Warehousing

Fort can collaborate with your current warehouse providers, or if preferred, we can arrange for and offer temperature-controlled, refrigerated, cold, and dry storage warehousing, and trans-loading facilities in major port areas throughout the USA.
Transloading is a process of transferring shipments from one mode of transportation to another after sorting, labeling, re-palletization, or cross-docking of intact packaging.
This service is typically utilized when a single mode of transportation cannot be used for the entire journey of the cargo.
Our services include handling in + out, palletization, labeling, certified weighing, sampling, repackaging, trans-loading, and transportation.
Mid-country shippers frequently employ this service when their shipping sites cannot handle live loads or when ocean containers and chassis are not readily available locally.
Cross-docking is also utilized to avoid bottlenecks at terminals or shipping points, which can result in cost reductions and time savings.

Fumigation

Fumigation is a process that meets the international standards set for importing and exporting wood packaging, commonly referred to as ISPM 15.
Certain countries require that all regulated Wood Packaging Material (WPM) entering their borders be appropriately treated and marked under the official program.
The list of countries requiring adherence to the ISPM 15 Standards included 82 nations.
To comply with ISPM 15, two wood treatment options are available: Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation or Heat Treatment.
In the MB treatment, the wood packaging material is fumigated with methyl bromide.
Alternatively, Heat Treatment (HT) involves heating the wood packaging material according to a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for at least 30 minutes.
Fumigations need to be performed at specially designed warehouses with all safety checks in place according to US Law.

Inspections

Inspections are sometimes necessary for export loads, either as requested by the consignee or mandated by the importing country.
To meet this requirement, there are specialized entities that offer comprehensive inspection services along with the necessary documentation.
Inspections may be required at various stages, such as during loading, prior to export, upon delivery, or after discharge.

The nature of such inspections might also differ:

• Quality Inspection – where the quality of the product is checked.
  This is being performed prior to shipment by sampling products.
• Cargo Packing Inspections – where the only inspection that is being performed is how cargo is packed into the container.
• Discharge Surveys – are usually done for insurance purposes and damage claims.
• Container Inspections – are usually performed to access the damage to the equipment used.
• Water Ingression and Damage Surveys – performed after discharge.
• Other countries require inspections such as BIVAC inspections.