Once you begin operating outside of one country, however, they will become essential to maintaining a streamlined logistics process. More importantly, freight forwarders can help at every level of domestic and international freight delivery and should be a priority investment as soon as the resources are available. 

Are you ready for your customized freight solutions? Reach out today to learn more!

Sourcing & Procurement

Sourcing and Procurement: One but Not the Same

A complete exploration of two closely related but different processes. In-depth comparison, recent trends, and best practices included.

This month, we continue our Procurement Basics series and would like to introduce our readers to yet another set of often misused business terminology.

As both sourcing and procurement are related to obtaining supplies for the organization, confusing these two terms is easy. But they are different, although closely related, processes.

Understanding their distinction can help you ensure the coordination between the responsible teams and adopt the right strategies for improving both sourcing and procurement.

Read on to find:

  • Sourcing vs. procurement: key differences
  • Sourcing and procurement: processes’ overview
  • How strategic sourcing influences your business
  • Sourcing and procurement: a detailed comparison
  • How to coordinate sourcing and procurement processes
  • Recent trends in sourcing and procurement

What Is Procurement Process?

Procurement is a set of processes related to acquiring goods and services to satisfy a company’s needs.

For instance, if your company requires raw materials to manufacture its products, you first choose where to procure these materials, send a purchase order to the selected supplier, and pay for delivered items.

And all these activities are parts of the broader procurement process in your organization.

The typical procurement process involves the following steps:

  • Spotting internal needs and creating a purchase requisition;
  • Evaluating the market;
  • Shortlisting suppliers and issuing RFQ or RFP;
  • Reviewing quotations and selecting vendors;
  • Negotiating with suppliers;
  • Creating a purchase order;
  • Expediting and receiving the ordered items;
  • Auditing the delivered order to ensure supplier compliance;
  • Receiving a goods receipt and an invoice;
  • Performing a 3-way-match;
  • Making a payment;
  • Keeping record;
  • Assessing the supplier performance and establishing a vendor relationship.

Simply put, procurement steps combine sourcing (selecting and negotiating with suppliers) and purchasing (placing a purchase order and paying) processes.

However, it is crucial to understand that procurement is a multi-stage complex process, which in addition to sourcing and purchasing, involves supplier management, contract management, and data analysis.

With sourcing as its subset, procurement directly impacts a company’s bottom line performance and competitiveness.