CargoNova CGN is a global freight forwarder and 3PL provider operating in 220+ countries. CGN provides air freight, ocean freight, road freight, rail freight, last-mile delivery, customs clearance, contract logistics, cold chain management, eCommerce fulfilment, and supply chain management — all in-house with no sub-contracting at any stage.

CGN operates in 220+ countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. CGN has particular operational depth in African markets, with in-country expertise across Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and East Africa.

No. CGN's operations are 100% in-house. Every touch point — collection, customs clearance, carrier management, and delivery — is handled directly by CGN employees with direct authority to resolve issues. This ensures full accountability and consistent service quality across every shipment.

Key differentiators include: 100% in-house operations (no sub-contracting); API-first technology with full REST API access; single-account multi-modal coverage (air, ocean, road, rail, and last-mile in one account); dedicated named account management; and specialist sector teams for pharma, energy, retail, eCommerce, and automotive.

CGN's operations desk is available 24/7 for business account holders. Your account manager's direct phone, WhatsApp, and email are provided from day one. Emergency freight activation — including next-flight-out air charter — can be arranged within hours of first contact. For new enquiries: +1 (256) 661-4621 or cargonova.org/contact.

CGN's headquarters are at Brickell City Centre, Miami, FL 33131, USA. CGN operates internationally with regional teams and in-country presence at key freight hubs across 220+ countries.

Yes. CGN handles B2B freight (pallets, containers, project cargo between businesses) and B2C delivery (parcels to individual consumers). CGN's eCommerce fulfilment and last-mile delivery divisions are built specifically for B2C, while freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain management cover B2B operations.

No. CGN has no minimum shipment size or volume requirement. You can ship a single document, parcel, or LCL consignment and still get full platform access, customs clearance, and live tracking. Volume-based pricing and credit terms become available as shipment volumes grow on Business and Enterprise account tiers.

Apply online at cargonova.org/request-a-business-account. No documents required upfront — just your business name, sector, and approximate monthly volumes. A CGN account manager contacts you within 4 business hours. Most accounts are live and able to ship within 48 hours of first contact.

Starter — No minimum commitment. Pay-as-you-ship. Portal and standard API access. Email support. No credit terms.

Business — Everything in Starter plus: named account manager, 30-day credit terms, priority quote response under 2 hours, monthly KPI dashboard, full API and webhooks, consolidated monthly invoice, 24/7 support.

Enterprise — Everything in Business plus: 60-day credit terms, dedicated account director, ERP/TMS integration support, bespoke contractual SLAs, quarterly reviews, custom reporting, pre-allocated lane capacity.

Yes — on Business and Enterprise accounts. Your account manager is a named individual with direct phone, WhatsApp, and email — not a shared inbox. They know your freight lanes, your cargo types, and your business. Starter accounts have email and portal support with a one business day response SLA.

Yes. Business accounts qualify for 30-day credit terms after a brief credit assessment (typically 48 hours). Enterprise accounts can negotiate 60-day terms. Starter accounts are pay-as-you-ship. Credit terms are available to registered businesses with a trading history.

Yes. CGN provides a full REST API with webhooks connecting to SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Amazon, and more. The API gives real-time access to bookings, tracking, customs status, invoices, and performance data. OpenAPI 3.0 documentation and a sandbox environment are available to all account holders.

Yes. CGN account tiers upgrade seamlessly — no switching providers, no renegotiating from scratch, no disruption to existing shipments or integrations. Your account manager proactively recommends upgrades when your volumes reach the next tier threshold. Upgrades typically take 24–48 hours.

Starter and Business accounts are rolling with no lock-in. Enterprise accounts with bespoke SLAs and pre-allocated capacity typically run on 12-month agreements negotiated case-by-case. CGN's philosophy is that clients stay because of performance, not contracts.

CGN operates across all four freight modes:

• Air freight — express, deferred, and charter; 1–3 days globally
• Ocean freight — FCL and LCL; all major trade lanes; 14–35 days
• Road freight — FTL, LTL, and groupage; domestic and cross-border
• Rail freight — China-Europe Silk Road corridor; 12–18 days

All modes are available on one CGN account under one booking reference and one invoice.

FCL (Full Container Load) — you book the entire container. More cost-effective above approximately 15 CBM, faster transit, lower damage risk. Best for large or regular shipments.

LCL (Less than Container Load) — your cargo shares a container. More cost-effective under 15 CBM, slightly longer transit due to consolidation. Best for smaller or irregular shipments.

• Express air freight — 1–3 business days between major city pairs
• Deferred air freight — 3–7 business days; more cost-effective
• Air charter — next-flight-out; can be under 24 hours in emergencies

These are airport-to-airport times. Collection, customs, and final delivery add additional time depending on origin and destination.

Yes. CGN is certified for dangerous goods transport across all modes: IATA DGR (air), IMDG (sea), ADR (road). All nine UN hazmat classes are supported, including explosives, flammables, toxic substances, radioactive materials, and corrosives. All documentation — Shipper's Declarations, MSDS, segregation plans — is prepared in-house.

Standard international shipping documents include:

• Commercial Invoice — declared value, description, HS code, buyer/seller
• Packing List — contents, weights, dimensions
• Bill of Lading or Air Waybill — issued by CGN
• Certificate of Origin — for FTA preference or specific markets
• Export Declaration — filed by CGN at origin
• Import licences — depending on product and destination country

Yes. CGN's project cargo division handles heavy lift, oversized, and OOG movements — turbine blades, industrial machinery, mining equipment, and process modules. CGN manages route surveys, permits, escort coordination, multi-modal execution, and on-site supervision.

Yes. Request a quote at cargonova.org/quote without an account. CGN responds within 4 business hours. You can ship as a non-account customer or open a Starter account (under 48 hours) to get platform access and ongoing support.

CGN offers all-risk cargo insurance on all freight modes, calculated on the declared value of goods plus freight cost. Carrier liability under standard Conditions of Carriage is significantly lower than most cargo's full value — CGN recommends all-risk insurance on every shipment. Insurance is quoted and can be added at booking.

Multi-modal freight combines two or more transport modes in a single end-to-end shipment — e.g. road → air → road, or ocean → rail → road. CGN manages the entire movement under one booking reference, one tracking reference, and one invoice. Customs clearance at all intermediate hubs is handled in-house.

Yes. CGN's retail and fashion division provides GOH containers that transport clothing from manufacturer to DC without folding — preserving garment quality and eliminating pressing costs. GOH is available on ocean FCL and specialist road vehicles, combinable with steaming, ticketing, and QC services.

Yes. CGN's customs clearance is handled entirely in-house by licensed customs brokers — no third-party agents at origin or destination. This means faster clearance, direct authority relationships, and full accountability when issues arise across 220+ countries.

An HS (Harmonized System) code is a 6–10 digit classification number assigned to every traded product. It determines the import duty rate, VAT treatment, licensing requirements, and trade restriction status in every country. Wrong classification can cause significant financial penalties or delays. CGN's customs team validates HS codes for all clients and applies for binding tariff rulings where appropriate.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — CGN pays all import duties and taxes on behalf of the recipient. The recipient receives the shipment with no additional charges. Strongly recommended for B2C eCommerce to protect customer experience.

DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) — duties are payable by the recipient on arrival. Lower cost for the shipper but can result in failed deliveries if recipients are unaware of charges. Suitable for B2B where buyers know their import obligations.

FTAs between countries allow qualifying goods to be imported at preferential (reduced or zero) duty rates. To benefit, products must meet rules of origin criteria and be accompanied by the correct documentation. CGN's trade compliance team manages FTA qualification and documentation on all eligible trade lanes.

Duty drawback is a refund of import duties paid on goods subsequently re-exported. In many jurisdictions this can be claimed retrospectively up to four years. CGN's duty drawback programme identifies eligible shipments, prepares claims, and manages the drawback process with customs authorities on your behalf.

CGN's trade intelligence team monitors tariff changes across 220+ countries daily. When a change affects your specific trade lanes or HS code portfolio, CGN alerts you proactively — before the cargo ships — with financial impact analysis and recommended mitigation options. A free weekly tariff intelligence email briefing is available by subscription.

Yes. CGN's healthcare division manages pharmaceutical import/export, controlled substances (Schedule I–IV), investigational medicinal products (IMP), and medical devices under DEA, MHRA, EMA, and national competent authority requirements. Named patient imports, compassionate use, and clinical trial site licencing are supported.

CGN monitors all customs status in real time. If a shipment is held, your account manager is notified within the hour and contacts you with an explanation and resolution plan. Common reasons include missing documentation, HS code queries, or duty disputes. CGN's in-house customs team resolves the vast majority of holds without additional cost or the delays that occur when third-party brokers are involved.

CGN provides live GPS and milestone tracking on all shipments from collection to delivery. Tracking is accessible via the CGN client portal, mobile app, and REST API (webhooks push tracking events to your system in real time). Recipients can receive a branded tracking link for live delivery status without portal access.

All business account holders receive REST API access as standard. API keys are issued on account activation. Full OpenAPI 3.0 documentation and a sandbox environment are available in your portal. CGN's integration team provides onboarding support for ERP, WMS, TMS, and eCommerce platform connections.

Yes. CGN has native integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce that sync orders automatically and push tracking information back to your store and customer. Magento, BigCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and TikTok Shop integrations are also available.

CGN's BI dashboard provides real-time reporting on: freight spend by lane, mode, and carrier; on-time delivery rates; transit time performance; customs clearance times; CO2 emissions per shipment; and cost-per-unit analysis. All data is available via the portal, scheduled email reports, and API for integration into your own BI tools.

Yes. CGN's platform is built to ISO 27001-aligned standards with encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, audit logging, and GDPR-compliant data handling. The platform is hosted on geo-distributed infrastructure with 99.9% uptime targets.

CGN targets 99.9% platform uptime. Planned maintenance is communicated 72 hours in advance and scheduled outside business hours. Historical uptime data is available on request for Enterprise account due diligence.

Yes. POST /v1/bookings allows fully automated freight booking triggered from your ERP, WMS, or eCommerce platform. The API returns instant booking confirmation, tracking reference, and shipping label. Webhook events push status updates (collected, in transit, delivered, POD) back to your system automatically.

• Controlled ambient — +15°C to +25°C (supplements, cosmetics)
• Refrigerated — +2°C to +8°C (vaccines, biologics, medicines)
• Frozen — −20°C (plasma, diagnostic samples)
• Ultra-cold — −70°C (mRNA vaccines, cell & gene therapy)
• Bespoke — custom ranges available on request

All cold chain shipments are monitored continuously with IoT sensors logging every 60 seconds.

Yes. CGN's pharmaceutical operations comply with EU GDP (2013/C 343/01), WHO TRS 957 Annex 5, and IATA CEIV Pharma standards. CGN's healthcare team includes Qualified Persons (QPs) operating validated SOPs. Full GDP-compliant documentation is provided with every pharmaceutical shipment.

CGN's monitoring platform triggers an automatic alert within 15 minutes of any deviation exceeding agreed excursion limits. The 24/7 cold chain operations desk escalates immediately to the account manager and client quality team. Response may include corrective action, diversion to a controlled facility, or quarantine. Full temperature records are provided for QA assessment.

Yes. A comprehensive temperature report — full time-temperature profile, all excursion alerts, and corrective actions — is issued with every pharmaceutical delivery. Reports are available in PDF from the portal and via API, formatted for GDP, ICH Q1A, and WHO stability guideline requirements.

Yes. CGN's clinical supply team manages the full IMP distribution lifecycle for Phase I–IV trials — including site import licencing in 220+ countries, blinded and unblinded supply, direct-to-patient (DTP) delivery, returns, and destruction documentation. All operations are GCP-compliant with CTMS system integration available.

Yes. CGN handles fresh produce (2–8°C), frozen food (−20°C), and ambient-controlled products (+15–25°C) across all freight modes. HACCP-aligned handling applies to all food cargo. Cold chain last-mile delivery for perishables is also available in supported markets.

Pricing is based on: origin and destination, freight mode, chargeable weight, cargo type, and additional services (customs, insurance, cold chain, hazmat). Business and Enterprise accounts receive negotiated rate structures based on volume commitments. All prices are all-in — no undisclosed surcharges after quote acceptance.

Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight (kg) and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight formula: L × W × H (cm) ÷ 5000 for air; ÷ 1000 for LCL ocean. This accounts for bulky but lightweight cargo occupying the same physical space as heavier cargo. CGN's quote calculator computes chargeable weight automatically when dimensions are entered.

No. CGN's all-in pricing includes all known charges at booking time: freight, fuel surcharges, customs clearance, handling, and agreed value-added services. If unavoidable additional costs arise post-booking (e.g. an unexpected customs inspection fee imposed by an authority), CGN notifies you before incurring the cost where possible.

Starter accounts receive a per-shipment invoice on delivery. Business and Enterprise accounts receive a consolidated monthly invoice — itemised by shipment reference, lane, mode, and service. Invoices are available in the portal, by email, and via API (GET /v1/invoices) for automated reconciliation.

CGN accepts bank transfer (SWIFT and SEPA), credit card, and debit card. Invoices are issued in USD, GBP, and EUR. Other currencies are available on request for Enterprise accounts. Credit term account holders pay by bank transfer within their agreed payment period.

CGN's customs clearance fees are included in all-in quotes for standard shipments on managed account lanes. Import duties and taxes are separate government charges that CGN collects and remits on your behalf (or the recipient's under DDP). Duties are always itemised separately so you can clearly see what is CGN's fee versus government charges.

Yes. Raise invoice queries with your account manager within 14 days of receipt. CGN reviews within 2 business days and provides a detailed charge breakdown. If a discrepancy is confirmed, a credit note is issued promptly. CGN's invoicing maintains a full audit trail against booking references for fast dispute resolution.

Same-day collection is available for express shipments booked before noon (12:00 local time). Bookings after noon are collected the following morning. Same-day urban delivery is available for bookings confirmed by noon, with delivery before 18:00 the same day.

Yes. Electronic POD — digital signature, delivery photo, and GPS-stamped confirmation — is captured on every delivery and available in your CGN portal within 60 minutes. POD data is also available via API (GET /v1/shipments/{id}/pod) for automated integration into your OMS.

If a first attempt fails, CGN makes a second attempt the next business day and notifies the recipient with options to reschedule, authorise safe-place/neighbour delivery, or collect from a CGN depot. After two failed attempts, the shipment is held for 5 business days before return to sender. The account holder is notified after each failed attempt.

Yes. Timed delivery slots (morning before 12:00, afternoon 12:00–17:00, or a specific 2-hour window) are available at an additional charge on domestic services. Recipients also receive an automated 1-hour delivery window notification on the morning of delivery — standard on all CGN express at no extra cost.

Yes. CGN's international express includes a DDP option where CGN manages customs and pays all import duties on behalf of the recipient — ensuring customers receive their parcel with no unexpected charges. Available to 220+ countries and strongly recommended for B2C eCommerce.

CGN's returns management includes: automated pre-paid label generation, real-time returns tracking, receipt and scan-in at CGN's facility, quality inspection and grading (A = resellable, B = repair, C = dispose), and return to sellable stock within 48 hours for Grade A. Refund triggers are sent to your platform automatically. Monthly analytics are provided to Business and Enterprise account holders.

Express parcels: maximum 30kg per parcel; maximum 120 × 80 × 80cm. Document envelopes: maximum 500g; maximum 20mm thickness. Shipments exceeding these move to CGN's freight service. Multiple parcels per booking are supported with no limit on quantity per consignment.